Engine Bearing Support
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsGregory E. Reinhardt, Enzo DiBenedetto, Jason W. Mazanec
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turbofan engine comprises an engine case. A gaspath extends through the engine case. A fan has a circumferential array of fan blades. A fan case encircles the fan blades radially outboard of the engine case. A plurality of fan case vanes extend outward from the engine case to the fan case. A front frame assembly includes a plurality of vanes extending radially across the gaspath. A transmission couples a shaft to a fan shaft to drive the fan. A bearing assembly couples the shaft to the front frame assembly. A bearing support extends aftward and radially inward from the front frame assembly to the bearing assembly.
Claims24
A turbofan engine comprising:
- an engine case;
- a gaspath through the engine case;
- a fan having a circumferential array of fan blades;
- a fan case encircling the fan blades radially outboard of the engine case;
- a plurality of fan case vanes extending outward from the engine case to the fan case;
- a front frame assembly comprising a plurality of vanes extending radially across the gas path;
- a shaft;
- a transmission coupling the shaft to a fan shaft to drive the fan;
- a bearing assembly coupling the shaft to the front frame assembly;
- and
- a bearing support extending aftward and radially inward from the front frame assembly to the bearing assembly.
A method for assembling an engine, the method comprising:
- coupling a bearing assembly to a shaft;
- coupling a bearing support, that extends forward and radially outward from the bearing assembly, to a front frame assembly;
- coupling a transmission to the shaft;
- and
- coupling a fan to the transmission.
A bearing support for mounting an engine front frame assembly to a bearing assembly, comprising:
- a forward mounting flange for mounting to the front frame assembly;
- and
- a web extending aftward and radially inward from the forward mounting flange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.