Turbofan Engine Bearing and Gearbox Arrangement
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsWilliam G. Sheridan, Michael E. McCune
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turbofan engine (20) has a fan shaft (120) coupling a fan drive gear system (60) to the fan (28). A low spool comprises a low pressure turbine (50) and a low shaft (56) coupling the low pressure turbine to the fan drive gear system. A core spool comprises a high pressure turbine (46), a compressor (44), and a core shaft (52) coupling the high pressure turbine to the core spool compressor. A first bearing (150) engages the fan shaft, the first bearing being a thrust bearing. A second bearing (160) engages the fan shaft on an opposite side of the fan drive gear system from the first bearing, the second bearing being a roller bearing. A third bearing (180) engages the low spool shaft and the fan shaft.
Claims20
A turbofan engine (20) comprising:
- a fan (28);
- a fan drive gear system (60);
- a fan shaft (120) coupling the fan drive gear system to the fan;
- a low spool comprising:
- a low pressure turbine (50);
- and
- a low shaft (56) coupling the low pressure turbine to the fan drive gear system;
- a core spool comprising:
- a high pressure turbine (46);
- a compressor (44);
- and
- a core shaft (52) coupling the high pressure turbine to the core spool compressor;
- a first bearing (150) engaging the fan shaft, the first bearing being a thrust bearing;
- a second bearing (160) engaging the fan shaft on an opposite side of the fan drive gear system from the first bearing, the second bearing being a roller bearing;
- and
- a third bearing (180) engaging the low spool shaft and the fan shaft.
A turbofan engine (20) comprising:
- a fan (28);
- a fan drive gear system (60) having a gear carrier (86);
- and
- a fan shaft (120) coupling the fan drive gear system to the fan;
- a low spool comprising:
- a low pressure turbine (50);
- and
- a low shaft (56) coupling the low pressure turbine to the fan drive gear system;
- and
- a core spool comprising:
- a high pressure turbine (46);
- a compressor (44);
- and
- a core shaft (52) coupling the high pressure turbine to the core spool shaft,
- wherein:
- the fan shaft is mounted to rotate with the gear carrier as a unit and said unit engages a first bearing (150) forward of the gear carrier and engages a second bearing (160) aft of the gear carrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.