Turbofan with frangible rotor support
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsJohn W. Allen, Kenneth F. Udall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ducted fan gas turbine engine (10) is provided with a fan (12) which is carried by a shaft (16). A frangible support member (27) maintains a coaxial relationship between the shaft (16) and the longitudinal axis (15) of the engine (10). In the event of severe damage to the fan (12), the frangible member (27) fractures, allowing the shaft (16) carrying the fan (12) to orbit about the engine longitudinal axis (15). A resilient support member (33,45) exerts a radially inward restoration force on the shaft (16) carrying the fan (12) to reduce vibration.
Claims9
A ducted fan gas turbine engine having a longitudinal axis and including a propulsive fan and a first shaft, said propulsive fan mounted on said first shaft, a second shaft and a compressor mounted on said second shaft, said shafts being normally coaxial both with each other and with said engine longitudinal axis, axially spaced apart first and second bearing members, said shafts being respectively supported at their upstream ends by said first and second bearing members, said engine having fixed structure, radially frangible support means, and radially resilient support means, said first bearing member being supported from said fixed structure of said engine by said radially frangible support means, and said second bearing member being supported from said fixed structure of said engine, and additionally interconnected with said first bearing member, by said radially resilient support means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.