Methods and apparatus for isolating gas turbine engine bearings
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRobert Edwin Shockley, Gary Charles Liotta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine engine including a rotor shaft includes a bearing isolation system including an isolation shaft and a pair of pilots. The pilots are disposed between the isolation and rotor shafts and connect the isolation shaft to the rotor shaft to form a gap between the isolation and rotor shafts. The pilots are positioned axially along the rotor shaft and permit the isolation shaft to move axially with respect to the rotor shaft. Each pilot includes a plurality of openings to permit cooling air to flow within the gap defined between the isolation shaft and the rotor shaft.
Claims20
A method of reducing thermal conduction between a turbine engine rotor shaft and a bearing assembly using a bearing isolation system, the bearing isolation system including a shaft disposed a distance from the rotor shaft and between the turbine rotor shaft and the bearing, the bearing isolation system shaft including a plurality of pilots disposed between the turbine rotor shaft and the bearing assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
- operating the turbine engine;
- and
- directing cooling air into a gap defined between the bearing isolation system shaft and the turbine rotor shaft.
A bearing isolation system for a gas turbine engine including a main rotor shaft including at least one rotor, and a bearing rotatably coupled to the main rotor shaft, said bearing isolation system comprising a shaft disposed between the main rotor shaft and the bearing, said bearing isolation system shaft connected to the bearing and configured to isolate the bearing from the main rotor shaft, said main rotor shaft and said bearing isolation system shaft defining a gap coupled in flow communication with an air source for receiving cooling air therethrough for cooling said bearing.
A gas turbine engine rotor assembly comprising:
- a first rotor comprising a rotor shaft;
- at least one bearing rototably coupled to said rotor shaft;
- and
- a bearing isolation system configured to isolate said bearing from said rotor shaft, said bearing isolation system comprising a bearing isolation system shaft disposed between said rotor shaft and said bearing, said bearing isolation system shaft coupled to an air source for receiving cooling air to facilitate reducing conduction of heat to said bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.