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US 6,881,027 B2Granted
Gearless/oilless gas turbine engine
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsReinhard M. Klaass, Donald I. Takeuchi, Bjoern Schenk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The complex mechanical gear trains and lubrication systems of conventional engine configurations are eliminated by using combinations of hydrodynamic air foil bearings, hydrodynamic solid geometry carbon seals/bearings, magnetic bearings, and electrical starter/generators that can also act as bearings to support the high speed shafts of gas turbine engines. The various bearing types and the starter/generators are arranged in such a way as to share peak loads experienced by the engine shaft during maximum aircraft maneuvers. This results in a minimal bearing and engine size.
Claims29
A rotor comprising:
- at least a first rotor;
- an air foil bearing supporting a first end of said first rotor;
- and
- a hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal providing additional support to said first rotor and sealing a bearing compartment of said air foil bearing, thereby allowing an increased internal operating pressure of said air foil bearing, and hence, increased load capacity of said air foil bearing, as compared to said air foil bearing without said hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal.
1 more element
A rotor comprising:
- at least a first rotor;
- an air foil bearing supporting a first end of said first rotor;
- a hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal providing additional support to said first rotor and sealing a bearing compartment of said air foil bearing, thereby allowing an increased internal operating pressure, and hence, increased capacity, as compared to said air foil bearing without said hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal, wherein said hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal is designed integrally with said air foil bearing;
- an electrical machine having an electrical machine bearing therein reacting either a thrust load or radial load or both;
- and
- said electrical machine bearing supporting a second, opposite end of said first rotor.
3 more elements
A rotor having its load shared among a plurality of bearings comprising:
- a first rotor;
- an air foil bearing supporting a first end of said first rotor;
- a hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal providing additional support to said first rotor and sealing a bearing compartment of said air foil bearing, thereby allowing an increased internal operating pressure, and hence, increased capacity, as compared to said air foil bearing without said hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal;
- said hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal being designed integrally with said air foil bearing;
- an electrical machine having an electrical machine bearing therein;
- said electrical machine bearing supporting a second, opposite end of said first rotor;
- said electrical machine bearing includes an electrical machine air foil bearing and an electrical machine hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal providing additional axial and radial support to said first rotor and sealing a bearing compartment of said electrical machine air foil bearing, thereby allowing an increased internal operating pressure, and hence, increased capacity, as compared to said electrical machine air foil bearing without said electrical machine hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal;
- and
- said electrical machine hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal being designed integrally with said electrical machine air foil bearing.
6 more elements
A rotor for a two spool engine configuration of an aircraft, comprising:
- a first rotor;
- a second rotor;
- an air foil bearing supporting a first end of said first rotor;
- a second air foil bearing supporting a first end of said second rotor;
- a first hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal providing additional support to said first rotor and sealing a bearing compartment of said air foil bearing, thereby allowing an increased internal operating pressure, and hence, increased capacity, as compared to said air foil bearing without said hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal;
- a second hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal providing additional support to said second rotor and sealing a bearing compartment of said second air foil bearing, thereby allowing an increased internal operating pressure, and hence, increased capacity, as compared to said second air foil bearing without said second hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal;
- said first hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal arid said second hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal being designed integrally with said air foil bearing;
- a first electrical machine having an electrical machine bearing therein, said second electrical machine bearing supporting a second, opposite end of said first rotor;
- a second electrical machine having an electrical machine bearing therein, said second electrical machine bearing supporting a second, opposite end of said second rotor;
- said first and second electrical machine bearings each include an electrical machine air foil bearing and an electrical machine hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal providing additional axial and radial support to said first and second rotor and sealing a bearing compartment of said first and second electrical machine air foil bearing, thereby allowing an increased internal operating pressure, and hence, increased capacity, as compared to said first and second electrical machine air foil bearing without said first and second electrical machine hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal;
- and
- said first and second electrical machine hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seals being designed integrally with said first and second electrical machine air foil bearings.
9 more elements
A method for sharing the load of a rotor of an aircraft gas turbine engine, comprising:
- supporting a first end of a first rotor by a first air foil bearing;
- sealing a bearing compartment of said first air foil bearing with a first hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal, said first hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal providing additional support for said first rotor;
- and
- supporting a second, opposite end of said first rotor by a first electrical machine bearing from a first electrical machine, said first electrical machine bearing includes a first electrical machine air foil bearing and a first electrical machine hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal providing additional support to said first rotor and sealing a bearing compartment of said first electrical machine air foil bearing.
1 more element
A rotor comprising:
- at least a first rotor;
- an air foil bearing supporting a first end of said first rotor;
- a hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal providing additional support to said first rotor and sealing a bearing compartment of said air foil bearing, thereby allowing an increased internal operating pressure of said air foil bearing, and hence, increased load capacity of said air foil bearing, as compared to said air foil bearing without said hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal;
- a magnetic thrust bearing supporting said first rotor;
- and
- a thrust bearing hydrodynamic carbon bearing/seal sealing said magnetic thrust bearing and providing additional support of said first rotor.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.