Compact epicyclic gear carrier

An epicyclic gear carrier assembly comprising:

• at least one carrier plate defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced axle bores therethrough disposed radially outward from a central axis, a plurality of corresponding gear axles being disposed in substantially tight fit engagement within said axle bores for rotatably supporting a plurality of epicyclic gears thereon, said carrier plate being supported by said gear axles and being mounted solely thereto;
• and an epicyclic carrier member comprising a plurality of axle engaging elements co-axial with said gear axles and engaged thereto by load transmission members such that load is transferred between said gear axles and said axle engaging elements while substantially bypassing said carrier plate.

An epicyclic gear carrier assembly for used in an epicyclic gear train of a gas turbine engine having a sun gear rotatable about a central axis, a ring gear, and a plurality of epicyclic gears each rotatable about an individual axis of rotation, said epicyclic gear carrier assembly comprising:

• a plurality of gear support means each having one of said epicyclic gears rotatably mounted thereto by bearing elements such that said gear support means are co-axial with said individual axis of rotation, said gear support means being engaged to at least one carrier plate being mounted solely to said gear support means and having bores therein within which said gear support means are disposed in tight fit engagement;
• and
• an epicyclic carrier member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced gear engaging means which axially extend and are disposed radially outward from said central axis, each of said gear engaging means being co-axial with one of said gear support means and engaged thereto by a deflection isolating load transmission means, such that load is transferred between said gear support means and said gear engaging means while substantially bypassing said carrier plate.