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US 8,572,943 B1Granted
Fundamental gear system architecture
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorWilliam G. Sheridan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fan drive gear system for a gas turbine engine includes a gear system that provides a speed reduction between a fan drive turbine and a fan and a mount flexibly supporting portions of the gear system. A lubrication system supporting the fan drive gear system provides lubricant to the gear system and removes thermal energy produced by the gear system. The lubrication system includes a capacity for removing thermal energy equal to less than about 2% of power input into the gear system.
Claims20
A fan drive gear system for a gas turbine engine comprising:
- a gear system configured to provide a speed reduction between a fan drive turbine and a fan;
- a mount flexibly supporting portions of the gear system radially extending from a static structure of the gas turbine engine with respect to a central axis to accommodate radial movement between the gear system and the static structure;
- and
- a lubrication system configured to provide lubricant to the gear system and remove thermal energy produced by the gear system, wherein the lubrication system includes a maximum capacity for removing thermal energy from the gear system greater than zero and less than about 2% of power input into the gear system during operation of the engine.
1 more element
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a fan including a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis;
- a compressor section;
- a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section;
- a fan drive turbine in communication with the combustor;
- a gear system is configured to:
- (a) provide a speed reduction between the fan drive turbine and the fan;
- and (b), transfer power input from the fan drive turbine to the fan at an efficiency greater than about 98% to less 100%;
- a mount flexibly supporting the gear system radially extending from a static structure of the engine with respect to a central axis to accommodate radial movement between the gear system and the static structure;
- and
- a lubrication system configured to provide lubricant to the gear system and remove removing thermal energy from the gear system produced by the gear system.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.