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US 8,708,863 B2Granted
Epicyclic gear train
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsMichael E. McCune, Lawrence E. Portlock, Frederick M. Schwarz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An epicyclic gear train includes a carrier that supports star gears that mesh with a sun gear. A ring gear surrounds and meshes with the star gears. Each of the star gears is supported on a respective journal bearing. Each journal bearing includes an internal central cavity and at least one passage that extends radially from the internal cavity to a peripheral journal surface of the respective journal bearing. The epicyclic gear train has a gear reduction ratio of greater than or equal to about 2.3.
Claims28
A gear apparatus, comprising:
- an epicyclic gear train including a carrier supporting star gears that mesh with a sun gear, and a ring gear surrounding and meshing with the star gears, each of the star gears being supported on a respective journal bearing, each journal bearing including an internal central cavity and at least one passage extending radially from the internal cavity to a peripheral journal surface of the respective journal bearing, wherein the epicyclic gear train has a gear reduction ratio of greater than or equal to about 2.3, the ring gear including an inner periphery with teeth, an outer circumferential surface opposite the teeth and a flange projecting radially outwards from the outer circumferential surface, the flange including an internal passage opening at the inner periphery and at a radially outer tip of the flange, the flange being secured with a seal and an oil guide in a joint.
A turbine engine comprising:
- a turbine shaft;
- a fan;
- and
- an epicyclic gear train coupled between the turbine shaft and the fan, the epicyclic gear train including a carrier supporting star gears that mesh with a sun gear, and a ring gear surrounding and meshing with the star gears, each of the star gears being supported on a respective journal bearing, each journal bearing including an internal central cavity and at least one passage extending radially from the internal cavity to a peripheral journal surface of the respective journal bearing, wherein the epicyclic gear train defines a gear reduction ratio of greater than or equal to about 2.3, the ring gear including an inner periphery with teeth, an outer circumferential surface opposite the teeth and a flange projecting radially outwards from the outer circumferential surface, the flange including an internal passage opening at the inner periphery and at a radially outer tip of the flange, the flange being secured with a seal and an oil guide in a joint.
1 more element
A gear apparatus, comprising:
- an epicyclic gear train including a carrier supporting intermediate gears that mesh with a sun gear, and a ring gear surrounding and meshing with the intermediate gears, each of the intermediate gears being supported on a respective bearing, the ring gear including an inner periphery with teeth, an outer circumferential surface opposite the teeth and a flange projecting radially outwards from the outer circumferential surface, the flange including an internal passage opening at the inner periphery and at a radially outer tip of the flange, the flange being secured with a seal and an oil guide in a joint;
- and
- a gutter in contact with the seal and arranged about the opening at the radially outer tip of the flange, wherein the joint includes a slot there through that opens at one end to an interior area of the gutter and at another end to an area axially adjacent the ring gear.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a turbine section comprising:
- a first turbine section;
- and
- a second turbine section, the second turbine section having a pressure ratio of greater than about 5.0;
- a gear train configured to be driven the second turbine section, the gear train comprising:
- a carrier supporting intermediate gears that mesh with a sun gear, and a ring gear surrounding and meshing with the intermediate gears, the ring gear comprising:
- an inner periphery and an outer circumferential surface opposite the inner periphery;
- and
- a flange projecting radially outwards from the outer circumferential surface, the flange including an internal passage opening at the inner periphery and at a radially outer tip of the flange, the flange being secured with a seal and an oil guide in a joint;
- and
- a fan configured to be driven by the gear train at a speed lower than the speed of the second turbine section.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.