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US 8,720,306 B2Granted
Turbine engine gearbox
AssigneesUnited Technologies Corporation, The Ohio State University
InventorsMichael E. McCune, Ahmet Kahraman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example method of controlling performance of gearbox of a gas turbine engine includes establishing a gear characteristic of a plurality of double helical gears each disposed about a respective axis in a gearbox. Performance of the plurality of double helical gears is controlled by selecting a circumferential offset distance between a first plurality of gear teeth spaced apart from a second plurality of gear teeth on each of the plurality of double helical gears in response to the established gear characteristic.
Claims13
A turbine engine comprising:
- a fan;
- a compressor section;
- a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section;
- a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor;
- and
- a gearbox having a plurality of double helical gears in meshed engagement, each of the plurality of double helical gears disposed about an axis, each of the plurality of double helical gears having a first plurality of gear teeth axially spaced apart from a second plurality of gear teeth by a circumferential ring, wherein each of the first plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the circumferential ring and each of the second plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the circumferential ring, wherein each first end of the first plurality of gear teeth is circumferentially offset from each first end of the second plurality of gear teeth by a predetermined amount in response to a gear characteristic;
- and
- the gearbox including an epicyclic gear system.
5 more elements
A turbine engine comprising:
- a fan;
- a compressor section;
- a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section;
- a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor:
- a gearbox having a plurality of double helical gears in meshed engagement, each of the plurality of double helical gears disposed about an axis, each of the plurality of double helical gears having a first plurality of gear teeth axially spaced apart from a second plurality of gear teeth by a circumferential ring, wherein each of the first plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the circumferential ring and each of the second plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the circumferential ring, wherein each first end of the first plurality of gear teeth is circumferentially offset from each first end of the second plurality of gear teeth by a predetermined amount in response to a gear characteristic;
- the first plurality of gear teeth and the second plurality of gear teeth about each double helical gear are disposed at a helix angle relative to an axis;
- and
- the helix angle being between about 30-35°.
5 more elements
A gearbox for a gas turbine engine comprising:
- a plurality of double helical gears in meshed engagement, each of the plurality of double helical gears disposed about an axis, each of the plurality of double helical gears having a first plurality of gear teeth axially spaced apart from a second plurality of gear teeth by a circumferential ring, wherein each of the first plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the circumferential ring and each of the second plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the circumferential ring, wherein each first end of the first plurality of gear teeth is circumferentially offset from each first end of the second plurality of gear teeth by a predetermined amount in response to a gear characteristic;
- the gear characteristic is a harmonic level;
- and
- the first plurality of gear teeth being offset from the second plurality of gear teeth by the circumferential offset distance of about 15% to about 25% or about 75% to about 85% of a circumferential offset distance between each of the second plurality of teeth, wherein the harmonic level is the second harmonic level.
1 more element
A gearbox for a gas turbine engine comprising;
- a plurality of double helical gears in meshed engagement, each of the plurality of double helical gears disposed about an axis, each of the plurality of double helical gears having a first plurality of gear teeth axially spaced apart from a second plurality of gear teeth by a circumferential ring, wherein each of the first plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the circumferential ring and each of the second plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the circumferential ring, wherein each first end of the first plurality of gear teeth is circumferentially offset from each first end of the second plurality of gear teeth by a predetermined amount in response to a gear characteristic:
- the gear characteristic being a harmonic level;
- and
- the first plurality of gear teeth being offset from the second plurality of gear teeth by the circumferential offset distance of about 25% to 75% of a circumferential offset distance between each of the second plurality of gear teeth.
1 more element
A gearbox for a gas turbine engine comprising:
- a plurality of double helical gears in meshed engagement, each of the plurality of double helical gears disposed about an axis, each of the plurality of double helical gears having a first plurality of gear teeth axially spaced apart from a second plurality of gear teeth by a circumferential ring, wherein each of the first plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the circumferential ring and each of the second plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the circumferential ring, wherein each first end of the first plurality of gear teeth is circumferentially offset from each first end of the second plurality of gear teeth by a predetermined amount in response to a gear characteristic:
- and
- a helix angle between the axis and each of the first plurality of gear teeth and second plurality of gear teeth being between 30° and 35°.
A gearbox for a gas turbine engine comprising:
- a plurality of double helical gears in meshed engagement of the plurality of double helical gears disposed about an axis, each of the plurality of double helical gears having a first plurality of gear teeth axially spaced apart from a second plurality of gear teeth by a circumferential ring, wherein each of the first plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the circumferential ring and each of the second plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the circumferential ring, wherein each first end of the first plurality of gear teeth is circumferentially offset from each first end of the second plurality of gear teeth by a predetermined amount in response to a gear characteristic;
- the gear characteristic is a harmonic level;
- the harmonic level is one of the first harmonic level, a second harmonic level, and a third harmonic level;
- and
- the first plurality of gear teeth being circumferentially offset about 50% from the second plurality of gear teeth to reduce a transmission error in the first harmonic and the third harmonic.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.