Journal pin oil supply for gear system
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorMichael E. McCune
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example journal pin includes a generally cylindrical body disposed on an axis having a supply passage. A first chamber and a second chamber are disposed in the generally cylindrical body and are in fluid communication with the supply passage. A recess on an outer diameter of the cylindrical body is in fluid communication with the first chamber and the second chamber. The first chamber and second chamber are each radially outward of the supply passage and including an outlet to the recess. The first chamber and second chamber each have a first section radially inward of a second section. A cross sectional area of the second section is greater than a cross sectional area of the corresponding first section.
Claims24
A journal pin comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body disposed about an axis, the body having a supply passage;
- at least one chamber disposed in the generally cylindrical body in fluid communication with the supply passage;
- and
- a recess on an outer diameter of the cylindrical body in fluid communication with the at least one chamber, wherein the at least one chamber is radially outward of the supply passage and includes an outlet to the recess, wherein a ratio of an axial length of the recess to an axial length of the body is less than about 0.5:1.
A turbomachine epicyclic gear system comprising:
- a sun gear;
- a ring gear radially outward of the sun gear;
- a plurality of intermediate gears meshed with the sun gear and the ring gear;
- and
- a plurality of journal pins each configured to support one of the plurality of intermediate gears, at least one of the plurality of journal pins has a generally cylindrical body disposed about an axis, wherein the body has a supply passage in fluid communication with a recess disposed on the outer circumference of the journal pin through at least one chamber disposed in the journal pin,
- wherein the at least one chamber is radially outward of the supply passage and has an outlet to the recess, wherein a ratio of an axial length of the recess to an axial length of the body is less than about 0.5:1.
A method for assembling an epicyclic gear system in a turbomachine comprising:
- supporting a first intermediate gear with a journal pin having a supply passage in fluid communication with a recess through at least one chamber disposed in the journal pin, wherein the at least one chamber is radially outward of the supply passage, wherein a ratio of an axial length of the recess to an axial length of the body is less than about 0.5:1;
- and
- orienting the journal pin such that the recess is circumferentially offset from a load plane of the journal pin.
A method of designing an epicyclic gear system for a turbomachine comprising:
- configuring a ring gear radially outward of a sun gear;
- configuring at least one intermediate gear for meshed engagement with the sun gear and the ring gear;
- and
- defining a plurality of journal pins to support a corresponding plurality of intermediate gears, at least one of the journal pins to have a generally cylindrical body disposed about an axis, wherein the body has a supply passage configured to be in fluid communication with a recess disposed on the outer circumference of the journal pin through at least one chamber disposed in the journal pin, wherein the at least one chamber is radially outward of the supply passage and has an outlet to the recess, wherein a ratio of an axial length of the recess to an axial length of the body is less than about 0.5:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.