Method of assembly for gas turbine fan drive gear system
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsMichael E. McCune, William G. Sheridan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of mounting a gear train to a torque frame includes providing a unitary carrier having a central axis that includes spaced apart walls and circumferentially spaced connecting structure defining mounts for interconnecting the walls. Spaced apart apertures are provided between the mounts at an outer circumference of the carrier. Gear pockets are provided between the walls and mounts extending to the apertures, and a central opening in at least one of the walls. A plurality of intermediate gears and a sun gear are inserted in the carrier. A first ring gear half is placed about the outer periphery of the intermediate gears, and attach a torque frame to the carrier.
Claims26
A gear reduction for use in a gas turbine engine comprising:
- a unitary carrier centered on an axis and having a pair of axially spaced apart side walls, and axially extending circumferentially spaced connecting structure for connecting said pair of spaced side walls, a central opening, and circumferentially spaced smaller openings spaced radially outwardly of said central opening, with internal surfaces of said circumferentially spaced connecting structure to define intermediate gear pockets, with said intermediate gear pockets extending away from said central enlarged opening for a distance greater than a diameter of intermediate gears received in said intermediate gear pockets;
- intermediate gears received in said intermediate gear pockets, and secured at a position spaced radially inwardly of a radially outermost area in said intermediate gear pockets, with said intermediate gears having teeth engaged with teeth of a sun gear received in said central opening;
- and
- a ring gear received at radially outer locations such that ring gear teeth engage teeth of said intermediate gears.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a fan drive turbine driving a fan rotor through a gear reduction including a unitary carrier centered on an axis and having a pair of axially spaced apart side walls, and axially extending circumferentially spaced connecting structure for connecting said pair of spaced side walls, a central opening, and circumferentially spaced smaller openings spaced radially outwardly of said central opening, with internal surfaces of said circumferentially spaced connecting structure to define intermediate gear pockets, with said intermediate gear pockets extending away from said central enlarged opening for a distance greater than a diameter of intermediate gears received in said intermediate gear pockets, intermediate gears received in said intermediate gear pockets, and secured at a position spaced radially inwardly of a radially outermost area in said intermediate gear pockets, with said intermediate gears having teeth engaged with teeth of a sun gear received in said central opening, and a ring gear received at radially outer locations such that ring gear teeth engage teeth of said intermediate gears.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.