Bowed rotor prevention system
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsJesse W. Clauson, Tyler J. Selstad
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bowed rotor prevention system for a gas turbine engine includes a bowed rotor prevention motor operable to drive rotation of the gas turbine engine through an engine accessory gearbox. The bowed rotor prevention system also includes a controller operable to engage the bowed rotor prevention motor and drive rotation of the gas turbine engine below an engine starting speed until a bowed rotor prevention threshold condition is met.
Claims20
A bowed rotor prevention system for a gas turbine engine, the bowed rotor prevention system comprising:
- a bowed rotor prevention motor operable to drive rotation of the gas turbine engine through an engine accessory gearbox;
- an air turbine starter, wherein the bowed rotor prevention motor drives a motor shaft that is mechanically linked to an air turbine starter drive shaft of the air turbine starter;
- an air turbine of the air turbine starter operable to rotate an output shaft of the air turbine starter, wherein an output bevel gear of the output shaft interfaces with a motor bevel gear of the motor shaft, and an input bevel gear of the air turbine starter drive shaft interfaces with the motor bevel gear at a gear interface of the bowed rotor prevention system;
- and
- a controller operable to engage the bowed rotor prevention motor and drive rotation of the gas turbine engine below an engine starting speed until a bowed rotor prevention threshold condition is met.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- an engine accessory gearbox configured to be coupled to a high pressure spool;
- and
- a bowed rotor prevention system comprising:
- a bowed rotor prevention motor operable to drive rotation of the gas turbine engine through the engine accessory gearbox;
- an air turbine starter, wherein the bowed rotor prevention motor drives a motor shaft that is mechanically linked to an air turbine starter drive shaft of the air turbine starter;
- an air turbine of the air turbine starter operable to rotate an output shaft of the air turbine starter, wherein an output bevel gear of the output shaft interfaces with a motor bevel gear of the motor shaft, and an input bevel gear of the air turbine starter drive shaft interfaces with the motor bevel gear at a gear interface of the bowed rotor prevention system;
- and
- a controller operable to engage the bowed rotor prevention motor and drive rotation of the gas turbine engine below an engine starting speed until a bowed rotor prevention threshold condition is met.
A method of bowed rotor prevention for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
- interfacing an output bevel gear of an output shaft of an air turbine starter with a motor bevel gear of a motor shaft of a bowed rotor prevention motor;
- interfacing an input bevel gear of an air turbine starter drive shaft with the motor bevel gear;
- engaging the bowed rotor prevention motor with turbomachinery of the gas turbine engine through an engine accessory gearbox of the gas turbine engine;
- and
- driving rotation of the turbomachinery of the gas turbine engine by the bowed rotor prevention motor below an engine starting speed until a bowed rotor prevention threshold condition is met.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.