IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,813,469
Granted Patent B2
US 8,813,469 · App. 12/902,525 · Granted Aug 26, 2014

Planetary gear system arrangement with auxiliary oil system

Inventor: William G. Sheridan (Southington, CT)
Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
F01D25/18F05D2260/40311F01D25/16Y02T50/671F05D2230/642
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,813,469
App. No.
12/902,525
Granted
Aug 26, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lubricating system for lubricating components across a rotation gap has an input that provides lubricant to a stationary first bearing. The first bearing has an inner first race in which lubricant flows. A second bearing rotates within the first bearing and has a first opening in registration with the inner first race such that lubricant may flow from the inner first race through the first opening into a first conduit.

Claims (48)

1. A jet engine having a lubrication system for lubricating components across a rotation gap, said lubrication system comprising:

a lubricant input;

a stationary first bearing receiving lubricant from said lubricant input said first bearing having a stationary inner first race in which lubricant flows;

a second bearing for rotation within said first bearing, said second bearing having a first opening in registration with said inner first race such that lubricant may flow from said inner first race through said first opening into a first conduit; and

said first bearing has a second inner race and said second bearing has a second opening in registration with said second inner race and a second conduit for passing lubricant,

wherein the first conduit passes lubricant to a different part of the jet engine than a part where lubricant is passed through the second conduit.

2. The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein first bearing and said second bearing are disposed about an axis.

3. The lubrication system of claim 2 wherein said first conduit is parallel to said axis and said opening is perpendicular to said axis.

4. The lubrication system of claim 1 further comprising:

a rotating carrier for supporting a planetary gear wherein said second bearing extends from said rotating carrier about an axis.

5. The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein said first conduit is parallel to said axis and said first opening is perpendicular to said axis.

6. The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein said first conduit lubricates said planetary gears.

7. The lubrication system of claim 4 further comprising a first spray bar disposed on said carrier.

8. The lubrication system of claim 7 wherein said second conduit passes lubricant to said spray bar.

9. The lubrication system of claim 7 wherein said first spray bar directs lubricant to a component disposed coaxially with said carrier.

10. The lubrication system of claim 7 wherein said first bearing has a third inner race and said second bearing has a third opening in registration with said third inner race and a third conduit for passing lubricant through said first spray bar.

11. The lubrication system of claim 10 wherein said third conduit passes lubricant to a component disposed radially forward of said carrier.

12. The lubrication system of claim 11 wherein said component is a tapered bearing.

13. The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein said components are any of a ring gear or a sun gear.

14. The lubrication system of claim 1 further comprising;

an arm mounted to a grounding structure and attaching to said first bearing for preventing said first bearing from rotating with said second bearing.

15. The lubrication system of claim 14 in which said arm is flexibly attached to said first bearing.

16. The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein an outer surface of the second bearing supports an inner surface of the stationary first bearing.

17. A planetary gear system for a jet engine comprises:

a planetary gear;

a sun gear;

a stationary ring gear;

a carrier in which said planetary gear is mounted, said carrier mounted for rotation about said sun gear; and

a lubricating system having a lubricant input,

a stationary first bearing receiving lubricant from said lubricant input said first beating having a stationary inner first race in which lubricant flows,

a second beating for rotation within said first bearing, said second beating having a first opening in registration with said inner first race such that lubricant may flow from said inner first race through said first opening into a first conduit, and

said first bearing has a second inner race and said second bearing has a second opening in registration with said second inner race and a second conduit for passing lubricant,

wherein the first conduit passes lubricant to a different part of the jet engine than a part where lubricant is passed through the second conduit.

18. The planetary gear system of claim 17 wherein said second bearing extends from said carrier along an axis.

19. The planetary gear system of claim 17 wherein said first conduit lubricates said planetary gear.

20. The planetary gear system of claim 17 further comprising a first spray bar disposed on said carrier.

21. The planetary gear system of claim 20 wherein said second conduit passes lubricant to said spray bar.

22. The planetary gear system of claim 21 wherein said first spray bar directs lubricant to any of said sun gear, said planetary gear or said ring gear.

23. The planetary gear system of claim 17 wherein said first bearing has a third inner race and said second bearing has a third opening in registration with said third inner race and a third conduit for passing lubricant from said third inner race through said first spray bar.

24. The planetary gear system of claim 23 wherein said third conduit passes lubricant to a tapered bearing outside of said carrier.

25. The planetary gear system of claim 17 further comprising:

a first gutter attaching to and disposed radially outwardly from said ring gear for capturing oil from said lubrication system.

26. The planetary gear system of claim 25 further comprising:

a second gutter attaching to and disposed radially outwardly from said ring gear for capturing oil from said lubrication system said second gutter being disposed axially from said first gutter.

27. The planetary gear system of claim 25 wherein said first gutter is attached to an oil reservoir.

28. The planetary gear system of claim 27 wherein said second gutter directs oil to said first gutter via an opening in said ring gear.

29. The planetary gear system of claim 25 wherein said ring gear has an oil conduit that allows oil to flow radially outward from said ring gear.

30. The planetary gear system of claim 17 wherein an outer surface of the second bearing supports an inner surface of the stationary first bearing.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2010
From: SHERIDAN, WILLIAM G.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025124/0763 →
Continuity (1)
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