IP Library Granted Patent US 10,371,047
Granted Patent B2
US 10,371,047 · App. 14/651,923 · Granted Aug 6, 2019

Geared turbofan engine with targeted modular efficiency

Inventor: Frederick M. Schwarz (Glastonbury, CT)
Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
F02C3/107F01D5/142F05D2220/327F05D2260/40311Y02T50/671Y02T50/673
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,371,047
App. No.
14/651,923
Granted
Aug 6, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A turbofan engine includes a fan section including a fan blade having a leading edge and hub to tip ratio of less than about 0.34 and greater than about 0.020 measured at the leading edge and a speed change mechanism with gear ratio greater than about 2.6 to 1. A first compression section includes a last blade trailing edge radial tip length that is greater than about 67% of the radial tip length of a leading edge of a first stage of the first compression section. A second compression section includes a last blade trailing edge radial tip length that is greater than about 57% of a radial tip length of a leading edge of a first stage of the first compression section.

Claims (30)

1. A turbofan engine comprising;

a fan section including a fan blade having a leading edge and hub to tip ratio of less than 0.34 and greater than 0.020 measured at the leading edge;

a speed change mechanism with gear ratio greater than 2.6:1;

a first compression section including a last blade trailing edge radial tip length that is greater than 67% of the radial tip length of a leading edge of a first stage of the first compression section;

a second compression section including a last blade trailing edge radial tip length that is greater than 57% of a radial tip length of a leading edge of a first stage of the first compression section; and

a turbine section including a fan drive turbine section and a second turbine section forward of the fan drive turbine section, wherein a mid-turbine frame is arranged between the fan drive turbine section and the second turbine section, the mid-turbine frame supporting a bearing system that supports rotation of at least one of the fan drive turbine and the second turbine section and includes a vane guiding core flow into the fan drive turbine section.

2. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fan section provides a low fan pressure ratio less than 1.6 across a fan blade alone.

3. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 2 , wherein the fan section provides a low fan pressure ratio between 1.45 and 1.20 across a fan blade alone.

4. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 3 , wherein the fan section provides a bypass ratio greater than 8.

5. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 3 , wherein the fan section provides a bypass ratio greater than 12.

6. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fan section provides a bypass ratio greater than 8.

7. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second turbine section includes at least two turbine stages forward of a first turbine blade of the fan drive turbine.

8. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 7 , wherein the fan drive turbine includes at least three stages.

9. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 8 , wherein the fan drive turbine is coupled to the drive the first compression section.

10. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 9 , wherein at least one of the at least two turbine stages is coupled to drive the second compression section.

11. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first compression section includes three stages and the second compression section includes eight stages.

12. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fan includes a plurality of fan blades and the fan drive turbine includes a plurality of rotor stages and a ratio between the number of the plurality of fan blades and the number of the plurality of rotor stages is between 3.3 and 8.6.

13. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 12 , wherein the plurality of fan blades is less than 20 fan blades.

14. A turbofan engine comprising:

a fan section providing a bypass ratio greater than 12;

a speed change mechanism with gear ratio greater than 2.6 to 1;

a first compression section including a last blade trailing edge tip length that is greater than 67% of the radial length of a first stage leading edge of the first compression section; and

a second compression section including a last blade with a trailing edge tip that includes a radial length that is greater than 57% of a radial length of the first stage leading edge of the first compression section; and

a turbine section including a fan drive turbine section and a second turbine section forward of the fan drive turbine section, wherein a mid-turbine frame is arranged between the fan drive turbine section and the second turbine section, the mid-turbine frame supporting a bearing system that supports rotation of at least one of the fan drive turbine and the second turbine section and includes a vane guiding core flow into the fan drive turbine section.

15. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 14 , wherein the fan section includes a plurality of fan blades supported on a hub, wherein a leading edge of at least one of the fan blades includes a leading edge and a hub to tip ratio is less than 0.34 and greater than 0.020 measured at the leading edge.

16. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 15 , wherein the fan section provides a fan pressure ratio between 1.45 and 1.20 across the plurality of fan blades alone.

17. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 14 , wherein the second turbine section includes at least two turbine stages forward of a first turbine blade of the fan drive turbine.

18. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 17 , wherein at least one of the at least two turbine stages is coupled to drive the second compression section.

19. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 14 , wherein the first compression section includes three stages and the second compression section includes eight stages.

20. The turbofan engine as recited in claim 14 , wherein the fan includes a plurality of fan blades and the fan drive turbine includes a plurality of rotor stages and a ratio between the number of the plurality of fan blades and the number of the plurality of rotor stages is between 3.3 and 8.6.

Assignments (5)
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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 17, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 053241/0477 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: SCHWARZ, FREDERICK M.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035829/0665 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61891475 · Oct 16, 2013
Related Publication 20160265430A1 · Sep 15, 2016
Cited By (6)
US 12,663,016 US 12,669,131 US 12,674,467 US 12,674,468 US 12,680,552 US 12,692,874