IP Library Granted Patent US 9,777,595
Granted Patent B2
US 9,777,595 · App. 14/704,631 · Granted Oct 3, 2017

Lubrication system for geared gas turbine engine

Inventors: William G. Sheridan (Southington, CT); Gabriel L. Suciu (Glastonbury, CT)
Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
F01D25/12B64C11/14F01D25/18F02C7/04F02C7/06F02C7/14F02C7/36F02K3/06F05D2220/32F05D2260/213F05D2260/40311F05D2260/98Y02T50/676
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,777,595
App. No.
14/704,631
Granted
Oct 3, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An oil cooling system is provided. The system may comprise an oil inlet, a manifold fluidly coupled to the oil inlet, and a support strut comprising internal tubing fluidly coupled to the manifold. A heat exchanger may be fluidly coupled to the internal tubing of the support strut. A nose cone may be disposed forward of the heat exchanger and configured to rotate about an axis. The heat exchanger may be radially inward from a portion of the nose cone. A gas turbine engine is also provided. The gas turbine engine may comprise an epicyclic gear system and fan mechanically coupled to the epicyclic gear system. The fan may be configured to rotate about an axis. A nose cone may be coupled to the fan and configured to rotate about the axis. A heat exchanger may be aft of the fan and in fluid communication with the epicyclic gear system.

Claims (34)

1. An oil cooling system, comprising:

an oil inlet;

a manifold fluidly coupled to the oil inlet;

a support strut comprising internal tubing fluidly coupled to the manifold;

a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the internal tubing of the support strut; and

a nose cone disposed forward of the heat exchanger and configured to rotate about an axis, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed radially inward from a portion of the nose cone.

2. The oil cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is an air-oil heat exchanger.

3. The oil cooling system of claim 1 , further comprising a fan coupled to the nose cone, wherein the fan is configured to urge coolant over the heat exchanger.

4. The oil cooling system of claim 1 , further comprising an epicyclic gear system, wherein the manifold is configured to transport oil across a fixed carrier of the epicyclic gear system.

5. The oil cooling system of claim 4 , further comprising an oil outlet of the heat exchanger in fluid communication with a journal pin of the epicyclic gear system.

6. The oil cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is non-rotating.

7. A gas turbine engine, comprising:

an epicyclic gear system;

a fan mechanically coupled to the epicyclic gear system and configured to rotate about an axis;

a nose cone coupled to the fan and configured to rotate about the axis, the nose cone comprising a secondary fan configured to rotate with the nose cone; and

a heat exchanger disposed forward of the fan and aft of the nose cone, wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the epicyclic gear system.

8. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger is disposed radially inward from a portion of the nose cone.

9. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein the secondary fan is configured to urge coolant over the heat exchanger.

10. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , further comprising an oil outlet of the heat exchanger in fluid communication with a journal pin of the epicyclic gear system.

11. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger is non-rotating.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein the epicyclic gear system comprises a non-rotating carrier.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 12 , wherein a support strut couples the heat exchanger to the epicyclic gear system.

14. The gas turbine engine of claim 13 , wherein the support strut comprises an internal tubing in fluid communication with the heat exchanger.

15. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , further comprising a bearing system forward of the epicyclic gear system and aft of the heat exchanger.

16. The gas turbine engine of claim 15 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to provide oil to the bearing system.

17. A cooling device, comprising:

a nose cone configured to rotate about an axis;

a heat exchanger disposed radially inward from a portion of the nose cone, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to remain static about the axis;

a support strut comprising internal tubing fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger;

a manifold fluidly coupled to the internal tubing of the support strut; and

an oil inlet fluidly coupled to the manifold.

18. The cooling device of claim 17 , further comprising a fan coupled to the nose cone.

19. The cooling device of claim 18 , wherein the fan is configured to urge fluid over the heat exchanger.

20. The cooling device of claim 17 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises an air-oil heat exchanger.

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 May 5, 2015
From: SHERIDAN, WILLIAM G.; SUCIU, GABRIEL L.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035569/0180 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160326906A1 · Nov 10, 2016