IP Library Granted Patent US 10,527,151
Granted Patent B1
US 10,527,151 · App. 16/122,236 · Granted Jan 7, 2020

Gas turbine engine with geared architecture

Inventors: Michael E. McCune (Colchester, CT); Lawrence E. Portlock (Bethany, CT); Frederick M. Schwarz (Glastonbury, CT)
Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
F16H57/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,527,151
App. No.
16/122,236
Granted
Jan 7, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

A gas turbine engine includes a bypass ratio greater than about ten (10). A fan is supported on a fan shaft and has a plurality of fan blades. There is a gutter with an annular channel. A gear system is connected to the fan shaft. There is a plurality of planetary gears and a ring gear with an aperture that is axially aligned with the annular channel. The ring gear includes a first portion with a first set of opposed angled teeth separated by a trough from a second portion with a second set of opposed angled teeth. A torque frame at least partially supports the gear system. A low pressure turbine has an inlet, an outlet, and a low pressure turbine pressure ratio greater than 5:1 and a low fan pressure ratio of less than 1.45 across the fan blade alone.

Claims (41)

1. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a bypass ratio greater than about ten (10);

a fan supported on a fan shaft and having a plurality of fan blades;

a gutter with an annular channel;

a gear system connected to the fan shaft, a plurality of planetary gears, and a ring gear with an aperture that is axially aligned with the annular channel, wherein said ring gear includes a first portion with a first set of opposed angled teeth separated by a trough from a second portion with a second set of opposed angled teeth;

a torque frame at least partially supporting the gear system;

a low pressure turbine with an inlet, an outlet, and a low pressure turbine pressure ratio greater than 5:1; and

a low fan pressure ratio of less than 1.45 across the fan blade alone.

2. The gas turbine engine of claim 1 , further comprising a support relative to a fixed housing facilitating segregation of vibrations.

3. The gas turbine engine of claim 2 , further comprising an input to the gear system, the input facilitates segregation of vibrations.

4. The gas turbine engine of claim 3 , wherein the gear system includes a sun gear having a sun gear splined connection.

5. The gas turbine engine of claim 4 , wherein the input includes an input splined connection complementary to the sun gear splined connection and said gear system includes a gear reduction ratio of greater than 2.5.

6. The gas turbine engine of claim 5 , wherein the fan shaft is supported by at least one tapered roller bearing.

7. The gas turbine engine of claim 5 , further comprising a fan tip speed less than 1150 ft/second.

8. The gas turbine engine of claim 1 , further comprising a fan tip speed less than 1150 ft/second and a fan supported on a fan shaft and having a plurality of fan blades, and a low fan pressure ratio of less than 1.45 across the fan blades alone.

9. The gas turbine engine of claim 5 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the ring gear each include a radially extending flange that extends radially outward away from a corresponding set of opposed angled teeth, and the fan shaft includes a radially extending flange connected to the radially extending flange on the first portion of the ring gear and the radially extending flange on the second portion of the ring gear.

10. The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , further comprising a seal attached to at least one of the radially extending flanges on the ring gear or the radially extending flange on the fan shaft.

11. The gas turbine engine of claim 10 , wherein the seal includes an oil return passage.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein the oil return passage includes a slot.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 12 , wherein the slot is located in the seal.

14. The gas turbine engine of claim 12 , wherein the slot is located in the radially extending flange on the fan shaft.

15. The gas turbine engine of claim 5 , wherein said gutter is for collecting oil expelled from the gear system.

16. The gas turbine engine of claim 15 , further comprising a fan tip speed less than 1150 ft/second.

17. The gas turbine engine of claim 16 , wherein the gutter is formed from a soft material.

18. The gas turbine engine of claim 17 , wherein the soft material is aluminum.

19. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a fan supported on a fan shaft by at least one roller bearing and having a plurality of fan blades;

a bypass ratio greater than about ten (10);

a gutter with an annular channel;

a planetary gear system connected to the fan shaft, the gear system having a gear reduction ratio of greater than 2.5, a plurality of intermediate gears, and a ring gear with an aperture that is axially aligned with the annular channel, wherein the ring gear includes a first portion separated from a second portion, the first portion and the second portion each include a radially extending flange that extends radially outward away from a corresponding set of opposed angled teeth;

a torque frame as least partially supporting the gear system with respect to the housing which facilitates the segregation of vibrations and other transients.

20. The gas turbine engine of claim 19 , further comprising an input to the gear system, the input facilitates segregation of vibrations.

21. The gas turbine engine of claim 20 , wherein the gear system includes a sun gear having a sun gear splined connection and the input includes an input splined connection complementary to the sun gear splined connection.

22. The gas turbine engine of claim 21 , wherein the roller bearing is a tapered roller bearing.

23. The gas turbine engine of claim 20 , wherein said gutter is for collecting oil expelled from the gear system.

24. The gas turbine engine of claim 23 , wherein the gutter is formed from a soft material.

25. The gas turbine engine of claim 24 , wherein the soft material is aluminum.

26. The gas turbine of claim 25 , further comprising a low pressure turbine with an inlet, an outlet, and a low pressure turbine pressure ratio greater than 5:1, and a low fan pressure ratio of less than 1.45 and the low fan pressure ratio is measured across the fan blades alone.

27. The gas turbine engine of claim 26 , wherein the fan shaft includes a radially extending flange connected to the radially extending flange on the first portion of the ring gear and the radially extending flange on the second portion of the ring gear.

28. The gas turbine engine of claim 27 , further comprising a seal attached to at least one of the radially extending flanges on the ring gear or the radially extending flange on the fan shaft.

29. The gas turbine engine of claim 28 , wherein the seal includes an oil return passage.

Assignments (3)
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 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15892210 · Feb 8, 2018
Continuation 14753048 · Jun 29, 2015
Continuation In Part 13346120 · Jan 9, 2012
Continuation In Part 11504220 · Aug 15, 2006
Cited By (1)
US 12,385,409