IP Library Granted Patent US 12,292,005
Granted Patent B2
US 12,292,005 · App. 17/980,670 · Granted May 6, 2025

Aircraft propulsion system geartrain

Inventors: Paul R. Hanrahan (Sedona, AZ); Benjamin T. Mylrea (Jupiter, FL); David A. Stachowiak (Manchester, CT)
Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
F02C7/36B64D35/00B64D35/04F05D2260/4031F05D2260/902
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,292,005
App. No.
17/980,670
Granted
May 6, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aircraft assembly includes a geartrain with a first gear system and a second gear system. The first gear system includes a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a plurality of first intermediate gears and a first carrier. The first sun gear and the first ring gear are each rotatable about an axis. The first intermediate gears are between and meshed with the first sun gear and the first ring gear. Each of the first intermediate gears is rotatably mounted to the first carrier. The second gear system is interconnected with the first gear system. The second gear system includes a second sun gear, a second ring gear, a plurality of second intermediate gears and a second carrier. The second intermediate gears are between and meshed with the second sun gear and the second ring gear. Each of the second intermediate gears is rotatably mounted to the second carrier.

Claims (48)

1. An assembly for an aircraft, comprising:

a geartrain including a first gear system and a second gear system;

the first gear system including a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a plurality of first intermediate gears and a first carrier, the first sun gear and the first ring gear each rotatable about an axis, the plurality of first intermediate gears between and meshed with the first sun gear and the first ring gear, and each of the plurality of first intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the first carrier;

the second gear system interconnected with the first gear system, the second gear system including a second sun gear, a second ring gear, a plurality of second intermediate gears and a second carrier, the second sun gear rotatable about the axis and coupled to the first ring gear, the plurality of second intermediate gears between and meshed with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, and each of the plurality of second intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the second carrier;

a first propulsor rotor coupled to the first ring gear; and

a rotating structure coupled to the first sun gear and comprising a turbine rotor, the rotating structure configured to drive rotation of the first propulsor rotor through the geartrain.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the first carrier and the second carrier are each rotatable about the axis; and

the second carrier is coupled to the first carrier.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , further comprising at least one of

a lock device configured to lock rotation of the first carrier and the second carrier about the axis; or

a brake configured to brake rotation of the first carrier and the second carrier about the axis.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second ring gear is rotatable about the axis.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , further comprising at least one of

a lock device configured to lock rotation of the second ring gear about the axis; or

a brake configured to brake rotation of the second ring gear about the axis.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second carrier is rotatable about the axis.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , further comprising at least one of

a lock device configured to lock rotation of the second carrier about the axis; or

a brake configured to brake rotation of the second carrier about the axis.

8. An assembly for an aircraft, comprising:

a geartrain including a first gear system and a second gear system;

the first gear system including a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a plurality of first intermediate gears and a first carrier, the first sun gear and the first ring gear each rotatable about an axis, the plurality of first intermediate gears between and meshed with the first sun gear and the first ring gear, and each of the plurality of first intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the first carrier;

the second gear system interconnected with the first gear system, the second gear system including a second sun gear, a second ring gear, a plurality of second intermediate gears and a second carrier, the plurality of second intermediate gears between and meshed with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, and each of the plurality of second intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the second carrier;

a first propulsor rotor coupled to the first ring gear, the first propulsor rotor configured to rotate about a first rotor axis;

a second propulsor rotor coupled to a component of the second gear system, the second propulsor rotor configured to rotate about a second rotor axis that is angularly offset from the first rotor axis; and

a rotating structure coupled to the first sun gear and comprising a turbine rotor, the rotating structure configured to drive rotation of the first propulsor rotor through the geartrain, and the rotating structure configured to drive rotation of the second propulsor rotor through the geartrain.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the component of the second gear system comprises the second ring gear.

10. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the component of the second gear system comprises the second carrier.

11. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the component of the second gear system comprises the second sun gear.

12. An assembly, comprising:

a geartrain including a first gear system and a second gear system;

the first gear system including a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a plurality of first intermediate gears and a first carrier, the first sun gear and the first ring gear each rotatable about an axis, the plurality of first intermediate gears between and meshed with the first sun gear and the first ring gear, each of the plurality of first intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the first carrier, and the first carrier rotatable about the axis;

the second gear system interconnected with the first gear system, the second gear system including a second sun gear, a second ring gear, a plurality of second intermediate gears and a second carrier, the second sun gear coupled to the first ring gear, the second sun gear and the second ring gear each rotatable about the axis, the plurality of second intermediate gears between and meshed with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, each of the plurality of second intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the second carrier, and the second carrier rotatable about the axis;

a power output coupled to one of the first ring gear, the second ring gear or the second carrier;

a power input coupled to the first sun gear, the power input configured to drive rotation of the power output through the geartrain; and

a rotating structure coupled to the power input and comprising a turbine rotor, the rotating structure configured to drive rotation of the power output through the geartrain.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a propulsor rotor coupled to and configured to be rotatably driven by the power output.

14. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the power output is coupled to the first ring gear.

15. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the power output is coupled to the second ring gear.

16. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the power output is coupled to the second carrier.

17. An assembly, comprising:

a geartrain including a first gear system and a second gear system;

the first gear system including a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a plurality of first intermediate gears and a first carrier, the first sun gear and the first ring gear each rotatable about an axis, the plurality of first intermediate gears between and meshed with the first sun gear and the first ring gear, each of the plurality of first intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the first carrier, and the first carrier rotatable about the axis;

the second gear system interconnected with the first gear system, the second gear system including a second sun gear, a second ring gear, a plurality of second intermediate gears and a second carrier, the second sun gear coupled to the first ring gear, the second sun gear and the second ring gear each rotatable about the axis, the plurality of second intermediate gears between and meshed with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, each of the plurality of second intermediate gears rotatably mounted to the second carrier, and the second carrier rotatable about the axis;

a power output coupled to one of the first ring gear, the second ring gear or the second carrier; and

a power input coupled to the first sun gear, the power input configured to drive rotation of the power output through the geartrain

wherein the second carrier is coupled to the first carrier.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2025
From: HANRAHAN, PAUL R.; MYLREA, BENJAMIN T.; STACHOWIAK, DAVID A.
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 070714/0731 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064402/0837 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63397641 · Aug 12, 2022
Related Publication 20240052786A1 · Feb 15, 2024
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