IP Library Granted Patent US 10,337,349
Granted Patent B2
US 10,337,349 · App. 15/139,403 · Granted Jul 2, 2019

Anti-windmilling system for a gas turbine engine

Inventor: Gary D. Roberge (Tolland, CT)
Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
F01D21/006F01D15/12F02C7/32F02C7/36F02K3/06F04D29/053F04D29/325F16D63/002F16D63/006F01D21/04F05D2220/32F05D2220/323F05D2260/40311F05D2260/902F05D2260/903F05D2270/62F16D11/16F16D2011/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,337,349
App. No.
15/139,403
Granted
Jul 2, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gas turbine engine has an engine static structure. At least one component rotatable relative to the engine static structure about an engine axis of rotation. A fan is coupled to at least one component for rotation about the engine axis of rotation. An actuator is mounted to the engine static structure, wherein the actuator is activated to prevent the fan from rotation and is inactivated to allow the fan to rotate. A method for preventing rotation of a fan in a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Claims (11)

1. A method for preventing rotation of a fan in a gas turbine engine comprising:

driving a fan with a geared architecture that is driven by at least one shaft from a turbine section;

using one or more sensors to identify a non-operational engine condition comprising at least a windmilling condition;

including a control which receives data from the one or more sensors to determine if the aircraft is on the ground and is experiencing the windmilling condition by

determining weight on wheels,

determining if engine shut-down has been completed, and/or

determining aircraft velocity to identify if the gas turbine engine is stationary; and

activating an actuator positioned aft of the turbine section to prevent rotation of the fan during the windmilling condition.

2. The method of claim 1 , including activating the actuator to frictionally and/or magnetically restrain the at least one shaft from rotating to prevent the fan from windmilling.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a first feature and the at least one shaft includes a second feature that locks with the first feature when the actuator is activated to prevent the at least one shaft from rotating, wherein one of the first and second features comprises a dog extension and wherein the other of the first and second features comprises a recess that receives the dog extension, and including selectively activating the actuator to lock the first and second features together to prevent the fan from windmilling.

4. The method of claim 1 , including communicating data from the one or more sensors to a control and only activating the actuator when the control determines that the gas turbine engine is powered off and is stationary.

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 1, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 053098/0303 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2016
From: ROBERGE, GARY D.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038390/0565 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170314411A1 · Nov 2, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 12,385,442 US 12,560,208