IP Library Granted Patent US 10,371,007
Granted Patent B2
US 10,371,007 · App. 15/027,264 · Granted Aug 6, 2019

Auxiliary oil pump for gas turbine engine gear reduction

Inventors: Brian P. Cigal (Windsor, CT); Christopher M. Valva (Manchester, CT)
Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
F01D25/20F01D21/00F01D25/166F02C7/06F02C7/36F16H57/04F16H57/0439F16H57/0471F16H57/0479F05D2220/32F05D2220/76F05D2220/766F05D2260/40311F05D2260/98
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,371,007
App. No.
15/027,264
Granted
Aug 6, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gas turbine engine has a turbine driving a gear reduction. The gear reduction drives a fan drive shaft assembly to, in turn, drive a fan rotor at a reduced speed relative to the turbine. A generator generates current upon rotation of the fan drive assembly. The generator supplies electric current to an electric motor driven pump. The electric motor driven pump delivers lubricant to components within the gear reduction.

Claims (22)

1. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a turbine driving a gear reduction, and said gear reduction driving a fan drive shaft assembly to, in turn, drive a fan rotor at a reduced speed relative to said turbine;

a generator to generate current upon rotation of said fan drive assembly;

said generator supplying electric current to an electric motor driven pump, said electric motor driven pump delivering lubricant to components within said gear reduction; and

wherein said fan drive assembly includes a shell which is driven to rotate with a ring gear in said gear reduction, and said shell having an inner surface, and a chamber being defined between said shell inner surface and said gear reduction and said generator being positioned within said chamber.

2. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said components in said gear reduction include a journal bearing for supporting gears within said gear reduction.

3. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said generator includes a generator rotor provided to rotate with said fan drive assembly and a stator mounted on stationary structure, such that rotation of said fan drive assembly relative to said stator generates current to power said electric motor driven pump.

4. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said fan drive assembly includes a fan drive shaft that is driven by said shell.

5. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said generator rotor is mounted on said fan drive shaft.

6. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said fan rotor is driven to rotate under windmilling conditions in either direction of rotation and said generator generating current in both of said directions when said fan rotor is driven during windmilling conditions.

7. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said generator generating current during normal powered operation of the gas turbine engine.

8. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said generator rotor is mounted on said shell.

9. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said generator generating current during normal powered operation of the gas turbine engine.

10. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said generator includes a generator rotor provided to rotate with said fan drive assembly and a stator mounted on stationary structure, such that rotation of said fan drive assembly relative to said stator generates current to power said electric motor driven pump.

11. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said generator rotor is mounted on said shell.

12. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said generator includes a rotor generator provided to rotate with said fan drive assembly and a stator mounted on stationary structure, such that rotation of said fan drive assembly relative to said stator generates current to power said electric motor driven pump.

13. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said fan drive assembly includes a fan drive shaft.

14. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said rotor generator is mounted on said fan drive shaft.

15. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said generator generating current during normal powered operation of the gas turbine engine.

16. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said fan rotor is driven to rotate under windmilling conditions in either direction of rotation and said generator generating current in both of said directions when said fan rotor is driven during windmilling conditions.

17. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said fan rotor is driven to rotate under windmilling conditions in either direction of rotation and said generator generating current in both of said directions when said fan rotor is driven during windmilling conditions.

18. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said generator includes a generator rotor provided to rotate with said fan drive assembly and a stator mounted on stationary structure, such that rotation of said fan drive assembly relative to said stator generates current to power said electric motor driven pump.

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 (2)
Provisional Application 61898506 · Nov 1, 2013
Related Publication 20160258324A1 · Sep 8, 2016
Cited By (13)
US 12,228,042 US 12,276,333 US 12,291,998 US 12,320,418 US 12,326,115 US 12,492,649 US 12,503,248 US 12,510,002 US 12,516,627 US 12,516,724 US 12,553,381 US 12,571,468 US 12,584,446