US 12,188,407 B2
Gas turbine engine bearing and gearbox arrangement
William G. Sheridan, Southington, CT (US); and Michael E. McCune, Colchester, CT (US)
Assigned to RTX CORPORATION, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed by RTX CORPORATION, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed on Feb. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/108,270.
Application 18/108,270 is a continuation of application No. 16/786,421, filed on Feb. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,608,779.
Application 16/786,421 is a continuation of application No. 15/828,510, filed on Dec. 1, 2017, granted, now 10,563,576, issued on Feb. 18, 2020.
Application 15/828,510 is a continuation of application No. 14/207,718, filed on Mar. 13, 2014, granted, now 9,885,282, issued on Feb. 6, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/789,193, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2023/0193818 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F02C 3/107 (2006.01); F02C 7/06 (2006.01); F02C 7/36 (2006.01); F02K 3/06 (2006.01)
CPC F02C 3/107 (2013.01) [F02C 7/06 (2013.01); F02C 7/36 (2013.01); F02K 3/06 (2013.01); F05D 2260/403 (2013.01); F05D 2260/4031 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a propulsor delivering air into a core engine, wherein the propulsor is a fan delivering air into a bypass duct;
a drive gear system including a gear carrier and at least one ring gear, wherein the at least one ring gear is coupled to an engine case of the gas turbine engine with a compliant flexure; and
a drive shaft coupling the gear carrier in the drive gear system to the fan;
wherein a first bearing is forward of the drive gear system for supporting the drive gear system, and a second bearing is aft of the drive gear system for supporting the drive gear system;
wherein the drive gear system includes the at least one ring gear encircling a sun gear, and includes a plurality of intermediate gears positioned between and enmeshing with the sun gear and the at least one ring gear, with the plurality of intermediate gears carried by the gear carrier;
wherein the first bearing includes an inner race configured to rotate with the gear carrier and the second bearing includes an inner race configured to rotate with the gear carrier; and
wherein the second bearing supports the drive shaft relative to a rear support of a static structure, the rear support extending inward from a forward frame of the static structure behind the drive gear system relative to a longitudinal axis of the core engine.