US 12,385,409 B2
Epicyclic gear train
Michael E. McCune, Colchester, CT (US); Lawrence E. Portlock, Bethany, CT (US); and Frederick M. Schwarz, Glastonbury, CT (US)
Assigned to RTX CORPORATION, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed by RTX CORPORATION, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed on Aug. 29, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/818,804.
Application 18/818,804 is a continuation of application No. 18/196,048, filed on May 11, 2023, granted, now 12,084,978.
Application 18/196,048 is a continuation of application No. 17/711,177, filed on Apr. 1, 2022, granted, now 11,680,492, issued on Jun. 20, 2023.
Application 17/711,177 is a continuation of application No. 17/145,766, filed on Jan. 11, 2021, granted, now 11,319,831, issued on May 3, 2022.
Application 17/145,766 is a continuation of application No. 16/805,917, filed on Mar. 2, 2020, granted, now 10,890,245, issued on Jan. 12, 2021.
Application 16/805,917 is a continuation of application No. 15/984,494, filed on May 21, 2018, granted, now 10,577,965, issued on Mar. 3, 2020.
Application 15/984,494 is a continuation of application No. 14/824,351, filed on Aug. 12, 2015, granted, now 9,976,437, issued on May 22, 2018.
Application 14/824,351 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/486,766, filed on Jun. 1, 2012, abandoned.
Application 13/486,766 is a continuation of application No. 13/340,735, filed on Dec. 30, 2011, granted, now 8,708,863, issued on Apr. 29, 2014.
Application 13/340,735 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/504,220, filed on Aug. 15, 2006, granted, now 8,753,243, issued on Jun. 17, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2025/0052168 A1, Feb. 13, 2025
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16H 57/04 (2010.01); F01D 1/02 (2006.01); F01D 5/02 (2006.01); F01D 15/12 (2006.01); F01D 25/16 (2006.01); F01D 25/18 (2006.01); F02C 7/32 (2006.01); F02C 7/36 (2006.01); F02K 3/06 (2006.01); F16H 57/08 (2006.01)
CPC F01D 15/12 (2013.01) [F01D 1/02 (2013.01); F01D 5/02 (2013.01); F01D 5/027 (2013.01); F01D 25/16 (2013.01); F01D 25/18 (2013.01); F02C 7/32 (2013.01); F16H 57/04 (2013.01); F02C 7/36 (2013.01); F02K 3/06 (2013.01); F05D 2220/32 (2013.01); F05D 2220/36 (2013.01); F05D 2240/70 (2013.01); F05D 2260/34 (2013.01); F05D 2260/40311 (2013.01); F16H 57/0423 (2013.01); F16H 57/0479 (2013.01); F16H 57/0486 (2013.01); F16H 2057/085 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a propulsor section including a propulsor supported on a propulsor shaft;
a turbine section including a turbine shaft;
a compressor section having a plurality of compressor hubs with blades driven by the turbine shaft about an engine axis; and
an epicyclic gear train interconnecting the propulsor shaft and the turbine shaft, the epicyclic gear train comprising:
a sun gear coupled to the turbine shaft;
intermediary gears arranged circumferentially about and meshing with the sun gear;
a carrier and support means for supporting each of the intermediate gears relative to the carrier; and
a ring gear including first and second portions, the first and second portions each having an inner periphery with teeth intermeshing with the intermediate gears, the first and second portions having axially opposed faces abutting one another at a radial interface, the ring gear including discharge means for expelling lubricant from the radial interface outwardly of the ring gear, and the discharge means including facing recesses of the first and second portions that form an internal annular cavity along the radial interface;
wherein the first and second portions including respective flanges extending along the radial interface radially outward from the teeth, the epicyclic gear train defines a gear reduction ratio of greater than or equal to 2.5, and the ring gear includes engagement means for forcing the first portion and the second portion toward one another at the radial interface.