US 12,492,708 B1
Fan assembly for a gas turbine engine
Nicholas M. Daggett, Camden, ME (US); and Christopher C. Glynn, Clearwater Beach, FL (US)
Assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, Evendale, OH (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Evendale, OH (US)
Filed on Sep. 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/822,859.
Int. Cl. F04D 29/34 (2006.01); B64C 11/34 (2006.01); F01D 5/02 (2006.01); F01D 7/00 (2006.01); F04D 29/054 (2006.01); F04D 29/32 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 29/34 (2013.01) [B64C 11/346 (2013.01); F01D 5/027 (2013.01); F01D 7/00 (2013.01); F04D 29/054 (2013.01); F04D 29/324 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fan assembly for a gas turbine engine, the fan assembly defining a fan assembly centerline axis, the fan assembly comprising:
a fan actuation system comprising a blade-counterweight actuator assembly;
a fan blade hub;
a plurality of fan blades, each fan blade being rotationally connected to the fan blade hub and connected to the fan actuation system, the fan actuation system being arranged to rotate each fan blade about a respective blade pitch change axis; and
a counterweight system arranged disconnected from the plurality of fan blades and being connected to the fan actuation system, the counterweight system including (a) a counterweight hub, and (b) a plurality of counterweight levers, each counterweight lever having (i) a counterweight trunnion portion rotationally connected to the counterweight hub and connected to the fan actuation system that rotates each counterweight lever about a respective counterweight lever rotational axis extending through the counterweight trunnion portion and extending radially from the fan assembly centerline axis, (ii) a cantilever arm having a first end connected to the counterweight trunnion portion and a second end offset from the respective counterweight lever rotational axis, and (iii) a counterweight connected to the second end, the counterweight having a counterweight center-of-gravity,
wherein the fan actuation system is arranged to correspondingly rotate each of the plurality of fan blades and each of the plurality of counterweight levers in unison.