Patent · US Expired

Turbine engine windmilling brake

US6312215A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
15References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 15, 2000
Grant dateNov 6, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 15, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T50/60
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A windmilling brake system for a turbine engine includes a brake drum (14) on an interior surface of an engine rotor. The drum circumscribes a brake unit (37) that includes a brake ring (38) with brake shoes (42) each connected to the ring by respective springs (44). A leg (45) extends from each shoe and toward the ring. The ring is sandwiched axially between bolting flanges (28, 29) on forward and aft carrier portions (24, 25) of a two piece, variable stiffness, dual load path rotor bearing support. Nonsacrificial fasteners secure the ring to one of the flanges while frangible fasteners (52) secure the flanges to each other. The frangible fasteners also extend through an eye (47) in each leg to deflect the springs and hold the brake shoes in an armed state out of contact with the drum. Upon being exposed to abnormal imbalance loads, the frangible fasteners fail in tension to disable one of the two load paths. The failure also enables the springs to concurrently force the shoes into a deployed state in which the shoes contact the drum and inhibit rotor windmilling.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.