Patent · US Active

Turbofan gas turbine engine

US8430622B2 · kind B2 · utility

20Cited by
27References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 13, 2007
Grant dateApr 30, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 26, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16C2360/23
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In a turbofan gas turbine engine, a fan shaft is rotatably mounted and radially supported by a bearing in a bearing support structure supported from a fixed engine structure by radially frangible bolts and radially extending spokes. The radially inner ends of the radially extending spokes are mounted on a common member that engages the bearing support structure. The radially outer ends of the radially extending spokes are mounted on a fixed engine structure located radially outwardly of the bearing support structure. The radially extending spokes are held in tension and include a super elastic material to exert a radially inward restoring force on the bearing support structure, subsequent to any radial excursion of at least part of the fan shaft relative to an engine rotational axis (X) following any fracture of the frangible bolts.

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