Abstract:
A gas turbine engine having an electric generator includes a transmission shaft extending along a longitudinal axis of the engine and drivingly interconnecting a turbine shaft of the engine and a rotor shaft of the electric generator. The transmission shaft is engaged by splined mating connections with the turbine shaft and the rotor shaft. The transmission shaft has a shear neck defining a reduced radial wall thickness with respect to a remainder of the transmission shaft such as to provide a weakened region of the transmission shaft. An annular support structure, concentric with and surrounding the transmission shaft, is axially located between the shear neck and a forward end of the transmission shaft engaged to the turbine shaft, and includes a bearing operable to rotationally support the transmission shaft.
Abstract:
A fan rotor has a fan web and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart fan blades extending radially outwardly from an outer rim of the fan web. The outer rim is integrally connected to an inner rim through an axially facing web section. The web section has an inward concavature and extends aft of the center of gravity of the fan blades to shift the center of gravity of the hub rearwards while maintaining airfoil stress below critical levels. The rim section may have an inwardly projecting annular channel formed in a leading edge thereof and tuned to the 2M3ND mode of the fan hub.
Abstract:
A fan blade of a gas turbine engine, and a method of producing same, is disclosed which is composed of a core substrate and a nanocrystalline metal coating provided on at least a portion of the airfoil of the fan blade. The method includes the steps of providing a fan blade core having an airfoil and then applying a nanocrystalline metal coating over at least a portion of the fan blade core.
Abstract:
A vane including a root, a tip and an airfoil portion extending between the root and the tip, the vane also including a button portion interconnecting the airfoil portion and the root. The button portion protrudes beyond a profile of the airfoil a distance less than the root. The button portion includes leading and trailing ends free of sharp edges. The leading and trailing ends respectively protrude beyond leading and trailing edges of the airfoil portion.
Abstract:
The method is used for making an annular gas turbine engine case from a preform. The method comprises comprising flowforming at least one section of the preform, and then outwardly bending at least one portion of the perform.
Abstract:
An airfoil blade of a gas turbine engine includes a root configured for mating attachment with a cooperating rotor hub and an airfoil extending away from the root. The root is composed of a first metal and has a nanocrystalline metal coating, composed of a second metal, over at least a portion thereof. A method of protecting such a blade by applying a nanocrystalline metal coating to a portion of the blade root is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A gas turbine engine having a coupling element for coupling a first shaft to a second shaft, the second shaft being substantially axially aligned with the first shaft, the coupling element provided with an exterior surface that engages an opposing interior surface of the first shaft and an interior surface that engages an opposing exterior surface of the second shaft to facilitate torque transfer between the first shaft and the second shaft when rotated together, wherein the coupling element and at least one of the first and second shafts cooperate to define at least one fluid passageway therebetween.
Abstract:
The blade dovetails and associated dovetail slots of a gas turbine engine rotor assembly are shaped so that during windmilling the high stress regions of the blade dovetails are shielded from rubbing against the disk and vice versa. Bumper surfaces are provided in low stress regions of the dovetail assembly such that the windmilling contact points between the blade dovetails and the disk are in non-critical areas of the dovetail assembly.
Abstract:
A nose cone for a turbofan gas turbine engine includes a central tip, an outer perimeter and a substantially conical outer wall extending therebetween which encloses a cavity therewithin. The outer wall includes an inner substrate layer facing the cavity and an outer layer which overlies and at least partially encloses the inner substrate layer. The outer layer is composed entirely of a nanocrystalline metal forming an outer surface of the nose cone.
Abstract:
Devices and methods for supporting an accessory (32) in a gas turbine engine (10) are disclosed. The accessory (32) may have an interface (36) for coupling to a shaft (24) of the gas turbine engine (10). The device may comprise a first support (38) configured to support a first portion (34) of the accessory (32) proximal the interface (36) and a second support (40) configured to support a second portion (35) of the accessory (32) distal from the interface (36). The second support (40) may be configured to provide a lower resistance to relative displacement between the accessory (32) and structure (42) of the engine (10) than does the first support (34).