General Electric Company

Ge Avio S.r.l.

Andrew Michael Tompkins

Brandon Wayne Miller

Daniel Alan Niergarth

Donald Albert Bradley

Michele Gravina

Kyle Robert Snow

Lorenzo Cipolla

Christopher Michael Thompson

Philip Joseph Ogston

Andrew Michael Watson

Rotor thrust balancing systems for turbomachines and methods of using the same are generally disclosed. For example, a rotor thrust balancing system for a turbomachine, wherein the turbomachine defines a centerline extending the length of the turbomachine. The system includes a rotating drive shaft, a thrust bearing, and a first waveguide sensor. The rotating drive shaft couples a turbine section and a compressor section of the turbomachine. The thrust bearing supports the rotating drive shaft of the turbomachine. The thrust bearing includes a plurality of ball bearings, an inner race coupled to the rotating drive shaft, and an outer race coupled to a fixed structure. The first waveguide sensor is coupled to the outer race at a first end of the waveguide sensor. The waveguide sensor communicates a vibrational frequency from the thrust bearing to a second end of the waveguide sensor.

Bearing rotor thrust control

A casing for use in a turbofan engine is provided. The casing includes an inner hub, an intermediate casing positioned radially outward from the inner hub, an outer casing positioned radially outward from the intermediate casing, and a plurality of struts spaced circumferentially about the inner hub and extending between the inner hub and the outer casing. At least one strut of the plurality of struts includes a flow channel extending therethrough. The casing also includes a fluid scoop defined within the inner hub, and a collector that couples the fluid scoop in flow communication with the flow channel.

Casing for use in a turbofan engine and method of scavenging fluid therefrom

A casing for use in a turbofan engine is provided. The casing includes an inner hub including a first fluid opening defined at bottom dead center of the casing. The casing also includes an intermediate casing positioned radially outward from the inner hub, an outer casing positioned radially outward from the intermediate casing, and struts spaced circumferentially about the inner hub and extending between the inner hub and the outer casing. The struts include a first strut and a second strut positioned on opposing sides of bottom dead center of the casing such that a first fluid sump is defined between the inner hub, the intermediate casing, and the first and second struts. At least one of said first and second struts includes a flow channel extending therethrough such that a fluid flow path is defined from the first fluid opening, through the first fluid sump, and through the flow channel.

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Andrew Michael Tompkins