United Technologies Corporation

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Eric Charles Mundell

Gary L Grogg

Thomas E Clark

Todd M LaPierre

Marc J Muldoon

Garth J Vdoviak, Jr

Robert C Stutz

Marshall Thayer

Russell B Witlicki

Shelton O Duelm

Daniel Benjamin

Masayoshi Sonokawa

Daniel R Kapszukiewicz

Brian C Lund

Christopher J Larson

Stephanie Ernst

Stephen J Lyle

Lyubov Y Belko

Oil slinger systems include a seal runner comprising an annular radial member having a radius (R) and an outer axially extending member having an axial length (L) such that a ratio (L/R) is between 0.8 and 1.4, the annular radial member disposed at a first angle with respect to the outer axially extending member, a heat shield in mechanical communication with the seal runner, and a volume bounded by an outer face of the annular radial member and an inner face of the heat shield. Methods of radial convective cooling include pumping a cooling liquid through the oil slinger system and convectively cooling the oil slinger.

Oil slinger with convective cooling of radial surface

A shaft interlock system may have an a interlocking piston that translates a movable locking apparatus configured to interface with a turbine shaft having a fixed locking apparatus. The movable locking apparatus may engage and disengage the fixed locking apparatus. When the movable locking apparatus is engaged with the fixed locking apparatus, the turbine shaft is only able to turn in one direction. When the movable locking apparatus is disengaged from the fixed locking apparatus, the turbine shaft is able to turn in both directions. In this way, a turbine shaft can be prevented from reverse rotation.

Shaft interlock

A seal runner may have an inner annular member, an outer annular member, and a radial wall member joined to the inner annular member according to an angle and extending from the inner annular member to the outer annular member. The seal runner may be positioned axially along a shaft and a bearing may be positioned axially along the shaft such that it is radially between the inner annular member and the outer annular member. In this regard, the seal runner may resemble a 'C-shape.' A seal may interface with a seal land radially outboard of the outer annular member. Thus, the seal may be positioned axially near to the bearing so that the axial length of a shaft and accompanying bearing compartment hardware may be minimized.

Seal runner

An improved film damper oil delivery pathway from an oil reservoir to a thin film fluidic damper is provided. An oil supply tube may be configured to mate to a bearing outer race. The bearing outer race may comprise internal oil flow circuit(s) configured to supply oil from the oil tube to the thin film damper for improved bearing compartment designs.

Bearing outer race oil supply for thin film fluidic damping

A seal support and duct assembly of a gas turbine engine includes a seal support housing disposed about a central axis, a duct housing attached to the seal support housing, the duct housing and the seal support housing defining the seal support and duct assembly, an outer annular cavity, an inlet that supplies the outer annular cavity with cooling buffer air, an inner annular cavity disposed radially inward of the outer annular cavity, a first plurality of outlets that provide the cooling buffer air from the outer annular cavity to the inner annular cavity, and a second plurality of outlets that provide the cooling buffer air from the inner annular cavity to an area surrounding a bearing compartment.

Buffer airflow to bearing compartment

An example annular turbomachine seal includes an attachment portion, a first leg radially inward of the attachment portion, and a second leg radially inward of the attachment portion and configured to block flow from directly contacting an attachment associated with a bearing compartment of a turbomachine.

Annular turbomachine seal and heat shield

A shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine that includes a shaft with a threaded shaft segment, an annular rotor disposed on the shaft, and annular stack nut. The stack nut includes a base nut segment and a clamping nut segment. The base nut segment includes a threaded nut bore that is mated with the threaded shaft segment. The clamping nut segment axially extends from the base nut segment to a load bearing surface. The clamping nut segment includes a radial thickness that decreases as the clamping nut segment extends from the load bearing surface towards the base nut segment. The load bearing surface exerts a force against the rotor securing the rotor to the shaft.

Shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine

A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a carbon seal and a seal plate. The seal plate has a contact face configured to slidably engage the carbon seal. The seal plate has a surface disposed on an opposing side of the seal plate from the contact face. The surface forms a portion of a single passage that extends an entire length of the seal plate. The continuous cooling provided by single passage along the seal plate allows for a more uniform temperature profile along the contact face of seal plate.

Seal plate with cooling passage

A gas turbine engine has a compressor section carrying a plurality of compressor rotors and a turbine section carrying a plurality of turbine rotors. The compressor rotors and the turbine rotors are constrained to rotate with the tie shaft. An upstream hub provides an upstream abutment face for the compressor rotors. A downstream hub bounds the downstream end of the compressor rotor to bias the compressor rotors against the upstream hub using an abutment member. The downstream hub has a rearwardly extending arm which provides a stop for the turbine rotors. A second abutment member is tightened on the tie shaft to force the turbine rotors against the downstream hub to hold together the turbine rotors.

Growing community of inventors

South Berwick, ME, United States of America

Eric Charles Mundell