United Technologies Corporation

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Kevin Duffy

Ronnie K Kovacik

Brady Walker

Antonio F Artiles

Joseph Grillo

Jonathan F Zimmitti

Nasr A Shuaib

Keven G Van Duyn

Michael M Davis

Sean P McCutchan

Reade W James

Anthony Spagnoletti

Alexander Nelson

Alexander R Nelson

Joseph G Colucci

Michael Gantt

Steven M Danley

Christopher J Zuck

Ronald K Kovacik

Richard J Rubendall

Tina Rezvani

Sean Mccutchan

A fuel delivery system includes a central shaft extending along a central axis. The central shaft includes a fuel passage extending into the central shaft along the central axis. The fuel delivery system further includes a heat transfer volume radially outward from the central shaft and fluidically connected to the fuel passage. A combustor chamber is fluidically connected to the heat transfer volume.

Centrifugally pumped fuel system

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a sealing system for an engine having an axial centerline, comprising: a stationary carbon segment, and a seal plate that rotates when the engine is operated, where the seal plate includes an end face that is opposed to an interface between the carbon segment and the seal plate, and where the end face includes at least one groove that conveys a liquid cooling fluid.

Seal face plate cooling

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a rotatable shaft, and a plurality of bearings coupled to the rotatable shaft, where the plurality of bearings include a first bearing, a second bearing, and a third bearing, where the first bearing defines an axial first bearing centerline, where the second bearing defines an axial second bearing centerline, where the third bearing defines an axial third bearing centerline, and where the axial second bearing centerline is radially offset from the axial first bearing centerline and the axial third bearing centerline.

Engine bearing offset and load

A bearing assembly includes a bearing cage and a supplementary ring. The bearing cage includes an annular body and a plurality of bearing elements disposed about the annular body. The supplementary ring includes an annular collar and a plurality of retention elements. The annular collar is disposed concentrically about the bearing cage. The plurality of retention elements is connected to and extends axially from the first annular collar. Each retention element is aligned between adjacent bearing elements. The plurality of retention elements is disposed to retain the plurality of bearing elements in the annular body of the bearing cage.

Roller bearing cage retention apparatus

A seal assembly includes a seal nose, a bellows, and a plurality of bristles. The seal nose is configured to be in sealing contact with a rotating seal plate, the bellows extends between and couples the seal nose to a support structure, and the plurality of bristles extends from the support structure toward the bellows, with at least one bristle of the plurality of bristles being in contact with the bellows to damp vibration of the bellows.

Seal assembly with vibration damping bristles

A bearing assembly having an axially extending axis of rotation is provided having an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of bearing elements. The plurality of bearing elements are disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The outer ring includes an outer radial surface, an inner radial surface, and a raceway disposed in the inner radial surface. The raceway is defined by a first surface and a second surface, and the first surface intersects with the second surface at a point aft of an axial midpoint of the raceway. The outer ring includes a plurality of apertures that provide a fluid passage between the raceway and an exterior surface of the outer ring. A first end of each of the plurality of apertures is substantially aligned with the intersection of the first surface and the second surface.

Ball bearing with lubricant drain

A preloaded ball bearing assembly includes a primary bearing assembly disposed between a rotating component and a static structure. The assembly also includes a preload bearing assembly disposed in contact with the rotating component. The assembly further includes a flexible support disposed between the primary bearing assembly and the preload bearing assembly.

Flexible preloaded ball bearing assembly

A bearing compartment assembly includes a bearing compartment with a bearing and a plenum, a buffer system that supplies pressure to an exterior of the bearing compartment, and a reactive volume vessel connected to the bearing compartment. The reactive volume vessel has a displaceable member that is movable between two positions, one of which adds additional volume to the bearing compartment.

Variable volume bearing compartment

A bearing support assembly includes a bearing assembly, a housing, and a centering spring. The centering spring is coupled to the bearing assembly and the housing. The centering spring includes a plurality of spiral beams. A first of the plurality of spiral beams is defined by a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end correspond to a first circumferential location that is defined relative to a longitudinal centerline of the bearing support assembly.

Bearing centering spring

One exemplary embodiment of this disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine. The engine includes a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, and at least one rotatable shaft. The engine further includes a bearing assembly including an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of rolling elements. A seal assembly is also included. The seal assembly includes a seal plate mounted for rotation with the rotatable shaft. The seal plate establishes a boundary of a tortuous passageway.

Seal assembly with cooling feature

A bearing with non-uniform cage clearance is provided. The bearing may comprise an inner ring having a first inner ring surface radially opposite a second inner ring surface; bearing elements in contact with the first inner ring surface; an outer bearing ring surrounding the inner bearing ring and the bearing elements; and a bearing cage having a first bearing cage surface radially opposite a second bearing cage surface and configured to surround and retain the bearing elements. At least one of the first inner ring surface, the first bearing cage surface, the second bearing cage surface, or a second outer ring surface of the outer ring may comprise an out of round shape having one or more peaks and one or more valleys relative to a radial centerpoint of the bearing.

Bearing with non-uniform cage clearance

A bearing centering spring includes a cylindrical body with outer rings at each end, wherein each outer ring has outer raceways on the inner surface of the body. There is also a retaining feature on an end of the body and ports through the body that are positioned between the outer rings.

Bearing centering spring with integral outer rings

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system associated with an engine of an aircraft, the system comprising: a fluid source that is configured to provide a fluid at a first pressure value, a carbon seal, a seal plate that includes at least one lift-off feature that interfaces to the carbon seal, and a pressure boosting mechanism configured to obtain the fluid from the fluid source, increase the pressure of the fluid to a second pressure value, and provide the fluid at the second pressure value to the at least one lift-off feature.

Hydrodynamic carbon face seal pressure booster

An oil delivery system is provided. The system may comprise a bearing housing comprising an oil delivery cavity. A bearing may be pressed against the bearing housing. The bearing may comprise an outer ring with a passage formed through the outer ring. A bearing is also provided. The bearing may include an outer ring, and a passage formed through the outer ring.

Growing community of inventors

Hartford, CT, United States of America

Kevin Duffy