The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 10, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1998
Keven G. Van Duyn, Bloomfield, CT (US);
United Technologies Corporation, Hartford, CT (US);
Abstract
A gearbox mounting arrangement for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of variable stiffness positioning links that attach the gearbox housing to the engine case. The links include a first portion that is connected to the engine case, a second portion connected to the gearbox and the first and second portion releasably connected by an isolation mechanism having a lower stiffness than the first and second portions. During a high rotor imbalance condition such as a fan blade loss condition, the links yield to a lower stiffness level than during normal operation as the isolation mechanism becomes operational in response to the application of high axial loads and the first and second portions partially disengage. The partial disengagement of the portions of the links of the present invention results in partially isolating the gearbox from the deflections experienced by the engine case. Thus, only a percentage of engine case imbalance loads are transmitted through the links to the gearbox. Alternate embodiments for the isolation mechanism are disclosed.