US3727998A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas turbine engine
Assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
•
Filing: 1971-11-19
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1991-11-19
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a gas turbine engine in which there is a rotor carried from a shaft, a first bearing supporting the shaft adjacent the rotor, a second bearing supporting the shaft remote from the rotor and a third bearing supporting the shaft at a further distance from the rotor. The first bearing is mounted so that under conditions of extreme inbalance of the rotor its supporting structure deforms to allow the rotor to invert, and the second bearing is adapted to allow rotation of the shaft during and after the inversion.
Inventors
- 👤 L Haworth
- 👤 C Blea
- 👤 M Poucher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:50
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D25/00; F01D25/16; F01D21/00; F01D21/04; F01D21/045; F16; F16C; F16C27/00; F16C27/04; F16C27/045; F05; F05B; F05B2260/00; F05B2260/30; F05B2260/301; F05B2260/3011; F16C19/00; F16C19/02; F16C19/04; F16C19/06; F16C2360/00; F16C2360/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A gas turbine engine comprising a shaft which supports a rotor, a first bearing supporting the shaft adjacent the rotor, supporting structure for said first bearing, a second bearing supporting the shaft remote from the rotor, supporting structure for the second bearing, and a third bearing supporting the shaft at a further distance from the rotor, said supporting structure for the first bearing being adapted to deform to give the bearing radial freedom to allow the rotor to invert should it become excessively unbalanced and said second bearing being adapted to move in its supporting structure and allow said shaft to rotate therein about its altered axis during and after inversion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A gas turbine engine comprising a shaft which supports a rotor, a first bearing supporting the shaft adjacent the rotor, supporting structure for said first bearing, a second bearing supporting the shaft remote from the rotor, supporting structure for the second bearing, and a third bearing supporting the shaft at a further distance from the rotor, said supporting structure for the first bearing being adapted to deform to give the bearing radial freedom to allow the rotor to invert should it become excessively unbalanced and said second bearing being adapted to move in its supporting structure and allow said shaft to rotate therein about its altered axis during and after inversion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 1 and in which said deformable structure is adapted to absorb energy by deforming when said rotor becomes unbalanced and to provide damping to cause the rotor to invert.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 1 and in which the first bearing comprises a rolling element bearing surrounded by deformable structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 3 and in which said deformable structure comprises a hollow toroid of ductile metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 4 and in which said hollow toroid is filled with a crushable material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 2 and in which said supporting structure comprises friction surfaces and said first bearing is mounted in frictional engagement with said surfaces which allow damped movement of the bearing during and after inversion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 6 and in which said surfaces comprise part-spherical surfaces struck about a point on the normal shaft axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 1 and in which the second bearing comprises a rolling element bearing in which the inner race is able to move with respect to the outer race to allow said motion of the shaft in the inverted condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 1 and in which there is a hydrodynamic squeeze film in which the outer race of said second bearing is mounted, the squeeze film being adapted to allow sufficient movement to allow said motion of the shaft in the inverted condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 1 and in which the second bearing comprises a rolling element bearing and there are part-spherical sliding surfaces which mount said second bearing to allow said inverted motion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 10 and in which there is a frangible or deformable stop which normally holds the sliding surfaces in fixed relationship, said stops being adapted to break or deform when the rotor becomes excessively unbalanced.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 11 and in which said stop comprises a radial flange which is necked at its base to make it frangible.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 11 and in which said stop comprises a plurality of soft metal pins adapted to shear to allow said inverted motion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 11 and in which said stop comprises a deformable flange on one said surface which co-operates with a similar flange on the other said surface and which deforms to allow said inverted motion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 1 and in which said shaft is made in two parts connected by a splined connection.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 15 and in which said splined cOnnection lies adjacent said second bearing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |