Turbomachine Geared Architecture Support Assembly with Stop Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbomachine geared architectures face challenges in limiting relative rotational movement during extreme events, such as fan blade loss or fan shaft bearing failure, which can cause compliant support structures to buckle under significant torque loads.
Innovation Solution
A turbomachine geared architecture support assembly featuring a compliant member with a stop mechanism, such as cogs received within slots, to limit rotation and prevent buckling, allowing for coaxial arrangement and accommodating axial and radial movements during normal operation while restricting excessive rotation during extreme events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If compliant support structures are used to accommodate movement of the geared architecture, then the geared architecture can rotate relative to other portions of the turbomachine, but the compliant structures may buckle under significant torque loads during extreme events
Solution Approach 1:
A stop member is introduced as an intermediary element between the compliant support structure and the geared architecture. This stop member limits the rotational movement of the geared architecture to a predetermined maximum angle, preventing the compliant structure from undergoing excessive deformation that would cause buckling under extreme torque loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of rotational movement by introducing a stop that constrains the rotation angle to a safe maximum value. This parameter change ensures that the compliant support structure operates within its elastic deformation limits during normal operation and extreme events, preventing buckling while maintaining necessary adaptability.
2Strength
If the compliant member is made more rigid to prevent buckling, then resistance to torque loads improves, but the ability to accommodate relative rotational movement during normal operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is segmented into distinct functional components: a rigid stop member that provides torque resistance, and a compliant support structure that enables rotational movement. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other, achieving both strength and adaptability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop member acts as an intermediary that decouples the functions of torque resistance and rotational accommodation. It provides the rigid constraint needed for strength while allowing the compliant structure to maintain its flexibility for accommodating relative movement during normal operation.
3Reliability
If a stop mechanism is added to limit rotation, then prevention of buckling improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The critical function of limiting rotation and preventing buckling is extracted into a separate, dedicated stop member. This extraction allows the rest of the support structure to remain relatively simple while the stop member handles the complex task of monitoring and constraining rotational movement within safe limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop member is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the rotational position of the geared architecture. During normal operation, it allows rotation within safe limits; during extreme events, it automatically engages to prevent buckling. This self-regulating mechanism provides reliability without requiring complex external control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An example turbomachine geared architecture support assembly includes a compliant member configured to hold a geared architecture within a turbomachine. The compliant member has a compliant section that permits rotation of the geared architecture relative to a fixed portion of the turbomachine. A stop limits rotation of the geared architecture relative to the fixed portion of the turbomachine.