Turbomachine comprising a means for decoupling a fan

Abstract

A turbine engine including a fan shaft driven by a turbine shaft with a rotational speed reduction device. A decoupling element is interposed between the reduction device and the fan shaft which operates to decouple the reduction device and the fan shaft. The reduction device is coupled to the fan shaft by a coupling having trapezoidal teeth of the curvic type which are used during the said decoupling operation. The decoupling element is configured to decouple the reduction device and the fan shaft in response to a predetermined resistive torque, referred to as the decoupling torque, which acts between the fan shaft and the reduction device.

Claims

1. A turbine engine comprising a fan shaft driven by a turbine shaft by means of a rotational speed reduction device, said turbine engine comprising decoupling means interposed between the reduction device and the fan shaft, wherein the decoupling means decouples the reduction device and the fan shaft, and wherein the reduction device is coupled to the fan shaft by means of a curvic coupling between the reduction device and the fan shaft, said curvic coupling having trapezoidal teeth meshing with one another, said decoupling means comprises said curvic coupling wherein said decoupling means is configured to decouple the reduction device and the fan shaft in response to a resistive torque greater than or equal to a predetermined resistive torque, referred to as a decoupling torque, wherein the resistive torque acts between the fan shaft and the reduction device.

2. The turbine engine according to claim 1, wherein the trapezoidal teeth of the curvic coupling extend axially and the turbine engine comprises two toothed coupling plates, each coupling plate of the curvic coupling comprising the trapezoidal teeth meshing with one another, the two toothed coupling plates being fastened to one another by fusible axial screws forming the decoupling means.

3. The turbine engine according to claim 2, wherein the coupling plates each comprise two coaxial sets of trapezoidal teeth, and the fusible axial screws pass through bore holes formed in the coupling plates and arranged along an intermediate radius between the two coaxial sets of the trapezoidal teeth of each coupling plate.

4. The turbine engine according to claim 2, wherein the fusible axial screws each comprise a section of reduced diameter, forming tensile fracture initiation and the section is arranged between two main sections with a diameter greater than said section of reduced diameter.

5. The turbine engine according to claim 4, wherein tilt angles (α) of inclined planes of the trapezoidal teeth, a number of the fusible axial screws, diameters of the reduced diameter section and main sections of the number of fusible axial screws, and a tightening torque of said number of fusible axial screws are configured to allow for a fracture of said number of fusible axial screws when the resistive torque exerted between the plates of the coupling exceeds the decoupling torque.

6. The turbine engine according to claim 2, wherein the reduction device is an epicyclic gear, and a planetary gear is rotationally driven by the turbine shaft of the turbine engine, and at least one planetary carrier of said reduction device rotationally drives one of the coupling plates with the trapezoidal teeth of the curvic coupling, and wherein at least one crown of said reduction device, which is fastened to a casing of the turbine engine by an axially deformable support, allows for an axial retraction of said reduction device when the plates of the coupling are separated following the fracture of the fusible axial screws, and the at least one crown accompanies the retraction of said at least one planetary carrier on said planetary gear.

7. The turbine engine according to claim 6, wherein the at least one planetary carrier of said reduction device comprises bore holes that are arranged facing bore holes of said one of the coupling plates, said bore holes of the at least one planetary carrier passing through said at least one planetary carrier and being configured to receive threaded ends of the fusible axial screws and lock nuts of the fusible axial screws.

8. The turbine engine according to claim 2, comprising means for retaining the fusible axial screws.

9. The turbine engine according to claim 2, wherein the fusible axial screws are fractured when the curvic coupling is subjected to the resistive torque exerted between the fan shaft and the reduction device in an event of a loss of at least one blade of the fan driven by said fan shaft.

10. The turbine engine according to claim 2, wherein the fusible axial screws are fractured when the curvic coupling is subjected to the resistive torque exerted between the reduction device and the fan shaft in an event of blocking of said reduction device.

Description

(1) The invention will be better understood, and other purposes, characteristics and advantages thereof shall appear more clearly in the following detailed explanatory description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of purely informative example and not limited thereto, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatical drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a general view of a turbine engine according to the technique of the prior art technique;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section view of the front portion of a turbine engine according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a coupling of the curvic type implemented in the invention,

(5) FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the coupling of the curvic type implemented in the invention prior to the decoupling thereof,

(6) FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the coupling of the curvic type implemented in the invention prior to the decoupling thereof during decoupling,

(7) FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a support of a reduction device implemented in the invention,

(8) FIG. 7 is a view of the end of a reduction device implemented in the invention,

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective detailed view of a reduction device implemented in the invention,

(10) FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of an alternative reduction device implemented in the invention, and

(11) FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the resistive torque exerted by a fan shaft of the turbine engine on the speed reduction device as a function of time during the loss of a blade of the fan.

(12) In the following description, identical reference figures designate parts that are identical or that have similar functions.

(13) FIG. 1 shows a turbine engine such as a turbine engine 10 according to prior art. In a known manner, the turbine engine 10 comprises, from upstream to downstream according to the direction “F” of the flow of gases, a fan 12, a low pressure compressor 14, a high pressure compressor, a combustion chamber, a high pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine (not shown). The fan 12 comprises blades 13. The high pressure compressor and the high pressure turbine are connected by a high pressure shaft and form with it a high pressure body. The low pressure compressor 14 and the low pressure turbine are connected by a low pressure shaft 16 and form with it a low pressure body. The fan 12 is, for its part, carried by a fan shaft 18 which, in the example shown, is rotationally connected to the LP shaft 16, by means of a reduction device 20 of the rotation speed between the two shafts 16, 18.

(14) Indeed, it is interesting to rotate the fan 12 at a rotation speed less than that of the LP shaft 16, in particular when the latter is very large, for the purpose of adapting it better aerodynamically.

(15) The HP and LP shafts 16 extend along an axis of rotation “A” of the turbine engine 10.

(16) The turbine engine 10 also comprises, conventionally, a fan casing (not shown) that allows to channel the gases sucked by the fan 12 to a primary flow duct 22, which passes through the LP and HP bodies, and a secondary flow stream (not shown) that surrounds a casing of the LP and HP bodies and joins the primary flow stream in a nozzle (not shown) of the turbine engine.

(17) As shown in FIG. 1, the reduction device 20 is positioned between the fan shaft 18 and the LP shaft 16. This reduction device, for example of the epicyclic type, is shown in the schematic form of rectangles that only show its size. It is, in a non-limiting manner of the invention, driven by a planetary wheel 24 (represented by the trace of its teeth) carried by an input shaft 26 which is rotationally connected to the LP shaft 16, the shaft 16 being, by way of example only, received without clearance by press fitting into the shaft 26. It also comprises, a planetary carrier 49 (represented by the shaft of its satellites) integral with a casing 46 of the turbine engine, and a crown 48 that drives the shaft 18 of the fan 12.

(18) In this configuration, it can occur that a resistive torque is exerted between the shaft 18 of the fan 12 and the reduction device 20. This type of situation can occur when the fan 12 loses a blade 13, for example in case of ingestion of a foreign body such as a bird or following a fatigue fracture resulting from unsuitable maintenance. This phenomenon, also known as Fan Blade Out (FBO) causes an out-of-round of the fan 12 with respect to the axis “A”, which has the consequence of causing a contact of the ends of its blades 13 with the casing (not shown) of the fan 12. This contact can abruptly slow down the fan 12 even though the reduction device 20 and the LP turbine shaft 16 are still being driven by the LP turbine, which can create a high torsion torque in the LP turbine shaft 16 and in the reduction device 20.

(19) Such a torsion torque in the case of a loss of a blade 13 risks seriously damaging the reduction device 20, which could then become blocked and render the rotation of the fan 12 impossible.

(20) This type of situation can also occur in the case of jamming or blocking of the reduction device, of which the output can be involuntarily blocked or slowed down even though the fan is still under the effect of its inertia. This can result in a fracture of the fan shaft 18, which in turn results in an out-of-round of the fan, and in a blocking thereof.

(21) In both cases, a blocking of the fan 12 would have the consequence of abruptly increasing the aerodynamic drag of the engine, making the aircraft impossible to fly.

(22) In order to overcome this disadvantage, decoupling devices arranged between the fan shaft 18 and the reduction device 20 have already been proposed in the prior art. However, the latter are provided exclusively to be triggered in the case of the loss of a blade, in particular due to the appearance of an imbalance caused by the loss of this blade, not because of blocking or jamming of the reduction device. Therefore, they provide only limited protection to the kinematic chain.

(23) In order to overcome this disadvantage, a solution consists in limiting the torsion torque that can be exerted between the fan shaft 18 and the reduction device 20, regardless of the origin of its appearance.

(24) The limitation of the torsion torque has another advantage, which is to allow to prevent an oversizing of the members of the reduction device 20 or of the fan shaft 18 in order to ensure their resistance to such a torsion torque when exceeding a predetermined resistive toque. A decoupling device which acts between the speed reduction device 20 and the fan shaft 18 makes allows to prevent any oversizing of the internal members of the reduction device 20 and of the fan shaft 18, and consequently to reduce the mass and the inertia of the reduction device 20 and of the fan shaft 18.

(25) For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 2, the invention proposes a turbine engine 10 of the type described above comprising decoupling means 28 between the reduction device 20 and the fan shaft 18 and in which the reduction device 20 is coupled to the fan shaft 18 by means of a coupling 17 having trapezoidal teeth of the curvic type which comprises these decoupling means 28. The decoupling means 28 are configured to decouple the reduction device 20 and the fan shaft 18 in response to a predetermined resistive torque C.sub.D referred to as the decoupling torque which acts between the fan shaft 18 and the reduction device 20.

(26) More particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, the coupling 17 having trapezoidal teeth of the curvic type is interposed between an output flange 50 of the reduction device 20 and the fan shaft 18. As shown in FIG. 3, it comprises two toothed coupling plates 19A, 19B, namely the plate 19A integral with the fan shaft 18 and the plate 19B connected in rotation to the output flange 50 of the reduction device 20. The plates 19A, 19B respectively each comprise two coaxial sets of trapezoidal teeth. The plate 19A comprises a set of interior teeth 21A and a set of exterior teeth 21C, and the plate 19B comprises a set of interior teeth 21B and a set of exterior teeth 21D. The interior teeth 21A and 21B mesh with one another and the exterior teeth 21C, 21D mesh with one another. The direction of the height of the corresponding trapezes of the teeth 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D extends parallel to the axial direction.

(27) The teeth 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D have inclined planes arranged in contact with one another. FIG. 3 shows the planes 27A, 27B of the teeth 21A, 21B, inclined along an angle α. The plates 19A, 19B are connected to one another by means of axial fusible 30 axial screws 30 that pass through bore holes 23A, 23B arranged substantially along an intermediate radius R of the plates 19A, 19B between the teeth 21A, 21B on the one hand and 21C, 21D on the other hand. Advantageously, the fusible axial screws 30 also pass through the output flange 50 and allow the connection thereof in rotation to the plate 19B by means of nuts 31 that tighten the output flange 50 against the plate 19B. The angle α chosen is preferably between 20° and 70° with respect to the motor shaft, even more preferably between 20° and 40°.

(28) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a functional clearance J is arranged between the ends of the teeth 21A and the bottoms of the teeth 21B in order to guarantee good contact between the inclined planes 27A, 27B.

(29) Alternatively, each one of the plates 19A, 19B could comprise, instead of two sets of coaxial teeth, only one set of teeth passed through by the fusible screws similar to the screws 31.

(30) It should noted that, as an alternative, the plate 19B and the flange 50 can be the same and form a single part.

(31) More particularly, as shown in FIG. 4, the fusible axial screws 30 each comprise a section 25 of reduced diameter “d” forming tensile fracture initiation arranged between two sections 33 with a main diameter “D”. As shown in FIG. 3, when such a coupling is subjected to a torsion torque between its two plates 19A, 19B, the trapezoidal teeth 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D transform, via their inclined planes 27A, 27B, the forces resulting from the torsion torque into a resulting axial force F between the plates 19A, 19B and which is exerted in the form of a traction force on the screws 30, as is shown in FIG. 5. This traction force has the consequence of causing a fracture of the screws 30 when they are subjected to a traction stress on their sections 25 of reduced diameter.

(32) It will be understood that the tilt angles α of inclined planes 27A, 27B of the trapezoidal teeth 21A, 21B, tilt angles α of inclined planes of the trapezoidal teeth 21C, 21D, the number of fusible screws, the diameter “d” of the fracture sections 25 and the diameter “D” of the sections 33 with a main diameter “D” of the fusible screws, as well as a tightening torque of said fusible screws 30 by the nuts 31 are calculated beforehand during the design of the decoupling device in such a way that their configuration allows the fracture of these fusible screws when a torque exerted between the plates of the coupling 19A, 19B exceeds the decoupling torque C.sub.D.

(33) As shown in FIG. 2, the reduction device 20 is connected to a casing 46 of the turbine engine by at least one of its members. For example, in a non-limiting manner of the invention, as shown in FIG. 9, a crown 48 of the reduction device 20 is linked to the casing 46 by means of a support 52 that can be deformed axially, while a planetary carrier 49 of the reduction device 20 is coupled to the fan shaft 18 and a planetary gear 24 is coupled to the turbine shaft 16.

(34) It will be understood that this arrangement does not limit the invention and that the elements of the reduction device 20 could be connected in a different way to the casing 46, to the fan shaft 18, and to the turbine shaft 16. This configuration allows to guarantee that once the reduction device 20 has been decoupled from the turbine shaft 16 and from the fan shaft 18, it however remains maintained in the casing 46 of the turbine engine.

(35) In particular, the crown 48 of the reduction device 20 could be connected to the fan shaft 18, the planetary carrier 49 of the reduction device 20 could be connected to the casing 44 of the turbine engine, while the planetary gear 24 would be coupled to the turbine shaft 16, similarly to the configuration of FIG. 1.

(36) In addition, in the case of a reduction device 20 of the planetary or epicyclic type, the input shaft 26 is mounted in this reduction device 20, i.e. here in the planetary gear 24, by means of splines 54. The sliding of the inclined planes 27A, 27B of the sets of teeth separates the plates 19A, 19B, and because of this, requires an axial clearance of the speed reduction device 20.

(37) Advantageously, the reduction device 20 can, by means of the set of splines 54, be interposed between the input shaft of the reduction device 20 and the planetary gear 24, and of the support 52 of the crown 48 which is deformed in order to accompany the crown 48 of the reduction device 20, to axially retract, as shown by the arrow “E” of FIGS. 2 and 6. This movement, initiated when the coupling 17 is subjected to a torque, continues after the fracture of the screws 30 so as to allow for a more substantial axial retraction of the reduction device 20, and doing this, the separation of the flange 50 and of the fan shaft 18.

(38) This configuration is particularly advantageous because, by allowing the reduction device to retract, it allows to prevent any stress on the shaft 18 of the fan 12. Because of this, there is no need to provide any decoupling bearing for this shaft 18, which can remain rotating on ordinary bearings.

(39) Once decoupled, the fan 12 is subjected to a free rotation speed or “windmilling” which allows the turbine engine to produce only a reduced trail, thereby making it possible to retain a certain manoeuvrability for the aircraft equipped with the turbine engine.

(40) In the particular case of a speed reduction device 20 of the planetary or epicyclic type in which the planetary carrier 49 drives one of the plates 19B with trapezoidal teeth of the coupling 17, it is possible to provide a compact arrangement of the screws 30. To this effect, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the planetary carrier comprises bore holes 56 that are arranged facing the bore holes 23B of the plate 19B. These bore holes 56 pass through the planetary carrier 49 and they are configured to receive the thread ends of the fusible screws 30 and the lock nuts 31 of the fusible screws, and especially to allow the passage of a tool for tightening the nuts 31 through bore holes 56. Thus an operator in charge of mounting the turbine engine can very simply tighten the nuts 31 by inserting a socket wrench into the bore holes 56 on the side of the reduction device 20 opposite the flange 50.

(41) According to an alternative of the invention, the turbine engine comprises means for retaining the fusible screws 30. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 7, these means comprise a flange 58 integral with the plate 19A of the curvic coupling, which is intended to immobilise the heads 60 of the screws 30 after the fracture thereof. On the opposite side the bore holes 56 of the planetary carrier 49 receive shutters 62 intended to prevent the body of the screws 30 from coming out of these bore holes.

(42) It will be understood that this configuration does not limit the invention and that other retaining means can be used.

(43) In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fracture of the fusible screws 30 of the decoupling means 28 can be provided as a minimum and this, as soon as a single blade 13 is lost. This configuration does not limit the invention and the loss of a higher number of blades could be tolerated.

(44) Conversely, if it is required that the fracture of the fusible screws 30 occurs only in case of fracture or loss of a blade 13, it is required that this fracture does not occur in case of a simple slowing down of the fan 12.

(45) Thus, it is provided that the predetermined resistive torque C.sub.D be strictly greater than any torque that corresponds to a resistive torque exerted by the fan 12 on the speed reduction device 20, in case a bird is ingested without the loss of a blade by said fan 12. Such an event can indeed produce a tangential force that slows down the fan 12 but does not risk damaging the reduction device 20 or the shaft 18. In this case, the occurrence of an event such as the ingesting of a bird does not cause the fracture of the fusible screws 30.

(46) The fracture is however provided for an event that corresponds to a predetermined percentage of the maximum torque to which the shaft 18 of the fan 12 is subjected. For example, it is possible to determine the fracture torque C.sub.D in order to respond to the loss of a blade, as was seen above. In the configuration of the turbine engine mentioned above, this torque C.sub.D is then located within a range from 120% to 200% of the maximum torque to which the shaft 18 of the fan 12 is subjected.

(47) It is also possible to choose another fracture criterion of the screws 30, such as for example jamming or blocking of the speed reduction device 20. In this case, the torque C.sub.D is located in a range from 200% to 300% of the maximum torque C.sub.D to which the shaft 18 of the fan 12 is subjected.

(48) The values of the decoupling torque C.sub.D mentioned above depend on the material of the fan. Its value will be different according to whether the fan comprises blades made of metal, or blades made of a composite material.

(49) For the information purposes only, and in a non-limiting manner of the invention, it is possible to consider for example the case of a turbine engine that has a maximum thrust between 100 kN and 300 kN, with a fan 12 with a diameter between 2 and 3 m, and a speed reduction device having a reduction ratio between 2.5 and 5. In this case, the maximum torque at the output of the speed reduction device 20 is between 50,000 and 170,000 N.

(50) In this configuration, in a non-limiting manner of the invention, the value of the decoupling torque determined in the three embodiments of the means 28 for decoupling can therefore vary substantially between 60,000 N.Math.m and 510,000 N.Math.m.

(51) It will of course be understood that these values are only indications and depend on the architecture and the sizing of the turbine engine.

(52) Advantageously, means for detecting the decoupling of the reduction device 20 and of the fan shaft 18 by the means for decoupling 28 can be provided in order to control at least a speed reduction of the turbine, even a complete stoppage of the turbine engine.

(53) Thus it is possible to measure the speed of the output flange 50 of the speed reduction device 20. Detecting the runaway of this speed with respect to that of the fan 12 can thus be interpreted as a decoupling and trigger the activation of regulation members of the engine. It is then possible to limit the flow rate of fuel in order to cause the speed of the turbine to drop, and if a turbine comprising an axial brake is arranged between a rotor portion and a stator portion, to activate this brake in order to slow down and/or stop the turbine.

(54) FIG. 10 shows comparatively the resistive torque “C” transmitted, on the y-axis, as a function of the time “t” on the x-axis, in case of a fracture of a fan blade 13.

(55) As can be seen on the curve in thick lines, in a conventional turbine engine, from an optimum operating torque C.sub.0, at an instant T.sub.R a fracture of a blade 13 can occur. This fracture leads to an increase in the resistive torque until a limit value C.sub.max that corresponds to the blocking of the reduction device 20 and of the fan 12, or more exactly to a risk of blocking according to the specifications of the reduction device, making the latter improper for the use thereof.

(56) In the turbine engine according to the invention, the maximum torque is determined to a torque C.sub.D or decoupling torque. Therefore, during operations, at an instant T.sub.R a fracture can also occur of a blade 13, which leads to an increase in the resistive torque up to the value C.sub.D or decoupling torque value. The torque then decreases, according to the curve represented by a dotted line, until a value C.sub.min, which corresponds to a state of free rotation of the fan 12.

(57) It will of course be understood that these values are only indications and depend on the type of blade used, as well as the architecture and the sizing of the engine.

(58) It will be understood that, when the decoupling occurs due to the loss of a blade, from the moment when the fan 12 is decoupled from the turbine shaft 16, the turbine 16 is no longer subjected to a resistive torque coming from said fan. There is therefore a risk of runaway of the turbine if the speed reduction device 20 is not decoupled, with this runaway driving the speed reduction device 20 at speeds for which it is not intended to operate.

(59) Thus preferably, the turbine engine or turbine engine 10 comprises means for detecting the decoupling of the reduction device 20 and of the fan shaft 18 able to control at least a speed reduction of the turbine, even a complete stoppage of the turbine engine.

(60) Thus it is known to measure the speed of the fan shaft 18 via a speed sensor. Detecting the runaway of the speed measured can thus be interpreted as a decoupling and trigger the activation of the regulating systems of the engine. It is then possible to limit the flow rate of fuel in order to cause the speed of the turbine to drop, or, if the turbine comprises an axial brake between a rotor portion and a stator portion, to activate this brake in order to slow down and/or stop the turbine.

(61) The invention therefore provides a safe solution to the risks of overspeed of a drive line of the turbine engine, in particular in case of fracture of a fan blade of the turbine engine or of the blocking of said speed reduction device. The decoupling device not only allows to protect the connection between the fan and the speed reduction device, but also the internal elements of the speed reduction device, as well as the rotating elements placed upstream from the reduction gear according to the path of the engine power, namely the LP compressor shaft, the LP turbine shaft and the LP turbine.