Air cooling shaft at bearing interface

摘要

A gas turbine engine including a compressor rotor and a turbine rotor connected by a compressor shaft portion connected to the compressor rotor and a turbine shaft portion connected to the turbine rotor. The compressor shaft portion and the turbine shaft portion are connected axially together by a shaft coupling, between the compressor rotor and the turbine rotor, and at least a bearing rotatably coupled to the compressor shaft portion adjacent the shaft coupling. The compressor shaft and/or the turbine shaft are provided with openings permitting cooling air to enter air passages in the area of the shaft coupling and surrounding the end of the turbine shaft portion, in order to dissipate heat originating at the turbine rotor and thus reducing the thermal stresses at the bearing.

主权项

1. A gas turbine engine having at least a spool assembly including at least a compressor rotor and a turbine rotor connected by a shaft assembly, the shaft assembly comprising: a compressor shaft portion connected to the compressor rotor and a turbine shaft portion connected to the turbine rotor; the compressor shaft portion and the turbine shaft portion connected axially together by a shaft coupling between the compressor rotor and the turbine rotor and at least a bearing rotatably coupled to the compressor shaft portion adjacent the shaft coupling; the compressor shaft being provided with fore openings and defining at least one air passage extending fore to aft of the bearing to permit cooling air to enter the at least one air passage via the fore openings to cool a portion of the compressor shaft portion opposite the bearing; and a source of pressurized cooling air in communication with the fore openings to direct such cooling air to the at least one air passage, wherein the compressor shaft is hollow and comprises an inner diameter and a shield inwardly from the shaft inner diameter with the at least one air passage defined therebetween; and further wherein aft openings in the compressor shaft portion communicate the pressurized cooling air from the at least one air passage to the shaft coupling.