General Electric Company
Rotor shaft architectures for a gas turbine engine and methods of assembly thereof

Abstract:

A shaft assembly for a rotary machine, the rotary machine includes a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, a high pressure turbine, and a low pressure turbine. The shaft assembly includes an outer shaft configured to couple the high pressure compressor to the high pressure turbine. The outer shaft includes a first forward bearing assembly positioned forward of the high pressure compressor, and a first aft bearing assembly positioned between the high pressure compressor and the high pressure turbine. The shaft assembly also includes an inner shaft rotatable about a common axis with the outer shaft that at least partially extends about the inner shaft. The inner shaft is configured to couple the low pressure compressor to the low pressure turbine. The inner shaft includes a second forward bearing assembly positioned forward of the low pressure compressor, and a second aft bearing assembly positioned proximate the high pressure turbine.