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US 10,125,692 B2Granted
Gas turbine engine system having a disengageable electric machine
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorJames W. Ernst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine, an electric machine, a fuel pump, and a clutch arranged to selectively couple and decouple the electric machine and the fuel pump with the gas turbine engine. Control circuitry may control the clutch in response to data signals indicating engine operating information, current operating conditions, and/or other information.
Claims19
A turbine engine system for an aircraft, the turbine engine system comprising:
- a gas turbine engine;
- an electric machine coupled to the gas turbine engine;
- a fuel pump coupled to the electric machine;
- a clutch configured to selectively couple and decouple the electric machine and the fuel pump from the gas turbine engine;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- (i) disengage the clutch and cause the electric machine to power the fuel pump when the clutch is disengaged, (ii) engage the clutch and cause the electric machine to supply power to the gas turbine engine when the clutch is engaged, and (iii) engage the clutch and cause the gas turbine engine to supply power to the fuel pump and the electric machine when the clutch is engaged.
4 more elements
A turbine engine system for an aircraft, the turbine engine system comprising:
- a gas turbine engine;
- an electric machine coupled to the gas turbine engine;
- a fuel pump coupled to the electric machine;
- and
- a clutch configured to selectively couple and decouple the electric machine and the fuel pump from the gas turbine engine after a startup phase of the gas turbine engine,
- wherein the electric machine is arranged to transfer electrical energy from the gas turbine engine to an energy storage device,
- wherein the electric machine is arranged to transfer electrical energy from the energy storage device to the gas turbine engine when the clutch is engaged.
4 more elements
An accessory subsystem for a gas turbine engine, the accessory subsystem comprising:
- a power take-off assembly drivable by a main shaft of the gas turbine engine;
- a clutch coupled to the power take-off assembly;
- an electric machine;
- a fuel pump coupled to the electric machine;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- (i) disengage the clutch and cause the electric machine to power the fuel pump when the clutch is disengaged, (ii) engage the clutch and cause the electric machine to supply power to the power take-off assembly when the clutch is engaged, and (iii) engage the clutch and cause the power take-off assembly to supply power to the fuel pump and the electric machine when the clutch is engaged,
- wherein the clutch is arranged to selectively couple and decouple the electric machine and the fuel pump from the main shaft of the gas turbine engine.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.