# US 10,371,059 B2 · Cabin blower system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,059 B2 - Document ID: US10371059B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/957,972 - Filed: 2015-12-03 - Published: 2016-06-16 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-11 - Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc - Applicants: ROLLS-ROYCE plc - Inventors: Glenn A Knight; Alan R Maguire; Daniel Robinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371059B2 ## CPC - F02C 7/277: the starter being a {separate} turbine - B64D 13/02: the air being pressurised - B64D 31/14: Transmitting means between initiating means and power plants - F02C 7/275: Mechanical drives - F16H 37/086: {CVT using two coaxial friction members cooperating with at least one intermediate friction member} - B64D 2013/0696: {with provisions for starting power plants} - F16H 2015/383: {with two or more sets of toroid gearings arranged in parallel} - F16H 2037/088: {Power-split transmissions with summing differentials, with the input of the CVT connected or connectable to the input shaft} - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract An aircraft cabin blower system comprising a transmission and a compressor is disclosed. The system has a forward configuration in which the compressor is drivable in use via the transmission. The transmission comprises a toroidal continuously variable transmission giving selectively variable control over the rate at which the compressor is driven. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aircraft blower system comprising: a transmission including (i) at least two traction drives, and (ii) a planetary gearbox disposed between the at least two two traction drives and mechanically coupled to each of the at least two two traction drives; and a compressor mechanically coupled to the planetary gearbox, the aircraft blower system having a forward configuration in which the compressor is configured to be driven by a gas turbine engine via the transmission, the transmission including a first toroidal continuously variable transmission providing control over a selectively variable rate at which the compressor is driven; wherein the aircraft cabin blower system is configured to operate in a reverse configuration including a supply of pressurised gas being supplied to the compressor, and the compressor acting as a turbine and driving one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine via the transmission. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 1, wherein drive for the aircraft cabin blower system in the forward configuration is generated by the gas turbine engine and is delivered to the transmission via the one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 1, wherein drive is transmitted through the at least two traction drives, the at least two traction drives each including a first toroid attached to a first transmission shaft and a second toroid attached to a second transmission shaft, each one of the first and second toroids having one of a pair of opposed toroidal surfaces, and a set of rotatable variators being disposed between the opposed toroidal surfaces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 3, wherein, in the forward configuration of the aircraft cabin blower system, the respective first and second toroids are separated and are drivingly engaged via a wheel of each rotatable variator of the respective sets of rotatable variators, each wheel being configured to run on both of the respective opposed toroidal surfaces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 3, wherein in the reverse configuration, each respective set of rotatable variators are orientated so that a respective wheel of each rotatable variator of each set of rotatable variators engages no more than one respective opposed toroidal surface, and the respective first toroid and a second toroid are positioned to create a driving engagement via direct engagement between a respective engagement surface of each one of the respective first and second toroids. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission further includes a bypass drive transmission parallel to the toroidal continuously variable transmission, the bypass drive transmission including a bypass transmission shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 6, wherein a first transmission shaft of the toroidal continuously variable transmission is engaged with a first shaft of the one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine and the bypass transmission shaft of the bypass drive transmission is engaged with a second shaft of the one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 6, wherein the toroidal continuously variable transmission and the bypass drive transmission are engaged with a common shaft of the one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 1, further comprising a clutch arrangement between the transmission and the compressor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 9, wherein: the clutch arrangement includes: a first gear train having (i) a first drive transfer gear, (ii) a compressor gear, and (iii) a first clutch, the first gear train being configured to transfer drive from the transmission to the compressor when the system is operated in the forward configuration; and a second gear train having (i) a second drive transfer gear, (ii) a third drive transfer gear, and (iii) a second clutch, the second gear train being configured to transfer drive from the compressor to the transmission when the system is operated in the reverse configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The aircraft blower system according to claim 10, wherein the first clutch and second clutch act in opposition to direct drive through only one of the first gear train and second gear train. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission includes a second toroidal continuously variable transmission, the first toroidal continuously variable transmission and the second toroidal continuously variable transmission forming parallel transmission paths. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 12, wherein: the system is configured to be operable in a windmill re-light configuration, wherein the first toroidal continuously variable transmission is driven by a first shaft of the one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine; and the second toroidal continuously variable transmission is driven by the first toroidal continuously variable transmission, and the second toroidal continuously variable transmission drives a second shaft of the one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine.