Integrated inlet particle separator (IPS) blower/engine starter
AssigneeSikorsky Aircraft Corporation
InventorsJoseph Lawrence Simonetti, Andrew G. Keith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated inlet particle separator (IPS) blower/engine starter including a housing having an inlet and an outlet. A turbine member is rotatably supported in the housing. A geared member operatively connected to the turbine member extends outward from the housing. The integrated IPS blower/engine starter is operable in a first configuration receiving a first fluid flow to rotate the geared member and in a second configuration generating a fluid flow through powered rotation of the geared member.
Claims9
An integrated inlet particle separator (IPS) blower/engine starter including an inlet particle separator (IPS) comprising:
- a housing including an inlet and an outlet;
- a turbine member rotatably supported in the housing;
- a geared member operatively connected to the turbine member and extending outward from the housing,
- wherein the integrated IPS blower/engine starter is operable in a first configuration to receive a first fluid flow passing from the inlet and across the turbine member to the outlet in order to drive rotation of the geared member and initiate activation of a prime mover;
- and
- wherein the integrated IPS blower/engine starter is operable in a second configuration, through powered rotation of the geared member by the prime mover, to rotate the turbine member and generate a second fluid flow through the IPS into the inlet of the housing across the turbine member and through the outlet of the housing.
A vehicle comprising:
- a prime mover;
- an engine accessory gearbox coupled to the prime mover;
- an inlet particle separator (IPS) fluidically connected to the prime mover;
- and
- an integrated inlet particle separator (IPS) blower/engine starter comprising:
- a housing including an inlet and an outlet;
- a turbine member rotatably supported in the housing;
- and
- a geared member operatively connected to the turbine member, extending outward from the housing, and mechanically connected to the engine accessory gearbox,
- wherein the integrated IPS blower/engine starter is operable in a first configuration to receive a first fluid flow passing from the inlet and across the turbine member to the outlet in order drive rotation of the geared member and initiate activation of the prime mover, and
- wherein the integrated IPS blower/engine starter is operable in a second configuration through powered rotation of the geared member by the prime mover, to rotate the turbine and generate a second fluid flow through the IPS into the inlet of the housing and across the turbine member to the outlet of the housing.
A method of operating a vehicle comprising:
- operating an integrated inlet particle separator (IPS) blower/engine starter in a first configuration comprising:
- generating a first fluid flow with an engine starting system, the first fluid flow passing into an inlet of the integrated IPS blower/engine starter to rotate a turbine member connected to an engine accessory gearbox and initiate activation of a prime mover;
- and
- operating the integrated IPS blower/engine starter in a second configuration comprising:
- driving the turbine member of the integrated IPS blower/engine starter with the prime mover to generate an IPS flow from an inlet particle separator (IPS) into the inlet of the integrated IPS blower/engine starter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.