Internal combustion engines with unidirectional compounding drives
AssigneeHamiliton Sunstrand Corporation
InventorsGlenn C. Lemmers, Jr., David S. Behling, Todd A. Spierling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compounding drive includes an input member, an epicyclical gear arrangement connected to the input member, an output member connected to the epicyclical gear arrangement, and a hydraulic pump/motor set. The hydraulic pump/motor set connects the epicyclical gear arrangement to the output member through an overrunning clutch for unidirectional communication of mechanical rotation between the input member and the output member. Engine arrangements, aircraft, and methods of compounding internal combustion engines are also described.
Claims20
A compounding drive, comprising:
- an input member;
- an epicyclical gear arrangement connected to the input member;
- an output member connected to the epicyclical gear arrangement through a first connection;
- and
- a hydraulic pump/motor set connecting the epicyclical gear arrangement to the output member through a second connection;
- and
- an overrunning clutch between the epicyclical gear arrangement and the hydraulic pump/motor set for unidirectional communication of mechanical rotation between the input member and the output member.
A method of compounding an engine, comprising:
- at a compounding drive including an input member, an epicyclical gear arrangement connected to the input member, an output member connected to the epicyclical gear arrangement through a first connection, and a hydraulic pump/motor set connecting the epicyclical gear arrangement to the output member through a second connection;
- an overrunning clutch between the epicyclical gear arrangement and the hydraulic pump/motor set;
- unidirectionally communicating mechanical rotation between the input member and the output member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.