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US 10,851,714 B2Granted
Engine accessory drives systems and methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJeffrey M. Roach, Michael T. Fox, Howard Carter, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An accessory drive for an engine includes a power takeoff (PTO) configured to couple power from a rotating shaft of the engine and to convey the power through an opening in a housing of the engine. A gearbox is coupled to and configured to be driven by the PTO. The gearbox is disposed external to the housing and includes a planetary gear train. At least one engine accessory is coupled to and configured to be driven by the planetary gear train.
Claims20
An accessory drive for an engine, the accessory drive comprising:
- a power takeoff (PTO) configured to couple to a rotating shaft of the engine;
- a gearbox coupled to the PTO, the gearbox comprising a planetary gear train with a plurality of outputs;
- a first engine accessory;
- a second engine accessory;
- a clutch and a brake disposed between the PTO and the rotating shaft,
- wherein each of the first engine accessory and the second engine accessory is coupled to at least one of the outputs of the gearbox, and wherein the gearbox is configured to vary a first driven speed of the first engine accessory relative to a second driven speed of the second engine accessory in response to a load of at least one of the first engine accessory and/or the second engine accessory.
3 more elements
An accessory drive for an engine, the accessory drive comprising:
- a power takeoff (PTO) configured to couple to a rotating shaft of the engine;
- a gearbox coupled to the PTO, the gearbox comprising a planetary gear train with a plurality of outputs;
- a first engine accessory;
- a second engine accessory, wherein each of the first engine accessory and the second engine accessory is coupled to at least one of the outputs of the gearbox, and wherein the gearbox is configured to vary a first driven speed of the first engine accessory relative to a second driven speed of the second engine accessory in response to a load of at least one of the first engine accessory and/or the second engine accessory;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the first engine accessory and configured to cause the first engine accessory to increase and/or decrease the load to cause the second driven speed to change,
- wherein the controller is further configured to cause the first engine accessory to change a resonant frequency mode between the first engine accessory and the second engine accessory by increasing and/or decreasing the load.
4 more elements
An accessory drive for an engine, the accessory drive comprising:
- a power takeoff (PTO) configured to couple to a rotating shaft of the engine;
- a gearbox coupled to the PTO, the gearbox comprising a planetary gear train with a plurality of outputs;
- a first engine accessory;
- a second engine accessory, wherein each of the first engine accessory and the second engine accessory is coupled to at least one of the outputs of the gearbox, and wherein the gearbox is configured to vary a first driven speed of the first engine accessory relative to a second driven speed of the second engine accessory in response to a load of at least one of the first engine accessory and/or the second engine accessory,
- wherein the planetary gear train comprises a differential comprising a first sun gear and a second sun gear, wherein the first engine accessory is coupled to and configured to be driven by the first sun gear, and wherein the second engine accessory is coupled to and configured to be driven by the second sun gear.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- operating an engine to power an accessory drive, wherein the accessory drive comprises:
- a gearbox coupled to a power takeoff of the engine and comprising a planetary gear train with a plurality of outputs;
- a first engine accessory;
- a second engine accessory;
- and
- a clutch and a brake coupled to the power takeoff,
- wherein each of the first engine accessory and the second engine accessory is coupled to at least one of the outputs, and wherein the gearbox is configured to vary a first driven speed of the first engine accessory relative to a second driven speed of the second engine accessory in response to a load of at least one of the first engine accessory and/or the second engine accessory;
- and
- causing the first engine accessory to vary the load to cause the second driven speed to change.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.