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US 11,009,327 B2Granted
Series hybrid architecture for an unmanned underwater vehicle propulsion system
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorRichard A. Himmelmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A propulsion system for an unmanned underwater vehicle includes a turbine engine, a generator mechanically coupled to an output shaft of the turbine engine, an electrical motor mechanically decoupled from the turbine engine and electrically coupled to the generator via a power bus architecture, and a propulsor mechanically coupled to a rotational output of the electrical motor. The power bus architecture includes a pair of AC buses and a DC bus.
Claims16
A propulsion system for an unmanned underwater vehicle comprising:
- a turbine engine;
- a generator mechanically coupled to an output shaft of the turbine engine;
- an electrical motor mechanically decoupled from the turbine engine and electrically coupled to the generator via a power bus architecture;
- a propulsor mechanically coupled to a rotational output of the electrical motor;
- wherein the power bus architecture includes a pair of AC buses and a DC bus, the pair of AC buses including a set of power contactors configured to join the pair of AC buses;
- and
- wherein the pair of AC buses and the DC bus define a first power flowpath traversing each AC bus in the pair of AC buses and the DC bus, and wherein the pair of AC buses defines a second power flowpath connecting the generator to the motor without traversing the DC bus.
4 more elements
A torpedo comprising:
- at least one fuel storage tank;
- a turbine engine including a combustor and a turbine, the combustor being fluidly connected to the at least one fuel storage tank;
- a generator mechanically coupled to an output shaft of the turbine engine;
- an electrical motor mechanically decoupled from the turbine engine and electrically coupled to the generator via a power bus architecture;
- a propulsor mechanically coupled to a rotational output of the electrical motor;
- wherein the power bus architecture includes a pair of AC buses, a set of power contactors joining the pair of AC buses, and a DC bus connected to the pair of AC buses via a first and second rectifier/inverter;
- and
- wherein the pair of AC buses and the DC bus define a first power flowpath traversing each AC bus in the pair of AC buses and the DC bus, and wherein the pair of AC buses defines a second power flowpath connecting the generator to the motor without traversing the DC bus.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.