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US 12,503,249 B2Granted
Ram air turbine
AssigneeESS 2 Tech, LLC
InventorsMichael Suk, David A. Shoffler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ram air turbine may include an output shaft, a first turbine blade set configured to rotate in a first direction, and a second turbine blade set configured to counter-rotate with respect to the first turbine blade set. The rotation of the first turbine blade set and the counter-rotation of the second turbine blade set drives the output shaft.
Claims20
A ram air turbine system, comprising:
- a ram air turbine configured such that, when the ram air turbine is affixed to structure of an aircraft, the ram air turbine is driven by airflow during flight;
- a hydraulic pump or electric power generator operatively connected to, and disposed along side of, the ram air turbine;
- wherein the ram air turbine includes an outer housing having disposed therein:
- an output shaft;
- a first turbine blade set configured to rotate in a first direction;
- a second turbine blade set configured to counter-rotate with respect to the first turbine blade set;
- a third turbine blade set configured to rotate in the first direction;
- the first turbine blade set including a first outer ring and a first plurality of turbine blades extending substantially radially inward from the first outer ring;
- the third turbine blade set including a second outer ring and a second plurality of turbine blades extending substantially radially inward from the second outer ring;
- a substantially cylindrical case configured to receive the first turbine blade set, the second turbine blade set, and the third turbine blade set;
- wherein the first outer ring of the first turbine blade set and the second outer ring of the third turbine blade set are mounted on an inner surface of the case such that the rotation of the first turbine blade set and rotation of the third turbine blade set are linked together;
- wherein the rotation of the first turbine blade set and third turbine blade set and the counter-rotation of the second turbine blade set drives the output shaft of the ram air turbine;
- and
- wherein the ram air turbine is configured to be housed inside a body shell of an aircraft and the ram air turbine system further includes:
- an intake conduit configured to guide air from an air inlet in the body shell of the aircraft to an upstream end of the outer housing of the ram air turbine;
- and
- an outlet conduit configured to guide air exiting a downstream end of the outer housing of the ram air turbine to an air outlet in the body shell.
14 more elements
An aircraft, comprising:
- a body shell having an air inlet and an air outlet arranged spaced from one another in the direction of aircraft flight;
- a ram air turbine system including:
- a ram air turbine fixedly housed inside the body shell of the aircraft;
- an intake conduit configured to guide air from the air inlet in the body shell to an upstream end of an outer housing of the ram air turbine;
- and
- an outlet conduit configured to guide air exiting the ram air turbine from a downstream end of the outer housing of the ram air turbine to the air outlet in the body shell;
- wherein the ram air turbine includes, disposed within the outer housing:
- an output shaft;
- a first turbine blade set configured to rotate in a first direction;
- and
- a second turbine blade set configured to counter-rotate with respect to the first turbine blade set;
- a third turbine blade set configured to rotate in the first direction;
- the first turbine blade set including a first outer ring and a first plurality of turbine blades extending substantially radially inward from the first outer ring;
- the third turbine blade set including a second outer ring and a second plurality of turbine blades extending substantially radially inward from the second outer ring;
- a substantially cylindrical case configured to receive the first turbine blade set, the second turbine blade set, and the third turbine blade set;
- wherein the first outer ring of the first turbine blade set and the second outer ring of the third turbine blade set are mounted on an inner surface of the case such that the rotation of the first turbine blade set and rotation of the third turbine blade set are linked together;
- wherein the rotation of the first turbine blade set and the third turbine blade set and the counter-rotation of the second turbine blade set drives the output shaft;
- and
- the ram air turbine system further including a hydraulic pump or an electrical power generator fixedly housed inside the body shell of the aircraft, disposed along side the ram air turbine, and configured to be driven by the ram air turbine.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.