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US 12,552,544 B2Granted
Gear reaction derived torque measurement
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsAustin Thomas Mcintire, Brian Joseph Roppolo, Eric Stephen Olson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotorcraft propulsion system includes a mast coupled to a rotor assembly, a gear coupled to the mast, the gear during use producing an axial reaction force, a flexure shaft extending from the gear, where the flexure shaft does not rotate with the gear and the flexure shaft flexes in response to radial loads from the gear, and a load cell on the flexure shaft to measure the axial reaction force.
Claims20
A rotorcraft propulsion system comprising:
- a mast coupled to a rotor assembly;
- a gear coupled to the mast, the gear during use producing an axial reaction force;
- a flexure shaft extending from the gear, wherein the flexure shaft does not rotate with the gear and the flexure shaft flexes in response to radial loads from the gear;
- and
- a load cell on the flexure shaft to measure the axial reaction force.
2 more elements
A rotorcraft comprising:
- a propulsion assembly coupled to a fuselage, the propulsion assembly comprising:
- a mast coupled to a rotor assembly;
- a gear coupled to the mast, the gear during use producing an axial reaction force;
- a flexure shaft extending from the gear, wherein the flexure shaft flexes in response to radial loads from the gear;
- a ball bearing rotationally coupling the gear to the flexure shaft, wherein the ball bearing is configured to transfer the axial reaction force and radial loads from the gear to the flexure shaft;
- and
- a load cell on the flexure shaft to measure the axial reaction force.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- operating a propulsion system to maintain a rotorcraft in flight, the propulsion system including a mast coupled to a rotor assembly, a gear coupled to the mast and producing an axial reaction force, a flexure shaft extending from the gear, a ball bearing rotationally coupling the gear to the flexure shaft and transferring the axial reaction force and radial loads from the gear to the flexure shaft, wherein the flexure shaft flexes in response to the radial loads;
- measuring the axial reaction force on the flexure shaft and during the flight;
- and
- determining a torque of the gear using the axial reaction force.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.