Multi shaft power transfer system
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsTadashi Sawata, Aaron Day
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical power-transfer system for an engine includes first and second engine shafts. The system also includes a planetary gear system having a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears enmeshed with the sun gear and the ring gear, and a carrier supporting the plurality of planetary gears, where the carrier is configured for connection to be driven by the first engine shaft. The system further includes a first electrical machine connected to be driven by the ring gear to generate electrical power, a second electrical machine connected to drive the sun gear, and a third electrical machine configured to receive electrical power generated by the first electrical machine and operable as a motor to drive the second engine shaft.
Claims20
An electrical power-transfer system for an engine having first and second engine shafts, the system comprising:
- a planetary gear system comprising a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears enmeshed with the sun gear and the ring gear, and a carrier supporting the plurality of planetary gears, wherein the carrier is configured for connection to be driven by the first engine shaft;
- a first electrical machine connected to be driven by the ring gear to generate electrical power;
- a second electrical machine connected to drive the sun gear;
- a third electrical machine configured to receive the electrical power generated by the first electrical machine and operable as a motor to drive the second engine shaft;
- a sensor configured to detect a rotation of one or more parts of the planetary gear system;
- and
- a controller in communication with the sensor, the controller configured to control a speed at which the second electrical machine drives the sun gear in response to the rotation detected by the sensor.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a low-speed shaft;
- a high-speed shaft;
- and
- an electrical power transfer system comprising:
- a planetary gear system comprising a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears enmeshed with the sun gear and the ring gear, and a carrier supporting the plurality of planetary gears, the carrier connected to be driven by the low-speed shaft;
- a first electrical machine connected to be driven by the ring gear to generate electrical power;
- a second electrical machine connected to drive the sun gear;
- and
- a third electrical machine configured to receive the electrical power generated by the first electrical machine and connected to drive the high-speed shaft;
- wherein the second electrical machine has a constant power speed range that is greater than a constant power speed range of the first electrical machine.
A method of operating an electrical power transfer system of an engine having first and second engine shafts, the method comprising:
- driving a carrier of a planetary gear system with the first engine shaft, the carrier supporting a plurality of planetary gears enmeshed with a sun gear and a ring gear, the ring gear connected to drive a first electrical machine and the sun gear connected to be driven by a second electrical machine;
- driving the sun gear with the second electrical machine;
- generating electrical power with the first electrical machine;
- powering, with the electrical power, a third electrical machine in order to drive the second engine shaft;
- detecting, using a sensor, a rotation of one or more parts of the planetary gear system;
- and
- controlling, using a controller in communication with the sensor, a speed at which the second electrical machine drives the sun gear in response to the detected rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.