Geared air cycle machine fan for aircraft systems
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsViktor Kilchyk, Brent J. Merritt, Matthew L. Pess
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aircraft air cycle machines include a housing, a shaft arranged within the housing, and a first wheel assembly operably coupled to the shaft and arranged within the housing. The first wheel assembly is configured to rotationally drive the shaft. A second wheel assembly is operably coupled to the shaft and configured to be rotationally driven by the shaft. A magnetic assembly is arranged within the housing and along the shaft. The magnetic assembly includes a stator assembly fixedly connected to the housing and a rotor assembly rotationally coupled to the shaft. The magnetic assembly is arranged along the shaft to provide a gear ratio between the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly.
Claims20
An aircraft air cycle machine comprising:
- a housing;
- a shaft arranged within the housing, the shaft comprising a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion;
- a first wheel assembly operably coupled to the first shaft portion and arranged within the housing, wherein the first wheel assembly is configured to rotationally drive the first shaft portion;
- a second wheel assembly operably coupled to the second shaft portion and configured to be rotationally driven by the second shaft portion;
- and
- a magnetic assembly arranged within the housing and between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, wherein the magnetic assembly comprises a stator assembly fixedly connected to the housing and a rotor assembly rotationally coupled to the first shaft portion, wherein the first shaft portion is operably coupled to the second shaft portion by a magnetic gear arrangement of the magnetic assembly that is configured to provide a variable gear ratio between the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly such that the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly are configured to be selectively driven at different rotational speeds.
An aircraft environmental control system comprising:
- an air cycle machine comprising:
- a housing;
- a shaft arranged within the housing, the shaft comprising a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion;
- a first wheel assembly operably coupled to the first shaft portion and arranged within the housing, wherein the first wheel assembly is configured to rotationally drive the first shaft portion;
- a second wheel assembly operably coupled to the second shaft portion and configured to be rotationally driven by the second shaft portion;
- and
- a magnetic assembly arranged within the housing and along between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, wherein the magnetic assembly comprises a stator assembly fixedly connected to the housing and a rotor assembly rotationally coupled to the first shaft portion, wherein the first shaft portion is operably coupled to the second shaft portion by a magnetic gear arrangement of the magnetic assembly that is configured to provide a variable gear ratio between the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly such that the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly are configured to be selectively driven at different rotational speeds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.