Electric motor propulsion system for an aircraft
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsEric S. Durocher, Michel Labrecque, Todd A. Spierling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly for a propulsion system of an aircraft includes an electric motor, a first gearbox module, a second gearbox module, and a propeller. The electric motor includes a rotor. The rotor includes a first axial end and a second axial end. The first gearbox module includes a first gear assembly. The first gear assembly is coupled to the first axial end. The second gearbox module includes a second gear assembly. The second gear assembly is coupled to the second axial end. The propeller is coupled to the first gear assembly. The first gear assembly is configured to drive rotation of the propeller in response to rotation of the rotor.
Claims18
An assembly for a propulsion system of an aircraft, the assembly comprising:
- an electric motor including a rotor, the rotor includes a first axial end and a second axial end;
- a first gearbox module including a first gear assembly, the first gear assembly is coupled to the first axial end;
- a second gearbox module including a second gear assembly, the second gear assembly is coupled to the second axial end;
- and
- a propeller coupled to the first gear assembly, the first gear assembly is configured to drive rotation of the propeller in response to rotation of the rotor;
- wherein the electric motor includes a motor housing, the motor housing extends between and to a first axial motor end and a second axial motor end, the second axial motor end opposite the first axial motor end, the motor housing includes a first flange at the first axial motor end and a second flange at the second axial motor end, the first flange is mounted to the first gearbox module, and the second flange is mounted to the second gearbox module.
A method for forming an electric motor propulsion system for an aircraft, the method comprising:
- for a propulsion system including a first gearbox module, a second gearbox module, and a gas turbine engine, the first gearbox module including a first gear assembly, the second gearbox module including a second gear assembly, the gas turbine engine including at least one rotational assembly coupled with the first gear assembly and the second gear assembly, the at least one rotational assembly rotatable about a rotational axis to drive the first gear assembly and the second gear assembly, performing the steps of:
- removing the gas turbine engine from an installation location of the propulsion system;
- and
- forming the electric motor propulsion system by installing an electric motor in the propulsion system at the installation location subsequent to removing the gas turbine engine from the propulsion system, and coupling a rotor of the electric motor with the first gear assembly and the second gear assembly;
- wherein the electric motor includes a motor housing, the motor housing extends between and to a first axial motor end and a second axial motor end, the second axial motor end opposite the first axial motor end, the motor housing includes a first flange at the first axial motor end and a second flange at the second axial motor end, the first flange is mounted to the first gearbox module, and the second flange is mounted to the second gearbox module.
An aircraft propulsion system comprising:
- an electric motor including a rotor rotatable about a rotational axis;
- a first gearbox module including a first gear assembly, the first gear assembly is coupled to rotor;
- a second gearbox module including a second gear assembly, the second gear assembly is coupled to the rotor;
- a propulsor coupled to the first gear assembly, the first gear assembly is configured to drive rotation of the propulsor in response to rotation of the rotor;
- and
- a plurality of auxiliary loads coupled to the second gear assembly, the second gear assembly configured to drive the plurality of auxiliary loads in response to rotation of the rotor;
- wherein the electric motor includes a motor housing, the motor housing extends between and to a first axial end and a second axial end, the second axial end opposite the first axial end, the motor housing includes a first flange at the first axial end and a second flange at the second axial end, the first flange is mounted to the first gearbox module, and the second flange is mounted to the second gearbox module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.