Modular power plant for a rotorcraft and associated rotorcraft

A rotorcraft with a lift rotor driven with a modular power plant comprising:

• two engines selected from the group comprising a combustion type engine and an electric type engine;
• a main gearbox comprising a gearbox housing and a toothed wheel arranged in an internal space at least partially delimited by the gearbox housing, the toothed wheel having a degree of rotational freedom about a primary axis of rotation relative to the gearbox housing, the primary axis of rotation coinciding with or being parallel to a rotor axis of rotation of the at least one lift rotor, the toothed wheel mechanically transmitting an engine torque generated at least one of the engines to a rotor mast constrained to rotate with the at least one lift rotor;
• and
• at least two mechanical connection interfaces, a first mechanical connection interface mechanically connecting the main gearbox to a first engine of the two engines, and a second mechanical connection interface configured to mechanically connect and disconnect the main gearbox to a second engine of the two engines,
• wherein each mechanical connection interface comprises a pinion directly meshing with the toothed wheel, each of the pinions distributed around the primary axis of rotation, each pinion having a degree of rotational freedom about a secondary axis of rotation relative to the gearbox housing, each secondary axis of rotation arranged parallel to the primary axis of rotation, and
• wherein each mechanical connection interface comprises an interface housing reversible securing the interface housing with the gearbox housing and alternatively for releasing the interface housing from the gearbox housing,
• wherein the modular power plant is operable in a first and second configuration,
• wherein in the first configuration the modular power plant only connects the first engine and the second engine is disconnected in the first configuration,
• wherein in the second configuration the modular power plant connects the first engine and the second engine is connected in the second configuration.

A rotorcraft with a lift rotor driven with a modular power plant comprising:

• a first engine and a second engine, the first and second engines selected from the group comprising a combustion engine and an electric engine;
• a main gearbox comprising a gearbox housing and a toothed wheel arranged in an internal space of the gearbox housing, the toothed wheel having a degree of rotational freedom about a primary axis of rotation relative to the gearbox housing, the primary axis of rotation coinciding with or being parallel to a rotor axis of rotation of the lift rotor, the toothed wheel mechanically transmitting an engine torque generated by the engines to a rotor mast constrained to rotate with the lift rotor;
• and
• two mechanical connection interfaces, a first mechanical connection interface mechanically connecting the main gearbox to the first engine, and a second mechanical connection interface opeable to connect and disconnect the second engine to the main gearbox,
• wherein each mechanical connection interface comprises a pinion directly meshing with the toothed wheel, the pinions distributed in azimuth around the primary axis of rotation, each pinion having a degree of rotational freedom about a secondary axis of rotation relative to the gearbox housing, each secondary axis of rotation being arranged parallel to the primary axis of rotation, and
• wherein each mechanical connection interface comprises an interface housing reversible securing the interface housing with the gearbox housing and alternatively for releasing the interface housing from the gearbox housing,
• wherein the modular power plant is operable in a first and second configuration,
• wherein in the first configuration the modular power plant only connects the first engine and the second engine is disconnected in the first configuration,
• wherein in the second configuration the modular power plant connects the first engine and the second engine is connected in the second configuration.