Spool selection transmissions with towershaft connections
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsAaron Cooling, Matthew Daniel Koehler, Cavit Hasan Kreci
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus is configured to selectively couple one of a first mechanical input and a second mechanical input to an electric machine. The apparatus includes a mechanical output configured to couple to a part of the electric machine. The apparatus also includes a sliding clutch configured to drive or be driven by the mechanical output. The apparatus further includes a selective actuator configured to move the sliding clutch in order to selectively control which mechanical input drives or is driven by the mechanical output. The second mechanical input is a gearbox configured to drive or be driven by an external mechanism.
Claims20
An apparatus configured to selectively couple one of a first mechanical input and a second mechanical input to an electric machine, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a mechanical output configured to couple to a part of the electric machine;
- a sliding clutch configured to drive or be driven by the mechanical output;
- and
- a selective actuator configured to move the sliding clutch in order to selectively control which mechanical input drives or is driven by the mechanical output;
- wherein the second mechanical input is a gearbox configured to drive or be driven by an external mechanism.
A system comprising:
- an electric machine configured to selectively drive or be driven by one of multiple spools of a gas turbine engine;
- and
- a spool selection transmission configured to selectively couple the one of the multiple spools to the electric machine, the spool selection transmission comprising:
- a mechanical output configured to couple to a part of the electric machine;
- a sliding clutch configured to drive or be driven by the mechanical output;
- and
- a selective actuator configured to move the sliding clutch in order to selectively control which of the spools drives or is driven by the mechanical output;
- and
- a gearbox mechanically coupling a first of the spools to the spool selection transmission via a first input shaft;
- wherein the electric machine is configured to speed match the sliding clutch to the one of the spools to facilitate engagement.
A method comprising:
- using a transmission to selectively couple one of a first mechanical input and a second mechanical input to an electric machine, the transmission comprising:
- a mechanical output configured to couple to a part of the electric machine;
- a sliding clutch configured to drive or be driven by the mechanical output;
- and
- a selective actuator configured to move the sliding clutch in order to selectively control which mechanical input drives or is driven by the mechanical output;
- and
- driving the electric machine using one of the mechanical inputs or driving one of the mechanical inputs using the electric machine via the transmission;
- wherein one of the mechanical inputs is a gearbox separate from the transmission configured to drive or be driven by an external mechanism;
- and
- wherein the electric machine is configured to speed match the sliding clutch to one of the mechanical inputs to facilitate engagement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.