Drive shafts
AssigneeGE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
InventorBenjamin Guy SALTER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drive shaft including an inner shaft having a first end that is adapted to be connectable to a first connecting shaft that is rotated by torque applied by an external electrical machine, and a second end that is adapted to be connectable to a second connecting shaft. A hollow outer shaft, coaxial with the inner shaft, defines at least part of a rotor assembly of an associated electrical machine. The outer shaft is adapted to be releasably connected to the inner shaft so that the drive shaft is selectively configurable in a first arrangement for normal operating conditions where the outer shaft is connected to the inner shaft for rotation therewith, and a second arrangement where the outer shaft is not connected to the inner shaft.
Claims20
A drive shaft comprising:
- an inner shaft comprising:
- a first end configured to be connectable to a first connecting shaft that is rotated by torque applied by an external electrical machine;
- and
- a second end configured to be connectable to a second connecting shaft;
- and
- a hollow outer shaft, coaxial with the inner shaft, the outer shaft defining at least part of, or being operatively coupled to, a rotor assembly of an associated electrical machine, and being configured to be releasably connected to the inner shaft so that the drive shaft is selectively configurable in a first arrangement for normal operating conditions where the outer shaft is connected to the inner shaft for rotation therewith, and a second arrangement where the outer shaft is not connected to the inner shaft.
A drive assembly, comprising
- a drive shaft comprising:
- an inner shaft comprising:
- a first end configured to be connectable to a first connecting shaft that is rotated by torque applied by an external electrical machine;
- and
- a second end configured to be connectable to a second connecting shaft;
- and
- a hollow outer shaft, coaxial with the inner shaft, the outer shaft defining at least part of, or being operatively coupled to a rotor assembly, and being configured to be releasably connected to the inner shaft so that the drive shaft is selectively configurable in a first arrangement for normal operating conditions where the outer shaft is connected to the inner shaft for rotation therewith, and a second arrangement where the outer shaft is not connected to the inner shaft;
- and
- an electrical machine comprising the rotor assembly.
A method of operating a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft includes an inner shaft having a first end configured to be connectable to a first connecting shaft that is rotated by torque applied by an external electrical machine, and a second end configured to be connectable to a second connecting shaft, and a hollow outer shaft, coaxial with the inner shaft, the outer shaft defining at least part of, or being operatively coupled to, a rotor assembly of an associated electrical machine, and being configured to be releasably connected to the inner shaft, the method comprising:
- connecting the outer shaft to the inner shaft during normal operating conditions;
- and
- disconnecting the outer shaft from the inner shaft in response to a fault condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.