Engine accessory drives systems and methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJeffrey M. Roach, Michael T. Fox, Howard Carter, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An accessory drive for an engine includes a power takeoff (PTO) configured to couple power from a rotating shaft of the engine and to convey the power through an opening in a housing of the engine. A gearbox is coupled to and configured to be driven by the PTO. The gearbox is disposed external to the housing and includes a planetary gear train. At least one engine accessory is coupled to and configured to be driven by the planetary gear train.
Claims20
An accessory drive for an engine, the accessory drive comprising:
- a power takeoff (PTO) configured to couple power from a rotating shaft of the engine and to convey the power through an opening in a housing of the engine;
- a gearbox coupled to and configured to be driven by the PTO, the gearbox disposed external to the housing and including a planetary gear train;
- and
- at least one engine accessory coupled to and configured to be driven by the planetary gear train.
A method for driving at least one accessory of an engine, the method comprising:
- receiving power from a rotating shaft of the engine and conveying it through an opening of a housing of the engine with a power takeoff (PTO);
- driving a gearbox with the PTO, the gearbox disposed external to the housing and including a planetary gear train;
- and
- driving the at least one engine accessory with the planetary gear train.
A method for driving a plurality of engine accessories, each of which is operable at a different speed and/or load than the speed and/or load of the other engine accessories, the method comprising driving the accessories with a planetary gearbox such that gear backlash between the engine and the accessories is substantially confined to backlash between the engine and the gearbox and substantially eliminated between the gearbox and the engine accessories.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.