Auxiliary compressor air supply for an aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorNorman J. Kennedy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Engine (10) shaft power provides a first input (16) for a differential gear box (18). This input (16) is additive in a gear box (18) to a second input (30) from an electric motor (32). The output (22) of the gear box (18) powers a rotor (24) of an auxiliary compressor (12) which produces compressed air for providing needed pneumatic services aboard the aircraft. Compressor rotor speed is sensed (sensor 40) and used for controlling operating current (via controller 42 and frequency converter 44) to the electric motor (32). Motor (32) is an electronically commutated brushless electric motor having a high torque output which is substantially linearly proportional to the input current.
Claims11
An air supply system for an aircraft, comprising:
- a propulsion engine having an output shaft;
- an air compressor separate from said engine having an inlet, an outlet and a rotor;
- differential gearing means having an output connected to the compressor rotor, a first input drivenly connected to the output shaft of the aircraft engine, and a second input;
- an electric motor drivingly connected to the second input;
- and
- means responsive to a condition of the compressor for operating the electric motor in an amount sufficient to provide a predetermined desired amount of input drive to the differential gearing, for helping to drive the compressor rotor during periods of low output from the engine shaft, for the purpose of establishing a desired output from the air compressor.
A method of generating a supply of compressed air aboard an aircraft, for use to provide pneumatic services aboard the aircraft, comprising:
- providing an auxiliary compressor of a type including a rotor;
- providing a mechanical drive connection between the aircraft engine and the compressor rotor, so that the rotor is driven by engine shaft power;
- using the engine shaft power alone to drive the compressor rotor during cruise power and higher power operation of the engine;
- using an electric motor in conjunction with engine shaft power for driving the compressor rotor during low power operation of the aircraft engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.