US 5,572,910 AGranted

Application of face gears to helicopter transmissions

AssigneeStudio Torta

InventorsLuigi Tomaselli, Valter Bologna, Giovanni Oddone

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Abstract

A helicopter transmission presenting at least a first reduction unit receiving motion from a respective engine on the helicopter; and a second reduction unit connected to the first reduction unit and transmitting motion to the shaft of the main rotor; both reduction units presenting one reduction stage, and each including a pair of face gears coaxial with and facing each other and only one of which is fitted to the output shaft of the respective reduction unit; and two pinions of which one is a floating input pinion and the other is a fixed-axis pinion, and each of which meshes with both the face gears.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A helicopter transmission comprising an outer casing, at least an input shaft and a main output shaft rotating about respective axes and able to be connected respectively to an engine and a main rotor of the helicopter;

and gear transmission means interposed between the input shaft and the main output shaft, said gear transmission means comprise a first and second reduction unit interposed between said shafts, and each presenting one reduction stage;
said first reduction unit comprising a floating first pinion rotating about its axis and connected in angularly integral manner to said input shaft;
an intermediate shaft rotating about its axis;
a first and second gear coaxial with each other and with said intermediate shaft and presenting respective teeth meshing with the teeth of said first pinion, said first gear being fitted to said intermediate shaft, and said second gear being idle in relation to the intermediate shaft;
and at least a second pinion presenting teeth meshing with those of said gears, and rotating about its axis which is fixed in relation to the axis of the input shaft;
characterized in that at least the first reduction unit comprises a first supporting body for supporting said first and second gears;
said first supporting body being housed inside said outer casing and coaxially with said intermediate shaft;
and each of said first and second gears being connected to said first supporting body by means of a respective single first bearing.

5 more elements

and gear transmission means interposed between the input shaft and the main output shaft, said gear transmission means comprise a first and second reduction unit interposed between said shafts, and each presenting one reduction stage;
said first reduction unit comprising a floating first pinion rotating about its axis and connected in angularly integral manner to said input shaft;
an intermediate shaft rotating about its axis;
a first and second gear coaxial with each other and with said intermediate shaft and presenting respective teeth meshing with the teeth of said first pinion, said first gear being fitted to said intermediate shaft, and said second gear being idle in relation to the intermediate shaft;
and at least a second pinion presenting teeth meshing with those of said gears, and rotating about its axis which is fixed in relation to the axis of the input shaft;
said second reduction unit comprises a floating third pinion rotating about its axis and connected in angularly integral manner to said intermediate shaft;
a third and fourth gear coaxial with each other and with said main output shaft, and presenting respective teeth meshing with the teeth of said third pinion, said third gear being fitted to said main output shaft, and said fourth gear being idle in relation to the main output shaft;
and at least a fourth pinion presenting teeth meshing with the teeth of said third and fourth gears, and rotating about its axis which is fixed in relation to the axis of the main output shaft;
said second reduction unit comprises a supporting body for supporting said third and fourth gears;
said supporting body being housed inside said outer casing and coaxially with said main output shaft;
and each of said third and fourth gears being fitted to said supporting body by means of a respective single bearing.

8 more elements

and gear transmission means interposed between the input shaft and the main output shaft, said gear transmission means comprise a first and second reduction unit interposed between said shafts, and each presenting one reduction stage;
said first reduction unit comprising a floating first pinion rotating about its axis and connected in angularly integral manner to said input shaft;
an intermediate shaft rotating about its axis;
a first and second gear coaxial with each other and with said intermediate shaft and presenting respective teeth meshing with the teeth of said first pinion, said first gear being fitted to said intermediate shaft, and said second gear being idle in relation to the intermediate shaft;
and at least a second pinion presenting teeth meshing with those of said gears, and rotating about its axis which is fixed in relation to the axis of the input shaft;
said second reduction unit comprises a floating third pinion rotating about its axis and connected in angularly integral manner to said intermediate shaft;
a third and fourth gear coaxial with each other and with said main output shaft, and presenting respective teeth meshing with the teeth of said third pinion, said third gear being fitted to said main output shaft, and said fourth gear being idle in relation to the main output shaft;
and at least a fourth pinion presenting teeth meshing with the teeth of said third and fourth gears, and rotating about its axis which is fixed in relation to the axis of the main output shaft;
the transmission including an assembly for connecting the main output shaft to the brake assembly of said main rotor;
the connecting assembly comprising a first and second gear transmission and an intermediate shaft connecting said transmissions to each other;
the intermediate shaft rotating about its axis and forming with said main output shaft an angle of other than 90.degree..

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/306,005Filed 14 Sep 1994
Priority: IT T093A068717 Sep 1993
Granted: 12 Nov 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

F16H 37/065
With a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts: with a plurality of…
B64C 27/12
Helicopters: rotor drives
Y10T 74/19014
Gearing: plural prime movers selectively coupled to common output
Y10T 74/19074
Plural power paths to and/or from gearing: single drive plural driven

Family

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