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AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsGlenn H. Lane, Gary A. Farnsworth, Gerhard Schroeder, Kellan Geck
Estimating the term…
An improved air turbine starter that includes fluid flow control devices. The devices may be check valves, for example normally open check valves. The check valves may be located in fluid flow paths between the starter and the gearbox to which it is mounted. The starter may also include a ring seal about the output shaft to restrict fluid flow over the shaft.
A gas turbine engine combination comprising:
An air turbine starter comprising:
A kit for configuring an air turbine starter to have a valve, the kit comprising:
A method of operating an air turbine starter, the method comprising the steps of:
An air turbine starter comprising an air turbine starter housing having a wall defining a first opening allowing oil to pass through the opening, an output shaft extending from the housing, a cover plate adjacent the output shaft and including a wall in the cover plate defining a second opening, a first normally open valve in the first opening, a second normally open valve in the second opening and wherein the first and second normally open valves are configured to be actuated by a pressure change across the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, other groups: lubricating arrangements
Mechanical drives: the starter being a separate turbine
Function: starting
Nitrides: of silicon
Term ended 7 Feb 2022 (estimated)
These inventions relate generally to turbines and have particular application to air turbine starters and to valves used in such starters. Such devices can be used, for example, in starting systems for gas turbine engines commonly found on aircraft.
An air turbine starter (“ATS”) is a device used to start a turbine engine, such as a gas turbine jet engine. The air turbine starter is used to start the jet engine, much as a starter for an automobile is used to start the automobile's engine. In order to start the jet engine, the air turbine starter is activated. The developer of the present inventions, Honeywell International, Inc., has for years successfully designed, developed and manufactured air turbine starters.
Air turbine starters A (FIG. 9) are typically mounted to the jet engine B through a gearbox C or other transmission assembly with a cover plate or wall D between the starter housing and the gearbox housing. The transmission transfers power from the starter to the jet engine to assist in starting jet engine. The transmission may also transmit power from the jet engine to other components linked to the transmission.
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal transverse cross-section of a portion of an air turbine starter in accordance with one aspect of one of the present inventions.
FIG. 2 is a detail and cutaway of a portion of the starter of FIG. 1 showing a valve and a portion of a cover plate for an air turbine starter accordance with one aspect of one of the present inventions.
FIG. 3 is a detail and cutaway of a portion of the starter of FIG. 1 showing a valve and a portion of a cover plate in accordance with another aspect of one of the present inventions.
Apparatus and methods are described for regulating fluid flow between a turbine and a transmission system, such as between an air turbine starter and a gearbox. Conventional air turbine starters and gearboxes, for example those that utilize an assisted wet cavity, can be modified by incorporating one or more fluid flow control devices, for example check valves, between the air turbine starter and the gearbox. While the embodiments described herein are directed to air turbine starters and gearboxes to which they may be mounted, it should be understood that other turbine and transmission combinations may also be modified to include one or more of the structures described herein. Additionally, while the embodiments described herein are directed to adding control devices to the air turbine starter, for example in the area of the air turbine starter adjacent to gearbox, it should be understood that such control devices can be included in various areas forming fluid flow paths between the starter and the gearbox. Moreover, such control devices can be incorporated into gearboxes in addition to or instead of the starter and achieve functions similar to one or more of those described herein.
The air turbine starter 10 (FIG. 1) has a first housing assembly 12 and a second housing assembly 13. The housing assembly 12 defines a flow path 14 extending from an inlet 16 to an outlet 18. The housing assembly 13 includes a mounting flange 19 for mounting the air turbine starter to a gas turbine engine (not shown). An air pressure duct delivers pressurized air from an air supply to the inlet 16. Typically, the air pressure at the inlet 16 is in the range of 30-40 psig.
Within the air turbine starter 10, the housing assemblies 12 and 13 support a turbine section 20, a compound planetary gear train 40, and an overrunning clutch 60.