Gas turbine engine generator switchable drive
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsBrian D. Merry, Gabriel L. Suciu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine engine includes a first spool, a first gear system connected to and driven by the first spool, a second spool, and a second gear system connected to and driven by the second spool. A first starter-generator has a first shaft with a switchable coupling connected to the first shaft. The switchable coupling selectively couples the first starter-generator to the first gear system when the switchable coupling is in a first position and selectively couples the first starter-generator to the second gear system when the switchable coupling is in a second position.
Claims18
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a first spool;
- a first gear system connected to and driven by the first spool;
- a second spool;
- a second gear system connected to and driven by the second spool;
- a first starter-generator having a first shaft with splines;
- and
- a splined collar connected to the first shaft for selectively coupling the first starter-generator to the first gear system when the splined collar is in a first position and selectively coupling the first starter-generator to the second gear system when the splined collar is in a second position.
A method for operating a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
- driving a first starter-generator via a first gear system connected to a first spool;
- driving a second starter-generator via a second gear system connected to a second spool;
- actuating a switchable coupling to disconnect the first starter-generator from the first gear system and to connect the first starter-generator to the second gear system;
- and
- wherein actuating the switchable coupling comprises sliding a splined collar along splines of a shaft of the first starter-generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.