Tail cone driven emergency power generating system
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsRichard A. Himmelmann, Stephen E. Tongue
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tail cone integrated ram air turbine (RAT) includes a rotatable segment of an aircraft tail cone configured to deploy a set of RAT blades. The tail cone integrated RAT also includes a power transfer shaft connected between the rotatable segment and configured to transfer power to from the rotatable segment to an auxiliary power unit (APU). The tail cone integrated RAT further includes a controller connected to the APU and configured to control power output from the APU. When emergency power for an aircraft is needed, the set of RAT blades is deployed from the rotatable segment of an aircraft tail cone. Mechanical power from the rotatable segment is transferred to an APU generator to produce emergency electrical power.
Claims17
A tail cone integrated ram air turbine (RAT) comprising:
- a rotatable segment of an aircraft tail cone configured to deploy a set of ram air turbine blades;
- a power transfer shaft connected to the rotatable segment and configured to transfer power from the rotatable segment to an auxiliary power unit (APU);
- a controller connected to the APU and configured to control an auxiliary power output from the APU;
- a first brake assembly connected to the tail cone integrated RAT and configured to stop and hold the tail cone integrated RAT;
- a second brake assembly connected to the APU and configured to stop and hold the APU;
- and
- a speed summing differential connected to the first and second brake assemblies and configured to direct power to the aircraft.
A method of generating emergency power for an aircraft, the method comprising:
- deploying a tail cone integrated ram air turbine (RAT) comprising a set of blades and a rotatable segment of an aircraft tail cone;
- transferring mechanical energy from the rotatable segment to an auxiliary power unit (APU) generator;
- controlling auxiliary power output of the APU generator with a controller;
- stopping and holding the tail cone integrated RAT with a first brake assembly when the tail cone integrated RAT is not in use;
- stopping and holding the APU with a second brake assembly when the APU is not in use;
- and
- directing power to the aircraft across a speed summing differential connected to the first and second brake assemblies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.