Generator coupling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11996758-B2
Application number	US-202117910419-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2021
Priority date	Mar 12, 2020
Publication date	May 28, 2024
Grant date	May 28, 2024

Abstract

The present invention relates to a generator input shaft assembly comprising a generator input shaft ( 160 ) arranged to receive a drive input to the generator, and a disconnect input shaft ( 120 ) arranged to deliver a drive input from the generator input shaft to a disconnectable drive transfer means ( 116 ). The disconnectable drive transfer means is configured to transfer rotational drive from the generator input shaft assembly to a rotor ( 110 ) of the generator. The generator input shaft assembly is configured such that the generator input shaft can: float axially relative to the disconnect input shaft and/or drive the disconnect input shaft with an axis of rotation of the generator input shaft non-parallel to an axis of rotation of the disconnect input shaft, so as to compensate for a misaligned input to the generator input shaft. Other aspects of the invention relate to a generator and a system comprising the generator input shaft assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A generator arranged to be driven by a prime mover of an aircraft, the generator comprising:
a rotor, which is rotatable about a rotor axis;
a disconnectable drive transfer means;
a generator input shaft assembly comprising:
a generator input shaft arranged to receive a drive input to the generator, wherein the generator input shaft comprises a shear neck portion defined by a portion of reduced shaft thickness; and
a disconnect input shaft arranged to deliver a drive input from the generator input shaft to the disconnectable drive transfer means, the disconnectable drive transfer means being configured to transfer rotational drive from the generator input shaft assembly to the rotor, wherein the disconnect input shaft is rotatably mounted in a generator housing and is journaled to rotate about the rotor axis by a bearing;

wherein the generator input shaft assembly is configured such that the generator input shaft: axially floats relative to the disconnect input shaft; and/or drive the disconnect input shaft with an axis of rotation of the generator input shaft non-parallel to an axis of rotation of the disconnect input shaft, so as to compensate for a misaligned input to the generator input shaft.

2. The generator according to claim 1 , wherein the generator input shaft is configured to drive the disconnect input shaft via an axially moveable torque transferring interface.

3. The generator according to claim 2 , wherein the axially moveable torque transferring interface comprises intermeshing input teeth.

4. The generator according to claim 3 , wherein the intermeshing input teeth project radially with respect to the disconnect input shaft.

5. The generator according to claim 2 , wherein the intermeshing input teeth comprise a first set of teeth extending from an inner circumferential surface of the disconnect input shaft, the first set of teeth being arranged to intermesh with a second set of teeth extending from an outer circumferential surface of the generator input shaft.

6. The generator according to claim 2 , wherein the axially moveable torque transferring interface comprises a spline arrangement.

7. The generator according to claim 2 , further comprising a fluid circuit configured to deliver a flow of fluid to the axially moveable torque transferring interface.

8. The generator according to claim 7 , wherein the fluid circuit is configured to deliver a flow of fluid to the disconnectable drive transfer means.

9. The generator according to claim 8 , wherein the disconnectable drive transfer means comprises a first disconnect member and a second disconnect member, and an engaging interface therebetween, and wherein the fluid circuit is configured to deliver a flow of fluid to the engaging interface.

10. The generator according to claim 9 , wherein the first disconnect member is configured to transfer rotational drive to the rotor via an intermeshing rotor interface and the fluid circuit is configured to deliver a flow of fluid to the intermeshing rotor interface.

11. The generator according to claim 7 , wherein the rotor is mounted in the generator housing, journaled by a rotor bearing, and the fluid circuit is configured to deliver a flow of fluid to the rotor bearing.

12. The generator according to claim 11 , wherein the fluid circuit comprises a first branch, configured to deliver a flow of fluid to the axially moveable torque transferring interface between the generator input shaft and the disconnect input shaft and/or to the disconnectable drive transfer means; and wherein the fluid circuit further comprises a second branch configured to deliver a flow of fluid to the rotor bearing.

13. A system, comprising:
the generator of claim 1 ; and
an aircraft engine assembly comprising an engine assembly output shaft, the generator being arranged to be driven by the engine assembly output shaft;
wherein the generator input shaft is configured to be able to float axially relative to the disconnect input shaft and/or to be able to drive the disconnect input shaft when an axis of rotation of the generator input shaft is non-parallel to an axis of rotation of the disconnect input shaft so as to be able to compensate for a misalignment between the engine output shaft and the disconnect input shaft of the generator.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the generator input shaft comprises:
a distal end facing the aircraft engine, and
a generator end facing the rotor; configured such that a force generated by a pressure of the fluid circuit of the generator impinging on the generator end is equal to a force generated by a pressure of an engine assembly fluid impinging on the distal end.

Assignees

• Safran Electrical & Power

Inventors

• Kelly Anthony
• Nixon John

Classifications

• H02K7/108 Primary

  with friction clutches · CPC title

• F01D15/10

  Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators · CPC title

• H02K7/1823

  structurally associated with turbines or similar engines · CPC title

• F16D3/185 Primary

  radial teeth connecting concentric inner and outer coupling parts · CPC title

• F16D11/14 Primary

  with clutching members movable only axially (F16D11/02, F16D11/08 take precedence) · CPC title