Combined Two Engine Cycle With At Least One Recuperated Cycle Engine For Rotor Drive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016003144-A1
Application number	US-201514737633-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 12, 2015
Priority date	Jul 1, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A drive architecture comprises a rotor and a gearbox for driving the rotor. A pair of input gears provides rotational drive to the gearbox. A first recuperative cycle engine drives one of the pair of gears and a second engine drives the other of the pair of gears. The first recuperative cycle engine and the second engine are both gas turbine engines. A power takeoff from a drive shaft of the second engine supplies rotational drive to drive at least one component in the first recuperative cycle drive.

First claim

1 . A drive architecture comprising:
a rotor and a gearbox for driving said rotor; a pair of input gears for providing rotational drive to said gearbox and a first recuperative cycle engine driving one of said pair of gears and a second engine driving the other of said pair of gears; and said first recuperative cycle engine and said second engine both being gas turbine engines, with a power takeoff from a drive shaft of said second engine supplying rotational drive to drive at least one component in said first recuperative cycle drive.

2 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 1 , wherein said power takeoff from said second engine serves to provide rotational input to drive a compressor in said first recuperative cycle engine.

3 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 1 , wherein air downstream of said compressor in said first recuperative cycle engine is directed through a heat exchanger downstream of a turbine section in said first recuperative cycle engine, where the air is heated and is then returned into a combustor section, which is intermediate said compressor and said turbine section in said first recuperative cycle engine.

4 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 3 , wherein air is tapped from said second engine downstream of a compressor in said second engine and passed into a second heat exchanger where it additionally provides heat to the air from said compressor in said first recuperative cycle engine before the air in said first recuperative cycle engine is returned to said combustion section.

5 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 4 , wherein said air from said second engine is passed from a location downstream of a single compressor rotor and through said second heat exchanger.

6 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 4 , wherein there are at least two compressor rotors in the compressor of said second engine and the air is passed into said second heat exchanger from said second engine at a location intermediate a first and second compressor rotor in the second engine.

7 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 4 , wherein a bypass feature is provided on said tap from said second engine into said second heat exchanger with said bypass being provided with valving to selectively deliver air from said second engine to said second heat exchanger or bypass air back to said second engine.

8 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 3 , wherein said drive shaft for said recuperative cycle engine also rotates a thrust propeller.

9 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 3 , wherein said second engine is a reverse core engine wherein air is delivered along a path past a turbine section in said second engine, past a compressor in said second engine, and then turned into the compressor for said second engine.

10 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 3 , wherein air downstream of the turbine section in the first recuperative cycle engine passing through a thrust nozzle.

11 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 10 , wherein said thrust nozzle is a variable area nozzle.

12 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 3 , wherein said power takeoff driving a generator to generate electricity.

13 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 12 , wherein said generator providing power to a power electronic system which, in turn, drives the mechanical connection.

14 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 3 , wherein a mechanical connection and a generator communicate with said power connection and with a shaft for said compressor in said second engine.

15 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 14 , wherein said mechanical connection providing power to said shaft for said compressor and said second engine.

16 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 14 , wherein said mechanical connection receiving a rotary drive from said shaft of said compressor of said second engine.

17 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 1 , wherein said power takeoff driving a generator to generate electricity.

18 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 17 , wherein said generator providing power to a power electronic system which, in turn, drives the mechanical connection.

19 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 17 , wherein a mechanical connection and a generator communicate with said power connection and with a shaft for said compressor in said second engine.

20 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 19 , wherein said mechanical connection providing power to said shaft for said compressor and said second engine.

21 . The drive architecture as set for in claim 19 , wherein said mechanical connection receiving said rotary drive from said shaft of said compressor of said second engine.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Kupratis Daniel Bernard

Classifications

• B64C27/14

  Direct drive between power plant and rotor hub · CPC title

• F05D2220/329

  in helicopters · CPC title

• F02C7/36

  Power transmission arrangements between the different shafts of the gas turbine plant, or between the gas-turbine plant and the power user ({F02C3/107 - F02C3/13 and} F02C7/32 take precedence; couplings for transmitting rotation F16D; gearing in general F16H) · CPC title

• F05D2260/532

  of the bevelled or angled type · CPC title

• F01D15/12

  Combinations with mechanical gearing (driven by multiple engines F01D13/00) · CPC title