Cabin blower system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016167789-A1
Application number	US-201514957972-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 3, 2015
Priority date	Dec 11, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An aircraft cabin blower system comprising a transmission and a compressor is disclosed. The system has a forward configuration in which the compressor is drivable in use via the transmission. The transmission comprises a toroidal continuously variable transmission giving selectively variable control over the rate at which the compressor is driven.

First claim

1 . An aircraft cabin blower system comprising a transmission and a compressor, the system having a forward configuration in which the compressor is drivable in use via the transmission, the transmission comprising a toroidal continuously variable transmission giving selectively variable control over the rate at which the compressor is driven.

2 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 1 further comprising a gas turbine engine.

3 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 2 where, in use, drive for the system operating in the forward configuration is generated by the gas turbine engine and delivered to the transmission via one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine.

4 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 2 where the toroidal continuously variable transmission comprises at least one traction drive through which in use drive is transmitted, the traction drive comprising first and second toroids, the first toroid being attached to a first transmission shaft and the second toroid being attached to a second transmission shaft, the first and second toroids each having one of a pair of opposed toroidal surfaces and there being a set of rotatable variators disposed between the opposed toroidal surfaces.

5 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 4 where, in the forward configuration of the system, the first and second toroids are separated and are drivingly engaged via a wheel of each variator, each wheel running in use on both of the opposed toroidal surfaces.

6 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 2 where the system is arranged so as it is operable in a reverse configuration, in use a supply of pressurised gas being supplied to the compressor, the compressor acting as a turbine and driving the one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine via the transmission.

7 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 6 where, in the reverse configuration, the variators are orientated so that the wheel of each variator engages only one or none of the opposed toroidal surfaces and the toroids are positioned to create a driving engagement via direct engagement between an engagement surface of each toroid.

8 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 1 where the transmission further comprises a bypass drive transmission parallel to the toroidal continuously variable transmission, the bypass drive transmission comprising a bypass transmission shaft.

9 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 8 where the first transmission shaft of the toroidal continuously variable transmission is engaged with a first shaft of the gas turbine engine and the bypass transmission shaft of the bypass drive transmission is engaged with a second shaft of the gas turbine engine.

10 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 8 where the toroidal continuously variable transmission and the bypass drive transmission are engaged with a common shaft of the gas turbine engine.

11 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 1 further comprising a clutch arrangement between the transmission and the compressor.

12 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 11 wherein the clutch arrangement comprises a first gear train; the first gear train including a first drive transfer gear, a compressor gear and a first clutch; the first gear train arranged to transfer drive from the transmission to the compressor when the system is operated in the forward configuration and where further the clutch arrangement comprises a second gear train; the second gear train including a second drive transfer gear, a third drive transfer gear and a second clutch; the second gear train arranged to transfer drive from the compressor to the transmission when the system is operated in the reverse configuration.

13 . An aircraft blower system according to claim 12 wherein the first clutch and second clutch act in opposition to direct drive through only one of the first gear train and second gear train.

14 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 1 wherein the transmission comprises a second toroidal continuously variable transmission, the first and second toroidal continuously variable transmissions forming parallel transmission paths.

15 . An aircraft cabin blower system according to claim 14 where the system is arranged so as to be operable in a windmill re-light configuration wherein the first toroidal continuously variable transmission is driven by a shaft of a gas turbine engine; and wherein the second toroidal continuously variable transmission is driven by the first toroidal continuously variable transmission and drives another shaft of the gas turbine engine.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Plc

Inventors

• Knight Glenn A
• Maguire Alan R
• Robinson Daniel

Classifications

• B64D13/04 Primary

  Automatic control of pressure · CPC title

• B64D13/02 Primary

  the air being pressurised · CPC title

• F16H2015/383

  with two or more sets of toroid gearings arranged in parallel · CPC title

• F02C7/275

  Mechanical drives · CPC title

• F16H37/086

  CVT using two coaxial friction members cooperating with at least one intermediate friction member · CPC title