Air turbine starter systems including gearbox-integrated clutch modules and gas turbine engines employing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290240-A1
Application number	US-201514672689-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2015
Priority date	Mar 30, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Air Turbine Starter (ATS) systems are provided, as gas turbine engines including ATS systems. In one embodiment, a gas turbine engine includes an accessory gearbox (AGB) and an integrated Air Turbine Starter (ATS) system. The AGB includes a gearbox gear train within a gearbox housing. The integrated ATS system is removably installed on the AGB and includes an ATS having an air turbine and an output shaft coupled thereto. An ATS clutch module is coupled to the ATS output shaft. The ATS clutch module is further within the gearbox housing and mechanically couples the ATS output shaft to the gearbox gear train when the integrated ATS system is installed on the AGB.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A gas turbine engine, comprising:
an accessory gearbox (AGB), comprising:
a gearbox housing; and
a gearbox gear train within the gearbox housing; and
an integrated Air Turbine Starter (ATS) system removably installed on the AGB, the integrated ATS system comprising:
an ATS including an air turbine and an ATS output shaft coupled thereto; and
an ATS clutch module coupled to the ATS output shaft, the ATS clutch module received within the gearbox housing and mechanically coupling the ATS output shaft to the gearbox gear train when the integrated ATS system is installed on the AGB.

2 . The gas turbine engine of claim 1 wherein the ATS clutch module comprises:
a first race formed on a mating end portion of the ATS output shaft;
a second race co-axial with the first race; and
a plurality of unidirectional clutch elements captured between the first and second races.

3 . The gas turbine engine of claim 2 wherein the ATS clutch module further comprises a splined ring on which the second race is formed.

4 . The gas turbine engine of claim 3 wherein the gearbox gear train comprises:
an input gear; and
a splined interface coupled to the input gear and engaging the splined ring to provide a rotationally fixed coupling when the integrated ATS is installed on the AGB.

5 . The gas turbine engine of claim 4 wherein the input gear has a central opening into which the ATS clutch module and the mating end portion of the ATS output shaft are inserted when the integrated ATS is installed on the AGB.

6 . The gas turbine engine of claim 5 wherein the splined interface is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the input gear around the central opening, wherein the first race is an inner race, and wherein the second race is an outer race.

7 . The gas turbine engine of claim 1 wherein the ATS clutch module comprises:
a plurality of unidirectional clutch elements distributed around a rotational axis of the ATS clutch module; and
a central opening configured to conformally receive a mating end portion of the output shaft, the mating end portion of the output shaft engaging the plurality of unidirectional clutch elements when inserted into the central opening.

8 . The gas turbine engine of claim 7 wherein the mating end portion of the output shaft is removable from the ATS clutch module without disassembly thereof.

9 . The gas turbine engine of claim 1 wherein the integrated ATS system further comprises an oil recirculation system fluidly coupled to the AGB, the oil recirculation system having an oil outlet disposed in the gearbox housing and positioned to direct oil flow into the ATS clutch module during operation of the AGB.

10 . The gas turbine engine of claim 9 wherein the oil outlet is disposed laterally adjacent the ATS clutch module when the integrated ATS system is installed on the AGB and directs a jet of oil into an open side of the ATS clutch module during operation of the AGB.

11 . The gas turbine engine of claim 1 wherein the ATS further comprises a decoupler mechanism integrated into the ATS output shaft and limiting the rate of rotation between the air turbine and the ATS clutch module in at least one rotational direction.

12 . The gas turbine engine of claim 11 wherein the air turbine is fixedly coupled to the output shaft such that the ratio of rotation between the air turbine and the output shaft is 1:1.

13 . The gas turbine engine of claim 1 the ATS clutch module is configured to rotationally disengage the ATS from the gearbox gear train after main engine start of the gas turbine engine.

14 . A gas turbine engine, comprising:
an accessory gearbox (AGB) containing a gearbox gear train; an Air Turbine Starter (ATS) having an ATS output shaft coupled to the gearbox gear train; and an ATS clutch coupled between the ATS output shaft and the gearbox gear train, the ATS clutch comprising:
a first race formed on the ATS output shaft;
a second race co-axial with the first race; and
a plurality of unidirectional clutch elements disposed between the first and second races.

15 . The gas turbine engine of claim 14 further comprising an ATS clutch module containing the second race and the plurality of unidirectional clutch elements.

16 . The gas turbine engine of claim 14 wherein the gearbox gear train comprises a mechanical input, and wherein the accessory gearbox has an access port through which the ATS clutch module can be inserted along an insertion/withdrawal axis to matingly engage the mechanical input.

17 . The gas turbine engine of claim 16 wherein the ATS output shaft has an enlarged end portion on which the first race is formed, and wherein the enlarged end portion can be withdrawn from the ATS clutch module along the insertion/withdrawal axis to disconnect the ATS from the ATS clutch module.

18 . An integrated Air Turbine Starter (ATS) system for usage in conjunction with an accessory gearbox (AGB) having a gearbox housing containing a gearbox gear train, the integrated ATS system comprising:
an ATS comprising:
an air turbine; and
an ATS output shaft coupled to the air turbine; and
an ATS clutch module coupled to the ATS output shaft, the ATS clutch module received in the gearbox housing and mechanically coupling the ATS output shaft to the gearbox gear train when the integrated ATS system is installed on the AGB.

19 . The integrated ATS system of claim 18 wherein the ATS clutch module comprises:
a first race formed on a mating end portion of the ATS output shaft;
a second race co-axial with the first race; and
a plurality of unidirectional clutch elements captured between the first and second races.

20 . The integrated ATS system of claim 19 wherein the first race is an outer race, and wherein the mating end portion of the ATS output shaft has a cylindrical outer surface serving as the outer race of the ATS clutch module.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Libera Tony
• Pardini Ronald
• Peck Ronald A

Classifications

• F05D2260/4023

  through a friction clutch · CPC title

• F02C7/277 Primary

  the starter being a {separate} turbine · CPC title

• F05D2230/51

  in a modular way, e.g. using several identical or complementary parts or features · CPC title

• F16D2001/103

  the torque is transmitted via splined connections · CPC title

• F02C7/32

  Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries · CPC title