Propulsion system for an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9764848-B1
Application number	US-201615245257-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 7, 2016
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A propulsion system for an aircraft includes an electric generator and a turbomachine. The turbomachine is configured to be mounted to a first wing of the aircraft and is operable with the electric generator. The propulsion system additionally includes a first propulsor mechanically coupled to a shaft of the turbomachine and a second propulsor assembly configured to be mounted at a location away from the turbomachine and the first propulsor. The electric generator is in electrical communication with the second propulsor assembly for powering the second propulsor assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A propulsion system for an aircraft comprising a first wing and a second wing, the propulsion system comprising:
an electric generator;
a turbomachine configured to be mounted to the first wing of the aircraft and comprising a turbine section and a shaft, the shaft rotatable with at least a portion of the turbine section, the turbomachine operable with the electric generator;
a first propulsor mechanically coupled to the shaft of the turbomachine; and
a second propulsor assembly configured to be mounted to the second wing at a location away from the turbomachine and the first propulsor, the electric generator in electrical communication with the second propulsor assembly for powering the second propulsor assembly, wherein the second propulsor assembly further includes an electric motor.

2. The propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the first propulsor is a fan, and wherein the turbomachine and the fan together form a turbofan engine.

3. The propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the second propulsor assembly includes a second propulsor, and wherein the second propulsor is configured as a fan.

4. The propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the turbomachine includes a power gearbox, and wherein the first propulsor is mechanically coupled to the shaft of the turbomachine through the power gearbox.

5. The propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the second propulsor assembly is configured to be mounted to the second wing of the aircraft.

6. The propulsion system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power storage device in electrical communication with both the electric generator and the second propulsor assembly.

7. The propulsion system of claim 6 , wherein the power storage device is configured to be mounted within the second wing of the aircraft.

8. The propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the electric generator is positioned within the turbomachine.

9. An aircraft comprising:
a fuselage, a first wing, and a second wing, the first wing and a portion of the fuselage defining a first side, and the second wing and another portion of the fuselage defining a second side; and
an asymmetric propulsion system comprising
an electric generator;
a turbomachine mounted to the first side of the aircraft, the turbomachine comprising a turbine section and a shaft, the shaft rotatable with at east a portion of the turbine section, the turbomachine operable with the electric generator;
a first propulsor mechanically coupled to the shaft of the turbomachine; and
a second propulsor assembly, including an electric motor, mounted to the second side, the electric generator in electrical communication with the electric motor for powering the second propulsor assembly.

10. The aircraft of claim 9 , wherein the turbomachine is mounted to the first wing of the aircraft, and wherein the second propulsor assembly is mounted to the second wing of the aircraft.

11. The aircraft of claim 9 , wherein the first propulsor is a fan, and wherein the turbomachine and the fan together form a turbofan engine.

12. The aircraft of claim 9 , wherein the second propulsor assembly includes a second propulsor, and wherein the second propulsor is configured as a fan.

13. The aircraft of claim 9 , wherein the turbomachine includes a power gearbox, and wherein the first propulsor is mechanically coupled to the shaft of the turbomachine through the power gearbox.

14. The aircraft of claim 9 , wherein further comprising:
a power storage device in electrical communication with both the electric generator and the second propulsor assembly.

15. The aircraft of claim 14 , wherein the power storage device is mounted within the second wing of the aircraft.

16. The aircraft of claim 9 , wherein the electric generator is positioned within the turbomachine.

17. A method for operating a propulsion system of an aircraft comprising:
powering, with a turbomachine mounted to a first side of the aircraft, a first propulsor in mechanical communication with the turbomachine;
generating electrical power with an electric generator powered by the turbomachine; and
powering an electric motor included in a second propulsor assembly mounted to a second side of the aircraft with the electrical power generated by the electric generator.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
storing a portion of the electrical power generated with the electric generator in a power storage device electrically connected to the electric generator and the second propulsor assembly.

19. The propulsion system; of claim 7 , wherein the power storage device is configured to be mounted within the second wing of the aircraft to offset initial weight imbalances between the first and second propulsor assemblies.

20. The aircraft of claim 15 , wherein the power storage device is mounted within the second wing of the aircraft to offset weight imbalances between the first and second propulsor assemblies.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Vondrell Randy M
• Polakowski Matthew Ryan
• Murrow Kurt David
• Crabtree Glenn

Classifications

• B64D2221/00

  Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft · CPC title

• B64D27/18 Primary

  within, or attached to, wings · CPC title

• B64D27/02 Primary

  Aircraft characterised by the type or position of power plants · CPC title

• F01D15/10

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

• B64D27/12

  within, or attached to, wings · CPC title