Patent US3748927A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3748927A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-engine to single shaft torque transmission
Assignee: Garrett Corp
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Filing: 1971-10-15
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Granted: 1973-07-31
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Expires: 1991-10-15
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus is designed to transmit torque from two engines to a single output shaft such as a helicopter rotor shaft and to divide the power developed by the engines so that each transmits torque in certain ratios over two paths to the output shaft, simultaneously, when both engines are in operation and either engine will transmit subsantially all of the power developed thereby over one of the paths to the output shaft when the other engine is inoperative. The apparatus provides for use of single shaft engines without the danger of stalling out either engine in the event the other engine should fail. Each of the torque transmitting paths includes a drive pinion meshing with a main gear on the output shaft, a drive shaft connected with its respective drive pinion by a one-way clutch, a planetary gear system having a carrier connected with the drive shaft, planet gears on the carrier meshing with a ring gear restricted to rotation in one direction only, and a gear train with a series of gears extending between the ring gear of the planetary gear system and the engine shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 H Hertzog
- 👤 P Kamstra
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:44
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H37/00; F16H2700/00; F16H2700/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
Means for transmitting rotary power from a pair of engines to a single output shaft comprising: a. a pair of elements for imparting power to said shaft, b. first means providing a first power transmitting path between each engine and its respective power imparting element, said first means transmitting a predetermined portion of the torque developed by each engine to its respective power imparting element; c. second means providing a second power transmitting path between each engine and the power imparting element of the other engine, said second means adding the remaining portion of the torque developed by each engine to the torque transmitted by the first means; and d. a third means for changing the portion of the power of one engine transmitted by the first power transmitting path to its respective power imparting element when the other engine becomes inoperative.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
Means for transmitting rotary power from a pair of engines to a single output shaft comprising: a. a pair of elements for imparting power to said shaft, b. first means providing a first power transmitting path between each engine and its respective power imparting element, said first means transmitting a predetermined portion of the torque developed by each engine to its respective power imparting element; c. second means providing a second power transmitting path between each engine and the power imparting element of the other engine, said second means adding the remaining portion of the torque developed by each engine to the torque transmitted by the first means; and d. a third means for changing the portion of the power of one engine transmitted by the first power transmitting path to its respective power imparting element when the other engine becomes inoperative.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
130 words
Means for transmitting rotary power from a pair of engines to a single rotary shaft comprising: a. a main gear fixed to said rotary shaft; b. dual driving pinions in meshing engagement with said main gear; c. a shaft for each of said pinions, each shaft directly corresponding with one of said engines; d. an overruning clutch between each pinion and its respective shaft to provide for the transmission of power from the shaft to the pinion and prevent the transmission of power from the pinion to the shaft; and e. means for normally transmitting torque from each engine to both of said pinions in a predetermined ratio when both engines are in operation and for transmitting torque at a different predetermined ratio when one of the engines is inoperative.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
130 words
Means for transmitting rotary power from a pair of engines to a single rotary shaft comprising: a. a main gear fixed to said rotary shaft; b. dual driving pinions in meshing engagement with said main gear; c. a shaft for each of said pinions, each shaft directly corresponding with one of said engines; d. an overruning clutch between each pinion and its respective shaft to provide for the transmission of power from the shaft to the pinion and prevent the transmission of power from the pinion to the shaft; and e. means for normally transmitting torque from each engine to both of said pinions in a predetermined ratio when both engines are in operation and for transmitting torque at a different predetermined ratio when one of the engines is inoperative.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
The power transmitting means of claim 2 in which the last-named means comprises a plurality of first gear trains connecting the output shaft of each engine with its corresponding pinion shaft and second gear trains connecting each engine to the pinion shafts corresponding to the other engine, said gear trains having unidirectional coupling means for restricting predetermined parts thereof to rotation in only one direction to provide for reaction of other parts therewith and a change in the power transmission ratio between either engine and its pinion shaft when the other engine becomes inoperative.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The power transmitting means of claim 3 in which said first gear trains are planetary gear systems.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The power transmitting means of claim 4 in which each of the planetary gear systems has a planet carrier connected to its respective pinion shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The power transmitting means of claim 5 in which thE sun gear of said planetary gear systems is directly driven by the output shaft of its respective engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The power transmitting means of claim 6 in which the ring gears of each of said planetary gear systems is operatively connected to said unidirectional coupling means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The power transmitting means of claim 7 in which each ring gear unidirectional coupling means prevents the respective ring gear from rotating in a direction opposite that of the output shaft of its respective engine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The power transmitting means of claim 4 in which the second gear trains comprise substantially duplicate power transmitting paths connecting the output shaft of each engine with the ring gear of the planetary gear system of the other engine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The power transmitting means of claim 2 in which the last-named means transmits the torque developed by each engine to both pinion shafts in predetermined proportions when both engines are operating and transmits a larger proportion of torque developed by either engine to its corresponding pinion shaft when the other engine is inoperative.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The power transmitting means of claim 7 in which each of said second gear trains has a series of gears the first of which is connected with the output shaft of its respective engine and the last of which is connected with the ring gear of the planetary system of the other engine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The power transmitting means of claim 11 in which the gears in said second gear trains are calculated to provide a predetermined division of torque produced by each engine between the pinion shaft of both engines.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
143 words
A power transmission system comprising: an output shaft; an output gear attached to said output shaft; first and second output pinions in mesh with said output gear; first and second engines; first and second engine output shafts connected to their respective engines, each of said engine output shafts having first and second engine pinions thereon; a pair of first gear trains in mesh with the first engine pinions of their respective output shafts and connected respectively to said first and second output pinions; a pair of second gear trains each in mesh with the second engine pinion of one of said engines and with the first gear train of the other engine; unidirectional rotational mounting means for one of the members of each of said first gear trains; and an unidirectional rotational mounting means connecting said output pinions to said first gear trains.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
143 words
A power transmission system comprising: an output shaft; an output gear attached to said output shaft; first and second output pinions in mesh with said output gear; first and second engines; first and second engine output shafts connected to their respective engines, each of said engine output shafts having first and second engine pinions thereon; a pair of first gear trains in mesh with the first engine pinions of their respective output shafts and connected respectively to said first and second output pinions; a pair of second gear trains each in mesh with the second engine pinion of one of said engines and with the first gear train of the other engine; unidirectional rotational mounting means for one of the members of each of said first gear trains; and an unidirectional rotational mounting means connecting said output pinions to said first gear trains.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The power transmitting system as defined in claim 13 wherein the pair of first gear trains are planetary gear trains and the pair of secondary gear trains are spur gear trains.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The power transmitting system of claim 14 wherein the first engine pinion comprises the sun gear of said planetary gear train and said output pinions are connected to the carrier of said planetary gear system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The power transmitting system of claim 15 wherein the second engine pinion is connected to the ring gear of the planetary system of the other engine and the second pinion engine pinion of the other engine is connected through the other second gear train to the ring gear of the planetary system of said first engine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The power transmitting system of claim 16 wherein the unidirectional rotational member is connected to the ring gears of said planetary gear systems.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |