US3880547A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retarding means for gas turbine driven vehicles
Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
•
Filing: 1973-03-28
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Granted: 1975-04-29
•
Expires: 1993-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A braking installation for a vehicle driven by a gas turbine engine of the type having a freely rotatable power turbine which is supplied with motive gases by a mechanically independent gas generator. The braking installation includes a transmission arrangement between a power turbine shaft and an output shaft which is attached to a change-speed gear for the vehicle or to an axle drive. The transmission includes a first set of gears for drivingly interconnecting the power turbine shaft and output shaft for normal driving of the vehicle and a second set of gears for reversing the relative rotation of the power turbine shaft and the output shaft so as to effect a braking mode of operation due to the deceleration and, eventually, reversal of rotational direction of the power turbine shaft. The respective first and second sets of gears are selectively engaged by way of hydrodynamic couplings. These hydrodynamic couplings may be arranged on the high speed power turbine shaft, or in alternative embodiments, may be arranged on the relatively lower speed output shaft. The gear attached to the output shaft for transmitting the reverse braking driving connection is smaller than the normal driving gear so as to simplify the overall construction and so as to optimize the relative gear reduction ratios for normal driving and for reverse speed braking operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Hermann Hagen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:51
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02C; F02C6/00; F02C6/20; B; B60; B60T; B60T1/00; B60T1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
An installation comprising: rotatable power turbine means, power turbine shaft means rotatable with said power turbine means, motive fluid generator means for supplying a motive fluid to rotatably drive said power turbine means, output shaft means, first selectively engageable transmissions means for transmitting rotational movement and torque between said power turbine shaft means and output shaft means with the relative direction of rotation of said power turbine shaft means and output means corresponding to transfer of driving forces from said power turbine shaft means to said output shaft means, second selectively engageable transmission means for transmitting rotational movement and torque between said power turbine shaft means and output means with the relative direction of rotation of said power turbine shaft means and output shaft means being opposite of the relative direction of rotation transmitted by said first transmission means and corresponding to transfer of braking forces from said power turbine shaft means to said output shaft means, and transmission control means for selectively engaging one of said first and second transmission means while disengaging the other of said first and second transmission means whereby said power turbine means can be selectively used to apply one of driving and braking forces to said output shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
An installation comprising: rotatable power turbine means, power turbine shaft means rotatable with said power turbine means, motive fluid generator means for supplying a motive fluid to rotatably drive said power turbine means, output shaft means, first selectively engageable transmissions means for transmitting rotational movement and torque between said power turbine shaft means and output shaft means with the relative direction of rotation of said power turbine shaft means and output means corresponding to transfer of driving forces from said power turbine shaft means to said output shaft means, second selectively engageable transmission means for transmitting rotational movement and torque between said power turbine shaft means and output means with the relative direction of rotation of said power turbine shaft means and output shaft means being opposite of the relative direction of rotation transmitted by said first transmission means and corresponding to transfer of braking forces from said power turbine shaft means to said output shaft means, and transmission control means for selectively engaging one of said first and second transmission means while disengaging the other of said first and second transmission means whereby said power turbine means can be selectively used to apply one of driving and braking forces to said output shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An installation according to claim 1, wherein said power turbine means rotates independently of gas generator turbine and compressor means of the motive fluid generator means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An installation according to claim 2, wherein said motive fluid generator means is a gas generator of a gas turbine engine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
An installation according to claim 3, wherein said output shaft is drivingly connectible to one of a vehicle axle drive and a vehicle change-speed gearbox, and wherein said first and second transmission means and said output shaft means are interposable in the drive chain between said power turbine shaft means and said one of a vehicle axle drive and a vehicle change-speed gearbox.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
An installation according to claim 4, wherein said first transmission means includes a first gear rotatable about the axis of said power turbine shaft means and a second gear surrounding said output shaft means and in meshing engagement with said first gear, and wherein said second transmission means includes a third gear surrounding said output shaft means and a fourth gear in intermeshing engagement with both a gear rotatably mounted on said power Turbine shaft means and said third gear, said fourth gear being rotatably mounted on a shaft spaced from both of said power turbine shaft means and output shaft means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An installation according to claim 5, wherein each of said first and second transmission means include a hydrodynamic actuating coupling, and wherein said transmission control means includes means for filling and emptying said hydrodynamic couplings to effectively engage and disengage said first and second transmission means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
An installation according to claim 4, wherein each of said firsts and second transmission means include a hydrodynamic actuating coupling, and wherein said transmission control means includes means for filling and emptying said hydrodynamic couplings to effectively engage and disengage said first and second transmission means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An installation according to claim 6, wherein each of said hydrodynamic couplings are mounted on said output shaft means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An installation according to claim 6, wherein each of said hydrodynamic couplings are mounted on said power turbine shaft means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
145 words
An installation according to claim 5, wherein said first transmission means includes a first hydrodynamic coupling having a turbine runner fixed to said output shaft means and a pump impeller rotatable with said second gear means, and wherein said second transmission means includes a second hydrodynamic coupling having a turbine runner fixed to said output shaft means and a pump impeller rotatable with said third gear, said transmission control means including means for emptying said second hydrodynamic coupling and filling said first hydrodynamic coupling to establish a normal driving connection between said power turbine shaft means and said output shaft means by way of said first transmission means, and means for filling said second hydrodynamic coupling and emptying said first hydrodynamic coupling to establish a braking connection between said power turbine shaft means and said output shaft means by way of said second transmission means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
174 words
An installation according to claim 5, wherein said first transmission means includes a first hydrodynamic coupling having a turbine runner fixed to said first gear and a pump impeller rotatable with said power turbine shaft means, and wherein said second transmission means includes a fifth gear which is rotatable about said axis of the power turbine shaft means, and a second hydrodynamic coupling having a turbine runner fixed to said fifth gear and a pump impeller rotatable with said power shaft means, said fifth gear being the gear in intermeshing engagement with said fourth gear, said transmission control means including means for emptying said second hydrodynamic coupling and filling said first hydrodynamic coupling to establish a normal driving connection between said power turbine shaft means and said output shaft means by way of said first transmission means, and means for filling said second hydrodynamic coupling and emptying said first hydrodynamic coupling to establish a braking connection between said power turbine shaft means and said output shaft means by way of said second transmission means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
An installation according to claim 11, wherein said second transmission means further includes a selectively engageable mechanical clutch for selectively drivingly connecting said power turbine shaft means to the pump impeller of the second hydrodynamic coupling.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
An installation according to claim 11, wherein said first transmission means further includes a selectively engageable mechanical clutch for selectively drivingly connecting said first gear to the pump impeller of said first hydrodynamic coupling whereby with an engaged mechanical clutch said first gear is driven by said power turbine shaft means in bypassing relationship to said first hydrodynamic coupling.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
An installation according to claim 13, wherein said second transmission means further includes a selectively engageable mechanical clutch for selectively drivIngly connected said power turbine shaft means to the pump impeller of the second hydrodynamic coupling.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
An installation according to claim 5, wherein said first transmission means includes a free wheeling mechanical clutch for selectively drivingly connecting said first gear with said power turbine shaft means, and wherein said second transmission means includes a fifth gear which is rotatable about said axis of the power turbine shaft means and a hydrodynamic coupling having a turbine runner fixed to said fifth gear and a pump impeller rotatable with said power turbine shaft means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
An installation according to claim 15, wherein said transmission control means includes means for filling said hydrodynamic coupling to establish a braking connection between said power turbine shaft means and said output shaft means by way of said second transmission means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
An installation according to claim 7, wherein selectively engageable mechanical clutch means are arranged in bypassing relationship with respect to at least one of said hydrodynamic couplings for establishing a drive connection in at least one of said transmission means independently of the associated hydrodynamic coupling, whereby power losses in said associated hydrodynamic coupling are alleviated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An installation according to claim 4, wherein said first transmission means and said second transmission means includes means for transmitting respective different relative absolute rotational velocities.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
An installation according to claim 18, wherein the first transmission means includes means for transmitting greater absolute rotational speed reduction between the power turbine shaft means and the output shaft means than does the second transmission means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
An installation according to claim 4, further comprising speed limiter means for disengaging said first transmission means and engaging said second transmission means in response to power turbine speed in excess of a predetermined value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
An installation according to claim 4, wherein said output shaft means is connected as an input shaft to a change-speed gearbox which has a gearbox output shaft drivingly connected to vehicle wheels.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
An installation according to claim 21, wherein said change-speed gearbox includes means for changing speeds in only one rotational direction of the output shaft of the gearbox.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
An installation according to claim 21, further comprising gear selector lever means and additional actuating means to briefly decelerate the power turbine means during shifting operations to prevent shifting jerk.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
An installation according to claim 23, wherein said additional actuating means includes means for disengaging said first transmission means for decelerating the power turbine means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
An installation according to claim 24, wherein said additional actuating means includes means for automatically operating said additional actuating means in response to shifting operations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
An installation according to claim 24, wherein said additional actuating means includes manually operable means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
An installation according to claim 7, wherein said output shaft means is connected as an input shaft to a change-speed gearbox which has a gearbox output shaft drivingly connected to vehicle wheels.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
An installation according to claim 27, wherein gear selector lever means and additional actuating means are provided to briefly decelerate the power turbine means during shifting operations to prevent shifting jerk.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
An installation according to claim 28, wherein said additional actuating means includes means operable in response to movement of said gear selector lever means to briefly open a drain valve of said first hydrodynamic coupling so as to at least partially disengage the drive connection established by said first hydrodynamic coupling.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
An installation according to claim 5, wherein said fourth gear is in continuous meshing engagement with said first and third gears, sAid third gear being spaced out of meshing engagement with said first gear.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
An installation according to claim 10, wherein said fourth gear is in continuous meshing engagement with said first and third gears, said third gear being spaced out of meshing engagement with said first gear.
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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) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |