Auxiliary power unit mounting bracket

• US 10,640,228 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Jewess, Gordon F., Jones, Anthony C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luong, Vinh
• Application Number:
  US14/769,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,290 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2041/002 Mounting arrangements for auxiliary power units (APU's)
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 41/00 Power installations for auxiliary purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/28 Supporting or mounting arrangements, e.g. for turbine casing
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/20 Mounting or supporting of plant; Accommodating heat expansion or creep
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/50 for auxiliary power units (APU's)
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle

Abstract

An example auxiliary power unit bracket includes, among other things, a gearbox mounting face and a compartment mounting face, the gearbox mounting face configured to attach to an auxiliary power unit gearbox below a sump level line, the compartment mounting face configured to attach to a portion of an auxiliary power unit compartment above the sump level line.

Claims

1. An auxiliary power unit assembly comprising:

a gearbox, the gearbox including a sump level line, the gearbox including at least one mounting pad below the associated sump level line;

a bracket including at least one gearbox mounting face secured to a corresponding one of the at least one mounting pad; and

an arm of the bracket extending upwardly past the associated sump level line;

wherein the bracket has a “

U”

shape and includes a support strap that extends along a downwardly facing surface of the gearbox.

2. The auxiliary power unit assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm extends past the associated sump level line to a compartment mounting face.

3. The auxiliary power unit assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting pad comprises first and a second mounting pads on opposing lateral sides of the gearbox.

4. The auxiliary power unit assembly of claim 3, wherein the first and second mounting pads face in opposite directions.

5. The auxiliary power unit assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket is steel.

6. The auxiliary power unit assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting pad comprises aluminum.

7. The auxiliary power unit assembly of claim 1, wherein every location at which the at least one gearbox mounting face is secured to the gearbox is below the associated sump level line.

8. A method of supporting an auxiliary power unit gearbox comprising:

securing a bracket to a gearbox of an auxiliary power unit at a location that is below a sump level line of the auxiliary power unit gearbox;

securing the bracket to a compartment of an aircraft housing, the auxiliary power unit at a location that is above the sump level line of the auxiliary power unit gearbox; and

supporting the auxiliary power unit gearbox utilizing a strap extending along a downwardly facing surface of the auxiliary power unit gearbox.

9. The method of claim 8, including securing the bracket to opposing lateral sides of the gearbox.

10. The method of claim 8, every location at which the bracket is secured to the gearbox is below the sump level line.