Electric starter motor with integral clutch

• US 20040107703A1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Gustafson, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,131,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/788
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/275 Mechanical drives
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/32 Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/1735 radially supporting the rotary shaft at only one end of the rotor H02K5/1737 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/108 with friction clutches
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/14 Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06

Abstract

A gas turbine engine system includes an electric starter motor which utilizes a partially hollow or cupped shaped rotor. Space is provided inside the rotor to fit the required clutch, bearings, and drive shaft. A short package is provided due to the telescoped architecture while retaining the maximum length for electromagnetics.

Claims

1. An electric motor comprising:

a rotor shaft defining an axis, said shaft mounted for rotation upon a bearing; and

a rotor mounted for rotation with said shaft, said bearing mounted at least partially within said rotor.

2. The electric motor as recited in claim 1, wherein said rotor is cup-shaped.

3. The electric motor as recited in claim 1, wherein said rotor defines a U-shaped member in longitudinal cross-section.

4. The electric motor as recited in claim 1, wherein said rotor is at least partially hollow.

5. The electric motor as recited in claim 1, further comprising a magnet mounted to an outer surface of said rotor.

6. The electric motor as recited in claim 1, wherein said rotor comprises a base portion and an annular rotor portion extending from said base portion, said base portion substantially transverse to said axis and said annular rotor portion substantially parallel to said axis.

7. The electric motor as recited in claim 6, wherein said base portion is mounted to said shaft.

8. The electric motor as recited in claim 6, wherein said bearing is mounted between said annular rotor portion and said shaft.

9. The electric motor as recited in claim 6, further comprising a housing, said housing extending at least partially between said annular rotor portion and said shaft.

10. The electric motor as recited in claim 9, wherein said bearing is mounted between said housing and said shaft.

11. The electric motor as recited in claim 9, further comprising a clutch mounted within said housing.

12. The electric motor as recited in claim 9, further comprising a clutch mounted within said housing, said clutch mounted to said shaft axially outside of said bearing.

13. An electric motor comprising:

a rotor shaft defining an axis, said shaft mounted for rotation upon a bearing;

a rotor mounted for rotation with said shaft, said rotor comprises a base portion and an annular rotor portion extending from said base portion, said base portion substantially transverse to said axis and said annular rotor portion substantially parallel to said axis, said bearing mounted at least partially within said annular rotor portion; and

a housing comprising an annular housing portion which at least partially extends within said annular rotor portion, said bearing mounted between said annular rotor portion and said shaft.

14. The electric motor as recited in claim 13, further comprising a clutch mounted within said housing.

15. The electric motor as recited in claim 13, further comprising a clutch mounted within said housing, said clutch mounted to said shaft longitudinally outside of said bearing.

16. A gas turbine engine system comprising:

a gas turbine engine;

an accessory gearbox mounted to said gas turbine engine, said accessory gearbox operable to initiate rotation of said gas turbine engine; and

an electric starter motor operable to drive said accessory gearbox though a clutch contained within said electric starter motor, said electric starter motor mounted to said accessory gear box.

17. The gas turbine engine system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a housing containing said clutch and said electric starter motor.

18. The gas turbine engine system as recited in claim 16, wherein said electric starter motor comprises:

a rotor shaft connected to said accessory gearbox and defining an axis, said shaft mounted for rotation upon a bearing; and

a rotor mounted for rotation with said shaft, said bearing mounted at least partially within said rotor.

19. The gas turbine engine system as recited in claim 18, wherein said rotor comprises a base portion and an annular rotor portion extending from said base portion, said base portion substantially transverse to said axis and said annular rotor portion substantially parallel to said axis.

20. The gas turbine engine system as recited in claim 19, wherein said bearing is mounted between said annular rotor portion and said shaft.