Gearbox with removable oil tank

• US 20080127774A1
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Frost, Cristopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/606R
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/275 Mechanical drives
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/32 Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/50 for auxiliary power units (APU's)
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/85 Starting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2186 Gear casings

Abstract

A gearbox for an auxiliary power unit (APU) includes a front side defining a generator interface configured to be coupled to a generator, the front side further defining an oil pump and fuel control component interface configured to be coupled to an oil pump and fuel control component, and a starter interface configured to be coupled to a starter. The gearbox further includes a back side on an opposite side to the front side and configured to house a gear train; a bottom side defining an oil tank interface configured to be coupled to an oil tank; and a debris conduit extending from the generator interface to the oil tank interface.

Claims

1. A gearbox for an auxiliary power unit (APU), comprising:

a front side defining a generator interface configured to be coupled to a generator, the front side further defining an oil pump and fuel control component interface configured to be coupled to an oil pump and fuel control component, and a starter interface configured to be coupled to a starter;

a back side on an opposite side to the front side and configured to house a gear train;

a bottom side defining an oil tank interface configured to be coupled to an oil tank; and

a debris conduit extending from the generator interface to the oil tank interface.

2. The gearbox of claim 1, wherein the front side has a footprint with an area that approximates an area defined by the generator interface, the oil pump and fuel control component interface, and the starter interface.

3. A apparatus comprising:

a gearbox for an auxiliary power unit (APU) comprising;

a front side defining a generator interface configured to be coupled to a generator, the front side further defining an oil pump and fuel control component interface configured to be coupled to an oil pump and fuel control component, and a starter interface configured to be coupled to a starter,

a back side on an opposite side to the front side and configured to house a gear train associated with the APU, and

a bottom side defining an oil tank interface configured to receive an oil tank;

a debris conduit extending from the generator interface to the oil tank interface; and

an oil tank coupled to the gearbox oil tank interface such that the generator is in fluid communication with the oil tank via the debris conduit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the gearbox is configured to house the gear train approximately in a first plane and the oil tank interface has a central axis that is offset relative to the first plane.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the oil tank is manufactured from a first material and the gearbox is manufactured from a second material, the first material being heavier than the second material.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first material is steel and the second material is aluminum.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the debris conduit is integral with the gearbox.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the gearbox defines a plurality of straight oil conduits for supplying oil to the gear train.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the oil tank is conical.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the oil tank is detachable from the gearbox and gravity fed.

11. An APU for an aircraft, comprising:

a gas turbine engine including a rotatable drive shaft;

a gearbox housing a gear train coupled to the drive shaft, the gearbox defining a starter interface, a generator interface, a oil pump and fuel control component interface, and an oil tank interface;

a starter coupled to the gearbox starter interface and configured to supply a motive force to the drive shaft via the gear train;

a generator coupled to the gearbox generator interface and configured to receive a motive force from the drive shaft via the gear train;

an oil tank coupled to the gearbox; and

a debris conduit providing fluid communication between the generator and the oil tank.

12. The APU of claim 11, wherein the debris conduit extends from the generator interface to the oil tank interface.

13. The APU of claim 11, wherein the debris conduit is defined by the gearbox.

14. The APU of claim 11, further comprising an engine thrust bearing support mounting the gearbox on the engine and a mount ring adapter mounting the engine thrust bearing support on the engine.

15. The APU of claim 11, wherein the mount ring adapter has a frustoconical shape with a hollow center for receiving the engine thrust bearing support, the mount ring adapter having a larger inner circumference attached to the engine and a smaller outer circumference attached to the engine thrust bearing support.

16. The APU of claim 11, wherein the gearbox is configured to house the gear train approximately in a first plane and the oil tank interface has a central axis that is offset relative to the first plane.

17. The APU of claim 11, wherein the oil tank is manufactured from a first material and the gearbox is manufactured from a second material, the first material being heavier than the second material.

18. The APU of claim 11, wherein the conduit is integral with the gearbox.

19. The APU of claim 11, wherein the gearbox defines a plurality of straight oil conduits for supplying oil to the gear train.

20. The APU of claim 11, wherein the oil tank is conical.