MULTI-RATIO ROTORCRAFT DRIVE SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF CHANGING GEAR RATIOS THEREOF
First Claim
1. A rotorcraft drive system comprising:
- a rotor system comprising one or more rotors;
one or more engines, each engine of the one or more engines being coupled to the rotor system through a multi-ratio transmission, the multi-ratio transmission comprising;
an output shaft coupled to the rotor system;
an input shaft coupled to a respective engine of the one or more engines;
a high speed clutch integrated into a high speed gear train; and
a low speed clutch integrated into a low speed gear train,wherein the high speed clutch and the low speed clutch are freewheeling clutches without a friction plate and are capable of disconnecting the output shaft and the input shaft in an overrunning condition when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft; and
wherein the multi-ratio transmission shifts between the high speed gear train and the low speed gear train by engaging or disengaging the high speed clutch and modulating speed of the coupled engine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system and a method of changing gear ratios thereof are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system comprises a rotor system comprising one or more rotors and one or more engines. Each engine of the one or more engines is coupled to the rotor system through a multi-ratio transmission. The multi-ratio transmission comprises an output shaft coupled to the rotor system, an input shaft coupled to a respective engine of the one or more engines, a high speed clutch integrated into a high speed gear train, and a low speed clutch integrated into a low speed gear train. The high speed clutch and the low speed clutch are freewheeling clutches without a friction plate and are capable of disconnecting the output shaft and the input shaft in an overrunning condition when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft. The multi-ratio transmission shifts between the high speed gear train and the low speed gear train by engaging or disengaging the high speed clutch and modulating speed of the coupled engine.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A rotorcraft drive system comprising:
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a rotor system comprising one or more rotors; one or more engines, each engine of the one or more engines being coupled to the rotor system through a multi-ratio transmission, the multi-ratio transmission comprising; an output shaft coupled to the rotor system; an input shaft coupled to a respective engine of the one or more engines; a high speed clutch integrated into a high speed gear train; and a low speed clutch integrated into a low speed gear train, wherein the high speed clutch and the low speed clutch are freewheeling clutches without a friction plate and are capable of disconnecting the output shaft and the input shaft in an overrunning condition when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft; and wherein the multi-ratio transmission shifts between the high speed gear train and the low speed gear train by engaging or disengaging the high speed clutch and modulating speed of the coupled engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of reducing the speed of a rotor system driven by one or more engines from a high speed to a low speed, the method comprising:
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lowering the speed of the rotor system from the high speed to a transitional speed; shifting a first multi-ratio transmission coupled to a first engine of the one or more engines from a high gear train integrating a high speed clutch to a low gear train integrating a low speed clutch while the speed of the rotor system is maintained at or near the transitional speed; shifting a second multi-ratio transmission coupled to a second engine of the one or more engines from a high gear train integrating a high speed clutch to a low gear train integrating a low speed clutch while the speed of the rotor system is maintained at or near the transitional speed; and restoring the speed of the first engine and second engine to an optimum engine speed, causing the speed of the rotor system to be reduced to the low speed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of increasing the speed of a rotor system driven by one or more engines from a low speed to a high speed, the method comprising:
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increasing the speed of the rotor system from the low speed to a transitional speed; shilling a first multi-ratio transmission coupled to a first engine of the one or more engines from a low gear train integrating a low speed clutch to a high gear train integrating a high speed clutch while the speed of the rotor system is maintained at or near the transitional speed; shifting a second multi-ratio transmission coupled to a second engine of the one or more engines from a low gear train integrating a low speed clutch to a high gear train integrating a high speed clutch while the speed of the rotor system is maintained at or near the transitional speed; and restoring the speed of the first engine and second engine to an optimum engine speed, causing the speed of the rotor system to be increased to the high speed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification