MOTOR-GENERATOR AND PRIME MOVER GEARING ASSEMBLY

• US 20130025406A1
• Filed: 07/28/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2011
• 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: Lemmers, Glenn C. Jr., Behling, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,561,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/650
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/36 Power transmission arrangements between the different shafts of the gas turbine plant, or between the gas-turbine plant and the power user F02C3/107 - F02C3/13 and F02C7/32 take precedence; couplings for transmitting rotation F16D; gearing in general F16H
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19 Gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19005 Nonplanetary gearing differential type [e.g., gearless differentials]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19009 Single gearing unit includes fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19163 with interrelated controls

Abstract

An example mechanical transmission assembly receives an input rotating at a first rotational speed and provides an output rotating at a second rotational speed. The mechanical transmission selectively adjusts the second rotational speed. The input is provided by a prime mover. The output is provided to a hydraulic pump assembly that rotatably drives a motor-generator.

Claims

1. A mechanical transmission assembly, comprising:

a mechanical transmission that receives an input rotating at a first rotational speed and provides an output rotating at a second rotational speed, the mechanical transmission selectively adjusting the second rotational speed, wherein the input is provided by a prime mover, and the output is provided to a hydraulic pump assembly that rotatably drives a motor-generator.

2. The mechanical transmission assembly of claim 1, wherein the input is provided by a low-pressure spool of the prime mover.

3. The mechanical transmission assembly of claim 1, wherein the input is provided by an input shaft extending from the prime mover directly to the mechanical transmission.

4. The mechanical transmission assembly of claim 1, wherein a rotational speed of the input varies between a highest speed and a lowest speed, the highest speed at least five times greater than the lowest speed.

5. The mechanical transmission assembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanical transmission is a two-speed transmission.

6. The mechanical transmission assembly of claim 1, wherein the output from the mechanical transmission is provided directly to the hydraulic pump.

7. The mechanical transmission assembly of claim 1, wherein the output from the mechanical transmission is provided to the hydraulic pump assembly though a differential that rotatably couples the hydraulic pump to the motor-generator.

8. The mechanical transmission assembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanical transmission comprises a sunless differential.

9. The mechanical transmission assembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanical transmission is moveable between a first position and a second position, the first rotational speed the same as the second rotational speed when the mechanical transmission is in the first position, the first rotational speed is equal to half or less of the second rotational speed when the mechanical transmission is in the second position.

10. The mechanical transmission assembly of claim 1, wherein the prime mover is a turbomachine.

11. The mechanical transmission assembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanical transmission receives the input rotating at the first rotational speed and provides an output rotating at a third rotational speed, the third rotational speed different than the first rotational speed and the second rotational speed.

12. A prime mover and motor-generator gearing arrangement comprising:

a hydro-mechanical transmission having differential assembly and a hydraulic pump;

a motor-generator rotatably driven by the hydro-mechanical transmission; and

a mechanical transmission rotatably driven by a prime mover at a first rotational speed, the mechanical transmission selectively adjustable to rotatably drive the hydraulic pump at the first rotational speed or a second rotational speed different than the first rotational speed.

13. The prime mover and motor-generator gearing arrangement of claim 12, wherein the mechanical transmission is driven by a low-pressure spool of a turbomachine.

14. The prime mover and motor-generator gearing arrangement of claim 12, wherein the first rotational speed varies between a highest speed and a lowest speed, the highest speed at least five times greater than the lowest speed.

15. The prime mover and motor-generator gearing arrangement of claim 12, wherein the mechanical transmission is a two-speed transmission.

16. The prime mover turbomachine and motor-generator gearing arrangement of claim 12, wherein the mechanical transmission rotatably couples the differential assembly to the hydraulic pump.

17. The prime mover and motor-generator gearing arrangement of claim 12, wherein the mechanical transmission rotatably drives a differential that rotates the hydro-mechanical transmission assembly.

18. The prime mover and motor-generator gearing arrangement of claim 12, wherein the motor-generator is a narrow band variable frequency motor-generator having an output between 360-800 Hertz.

19. A method of driving a motor-generator with a prime mover, comprising:

driving a mechanical transmission with an input from a prime mover, the input rotating at a first rotational speed;

driving a hydraulic pump with a first output from the mechanical transmission, the first output rotating at a second rotational speed;

driving the motor-generator with a second output from the hydraulic pump; and

selectively adjusting the mechanical transmission so that the first rotational speed is different than the second rotational speed.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first output is provided to a differential that directly drives the hydraulic pump, and the second output is provided to the differential that directly drives the motor-generator.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first output directly drives the hydraulic pump.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the prime mover is a low-pressure spool of a turbomachine.