IN-FLIGHT MECHANICALLY ASSISTED TURBINE ENGINE STARTING SYSTEM

• US 20150191250A1
• Filed: 01/06/2014
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: DeVita, Michael Joseph, Bystry, Mark Denton Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,428,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/12 Rotor drives
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/262 Restarting after flame-out
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/275 Mechanical drives
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/32 Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/00 Controlling gas-turbine plants; Controlling fuel supply in air- breathing jet-propulsion plants controlling air intakes F02C7/057; controlling turbines F01D; controlling compressors F04D27/00; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/329 in helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/43 in the form of rotational kinetic energy, e.g. in flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/85 Starting

Abstract

An engine starting system for a rotary wing aircraft includes a controller that receives a signal indicative of a start command for an engine, a transmission input module that is mechanically coupled to a transmission system and an accessory gearbox and a starter motor that is mechanically coupled to a compressor drive shaft of the engine. Also, a method for restarting an engine in flight includes receiving by a controller a signal indicative of a start command for the engine, determining by the controller that an overrunning clutch is coupled to the engine, transmitting by a transmission system motive power to the engine in response to the determining that the overrunning clutch is coupled to the engine and driving via a compressor drive shaft a compressor section of the engine according to a design speed.

Claims

1. An engine starting system for a rotary wing aircraft, comprising:

a controller that receives a signal indicative of a start command for an engine;

a transmission input module that is mechanically coupled to a transmission system and an accessory gearbox; and

a starter motor that is mechanically coupled to a compressor drive shaft of the engine.

2. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the starter motor is mechanically coupled to the compressor drive shaft via an accessory gearbox;

wherein the accessory gearbox is configured for transmitting mechanical power from the transmission system to the compressor drive shaft according to a starting mode.

3. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the transmission input module comprises a first freewheel device coupled to an engine drive shaft of the engine and a second freewheel device coupled to the compressor drive shaft via a take back shaft.

4. The engine starting system of claim 3, wherein the compressor drive shaft is coupled to a starter motor, wherein the starter motor is configured to mechanically rotate the compressor drive shaft.

5. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the transmission system is configured for transmitting motive power from a second engine to the compressor drive shaft via the transmission input module.

6. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the transmission system is configured for transmitting motive power from the energy stored in the rotating rotor/drive system to the compressor drive shaft via the transmission input module.

7. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to couple the second freewheel device to the compressor drive shaft and transmit motive power from a second engine to the compressor drive shaft.

8. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to transmit motive power from the transmission input module in order to accelerate the compressor drive shaft and generate a light-off condition in a combustion section of the engine.

9. The engine starting system of claim 3, wherein the first freewheel device is configured to transmit motive power from the transmission input module in order to maintain a design speed of the compressor drive shaft and maintain a light-off ready condition in a combustion section of the engine.

10. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to transmit motive power from the starter motor in order to accelerate the compressor drive shaft in response to a light-off condition.

11. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to decouple the transmission input module from the compressor drive shaft in response to a light-off condition.

12. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to accelerate the compressor drive shaft with motive power from the transmission input module in response to a light-off condition.

13. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to accelerate the compressor drive shaft to a sub-idle speed in response to a light-off condition.

14. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the first freewheel device is configured to transmit motive power from the transmission input module in order to maintain a design speed of the compressor drive shaft and maintain a sub-idle condition in a combustion section of the engine.

15. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to decouple the transmission input module from the compressor drive shaft in response to an idle condition.

16. The engine starting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to decouple the transmission input module from the compressor drive shaft to reduce the parasitic loss of power on the transmission system.

17. A method for restarting an engine in flight for a rotary wing aircraft, comprising:

receiving by a controller a signal indicative of a start command for the engine;

determining by the controller that an overrunning clutch is coupled to the engine;

transmitting by a transmission system motive power to the engine in response to the determining that the overrunning clutch is coupled to the engine; and

driving via an compressor drive shaft a compressor section of the engine according to a design speed.

18. The method for restarting an engine of claim 17, further comprising:

accelerating a compressor section of the engine via the compressor drive shaft according to an acceleration schedule.

19. The method for restarting an engine of claim 17, further comprising:

coupling the overrunning clutch to the engine upon determining that the overrunning clutch is not connected to the engine.

20. The method for restarting an engine of claim 17, further comprising:

driving a compressor drive shaft to maintain a light-off condition in a combustor section of the engine, wherein the compressor drive shaft is associated with the engine.

21. The method for restarting an engine of claim 17, further comprising:

driving a compressor drive shaft to maintain a sub-idle condition in a combustor section of the engine, wherein the compressor drive shaft is associated with the engine.

22. The method for restarting an engine of claim 18, further comprising:

accelerating a compressor drive shaft to generate a light-off condition in a combustor section of the engine, wherein the compressor drive shaft is associated with the engine.

23. The method for restarting an engine of claim 22, further comprising:

accelerating the compressor drive shaft with a starter motor in response to the generating of the light-off condition.

24. The method for restarting an engine of claim 22, further comprising:

disconnecting the overrunning clutch in response to the accelerating of the compressor drive shaft with the starter motor.

25. The method for restarting an engine of claim 22, further comprising:

driving the compressor drive shaft at a sub-idle speed to maintain an idle ready condition.

26. The method for restarting an engine of claim 22, further comprising:

accelerating the compressor drive shaft with the overrunning clutch in response to the generating of the light-off condition.

27. The method for restarting an engine of claim 26, further comprising:

accelerating the compressor drive shaft to a sub-idle speed in response to the generating of the light-off condition.

28. The method for restarting an engine of claim 18, further comprising:

accelerating the compressor section of the engine with a take-off shaft coupled to the compressor drive shaft.