Vehicle main and auxiliary power units

• US 6,349,537 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Newton, Arnold C
• Primary Examiner(s): Thorpe, Timothy S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gartenberg, Ehud
• Application Number:
  US09/685,555
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 60/390.7
• US Class Current: 60/784
• 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: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

An aircraft gas turbine propulsion engine includes a compressor (10) and ancillary systems (cabin pressurizing pumps and other service) in a box 16. A fuel cell 18 powers electric motors (12) and (14) via a switch (20) for the purpose of either simultaneously driving the compressor (10) and ancillary systems, or the ancillary systems alone.

Claims

1. A vehicle dual power system comprising:

a vehicle mounted gas turbine propulsion engine including a shaft coupled compressor and turbine;

a plurality of associated ancillary units;

electric motor means arranged to drive the ancillary units and to drive the compressor of the gas turbine propulsion engine in order to initiate start-up thereof;

a source of electrical power;

switch means;

the electric motor means being connected to the source of electrical power via the switch means, the switch means being selectively operable so that the ancillary units and the compressor are driven separately or together by the electric motor means;

wherein the source of electrical power is an electrochemical fuel cell.

2. A vehicle dual power system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric motor means comprise first and second electric motors, the first electric motor being arranged to drive a compressor of the gas turbine propulsion engine in order to initiate start-up thereof and the second electric motor being arranged to drive the associated ancillary units.

3. A vehicle dual power system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a master switch;

wherein the master switch is connected between the electro-chemical fuel cell and the switch means, so that the first and second electric motors are electrically isolated from the electrochemical fuel cell until the switch means have been moved to a selected position.

4. A vehicle dual power system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a fuel tank associated with the gas turbine propulsion engine;

fluid communication means linking the fuel tank with the electro-chemical fuel cell;

wherein the gases generated by the electrochemical fuel cell in operation are passed via the fluid communication means into the fuel tank to replace fuel used by the gas turbine propulsion engine and so to provide a non-explosive atmosphere within the fuel tank.

5. A vehicle dual power system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.