Combined power main engine start system

• US 7,104,072 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2004
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2004
• 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: Thompson, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, William H.
• Application Number:
  US10/925,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20060032234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 607/78, 607/86, 607/87
• US Class Current: 60/786
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/277 the starter being a separate turbine
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/50 for auxiliary power units (APU's)

Abstract

A starting system for starting the propulsion engines of gas turbine powered aircraft that combines power sources delivered by the APU so that essentially then entire power delivered by the APU for pneumatic, hydraulic and electric power is applied to corresponding starters on each propulsion engine during MES simultaneously.

Claims

1. A starting system for starting the propulsion engines of gas turbine powered aircraft comprising:

an auxiliary power unit (APU) with a pneumatic supply source and an auxiliary supply source;

at least one gas turbine propulsion engine with a pneumatic starter and an auxiliary starter;

a pneumatic supply path for controlling and distributing pneumatic power from the pneumatic supply source to the pneumatic starter upon main engine start (MES); and

an auxiliary supply path for controlling and distributing auxiliary power from the auxiliary supply source to the auxiliary starter upon MES.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary supply source and the auxiliary starter both comprise dynamoelectric machines and the auxiliary supply path comprises electrical wiring and switching to regulate the flow of electrical current from the auxiliary supply source to the auxiliary starter during MES.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary supply source comprises an electric generator.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary supply source comprises an electric starter/generator.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary starter comprises an electric motor.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary starter comprises an electric starter/generator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary supply source comprises a hydraulic pump, the auxiliary starter comprises a hydraulic motor and the auxiliary supply path comprises hydraulic tubing and valving to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid from the auxiliary supply source to the auxiliary starter during MES.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary supply source comprises a hydraulic pump, the auxiliary starter comprises a hydraulic motor/pump and the auxiliary supply path comprises hydraulic tubing and valving to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid from the auxiliary supply source to the auxiliary starter during MES.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary supply source comprises a hydraulic motor/pump, the auxiliary starter comprises a hydraulic motor and the auxiliary supply path comprises hydraulic tubing and valving to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid from the auxiliary supply source to the auxiliary starter during MES.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary supply source comprises a hydraulic motor/pump, the auxiliary starter comprises a hydraulic motor/pump and the auxiliary supply path comprises hydraulic tubing and valving to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid from the auxiliary supply source to the auxiliary starter during MES.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary supply source comprises both a dynamoelectric machine and a hydraulic pump, the auxiliary starter comprises both a dynamoelectric machine and a hydraulic motor and the auxiliary supply path comprises both electrical wiring and switching to regulate the flow of electrical current from the auxiliary supply source to the electric portion of the auxiliary starter and hydraulic tubing and valving to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid from the auxiliary supply source to the hydraulic portion of the auxiliary starter and during MES.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary supply source comprises both a dynamoelectric machine and a hydraulic motor/pump, the auxiliary starter comprises both a dynamoelectric machine and a hydraulic motor and the auxiliary supply path comprises both electrical wiring and switching to regulate the flow of electrical current from the auxiliary supply source to the electric portion of the auxiliary starter and hydraulic tubing and valving to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid from the auxiliary supply source to the hydraulic portion of the auxiliary starter and during MES.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary supply source comprises both a dynamoelectric machine and a hydraulic motor/pump, the auxiliary starter comprises both a dynamoelectric machine and a hydraulic motor/pump and the auxiliary supply path comprises both electrical wiring and switching to regulate the flow of electrical current from the auxiliary supply source to the electric portion of the auxiliary starter and hydraulic tubing and valving to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid from the auxiliary supply source to the hydraulic portion of the auxiliary starter and during MES.

14. A starting system for starting the propulsion engines of gas turbine powered aircraft comprising:

an auxiliary power unit (APU) with a pneumatic supply source comprising a load compressor and an auxiliary supply source comprising a dynamoelectric machine;

at least one gas turbine propulsion engine with a pneumatic starter and an auxiliary starter comprising a dynamoelectric machine;

a pneumatic supply path comprising pneumatic ductwork and valving for controlling and distributing pneumatic power from the pneumatic supply source to the pneumatic starter upon main engine start (MES); and

an auxiliary supply path comprising wiring and switching for controlling and distributing auxiliary power from the auxiliary supply source to the auxiliary starter upon MES.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the auxiliary supply source comprises an electric generator.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the auxiliary supply source comprises an electric starter/generator.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the auxiliary starter comprises an electric motor.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the auxiliary starter comprises an electric starter/generator.

19. A starting system for starting the propulsion engines of gas turbine powered aircraft comprising:

an auxiliary power unit (APU) with a pneumatic supply source comprising a load compressor and an auxiliary supply source comprising a hydraulic pump;

at least one gas turbine propulsion engine with a pneumatic starter and an auxiliary starter comprising a hydraulic motor;

a pneumatic supply path comprising pneumatic ductwork and valving for controlling and distributing pneumatic power from the pneumatic supply source to the pneumatic starter upon main engine start (MES); and

an auxiliary supply path comprising hydraulic valving and tubing for controlling and distributing auxiliary power from the auxiliary supply source to the auxiliary starter upon MES.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the auxiliary supply source comprises a hydraulic motor/pump.

21. A starting system for starting the propulsion engines of gas turbine powered aircraft comprising:

an auxiliary power unit (APU) with a pneumatic supply source comprising a load compressor and an auxiliary supply source comprising a dynamoelectric machine and a hydraulic pump;

at least one gas turbine propulsion engine with a pneumatic starter and an auxiliary starter comprising a dynamoelectric machine and a hydraulic pump;

a pneumatic supply path comprising pneumatic ductwork and valving for controlling and distributing pneumatic power from the pneumatic supply source to the pneumatic starter upon main engine start (MES); and

an auxiliary supply path comprising wiring and switching for controlling and distributing auxiliary power from the auxiliary supply source to the electric portion of the auxiliary starter and hydraulic valving and tubing for controlling and distributing auxiliary power from the auxiliary supply source to the hydraulic portion of the auxiliary starter upon MES.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the electric portion of the auxiliary supply source comprises an electric generator.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the electric portion of the auxiliary supply source comprises an electric starter/generator.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the electric portion of the auxiliary starter comprises an electric starter motor.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the electric portion of the auxiliary starter comprises an electric starter/generator.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the hydraulic portion of the auxiliary source comprises a hydraulic motor/pump.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the hydraulic portion of the auxiliary starter comprises a hydraulic motor/pump.