Gas turbine engine system having an electric starter motor with integral clutch

• US 7,131,275 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Gustafson, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, William H
• Application Number:
  US10/313,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20040107703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 607/88, 608/02, 607/86, 310/75.R, 310/92, 310/100, 290/38.R, 290/48, 417/423.7, 417/410.1, 417/355
• US Class Current: 60/788
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/275 Mechanical drives
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/32 Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/1735 radially supporting the rotary shaft at only one end of the rotor H02K5/1737 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/108 with friction clutches
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/14 Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06

Abstract

A gas turbine engine system includes an electric starter motor which utilizes a partially hollow or cupped shaped rotor. Space is provided inside the rotor to fit the required clutch, bearings, and drive shaft. A rotor shaft drives the input shaft through the clutch. The clutch is mounted within a clutch cavity formed within an annular housing portion of the housing. The annular housing portion is at least partially conical and preferably extends at least partially within a hollow rotor mounted to the rotor shaft. A short package is provided due to the telescoped architecture while retaining the maximum length for electromagnetics.

Claims

1. An electric motor comprising:

a rotor shaft defining an axis, said shaft mounted for rotation upon a bearing;

a rotor mounted for rotation with said shaft, said rotor comprises a base portion and an annular rotor portion extending from said base portion, said base portion mounted adjacent an end segment of said rotor shaft substantially transverse to said axis and said annular rotor portion extending about said shaft substantially parallel to said axis, said bearing mounted at least partially within said annular rotor portion, said annular rotor portion including a rotor inner surface and a rotor outer surface, said rotor inner surface between said axis and said rotor outer surface;

a magnet mounted to said rotor outer surface along said annular rotor portion, said magnet including a magnet outer surface opposite said rotor outer surface;

a housing comprising an at least partially conical annular housing portion which at least partially extends within said annular rotor portion, said bearing mounted between said annular rotor portion and said shaft; and

a stator mounted to said housing about said magnet outer surface.

2. The electric motor as recited in claim 1, further comprising a clutch mounted within said housing.

3. The electric motor as recited in claim 1, further comprising a clutch mounted within said housing, said clutch mounted to said shaft longitudinally outside of said bearing.

4. The electric motor as recited in claim 1, wherein said stator includes windings within a metallic lamination.

5. The electric motor as recited in claim 1, wherein said rotor is cup-shaped.

6. The electric motor as recited in claim 1, wherein said rotor defines a U-shaped member in longitudinal cross-section.

7. The electric motor as recited in claim 1, wherein said magnet extends along said rotor shaft toward said shaft end segment and does not extend past said shaft end segment.

8. A gas turbine engine system comprising:

a gas turbine engine;

an accessory gearbox mounted to said gas turbine engine, said accessory gearbox operable to initiate rotation of said gas turbine engine; and

an electric starter motor operable to drive said accessory gearbox through a clutch contained within said electric starter motor, said electric starter motor mounted to said accessory gear box, said electric starter motor comprising;

a rotor shaft connected to said accessory gearbox and defining an axis, said shaft mounted for rotation upon a bearing;

a rotor mounted for rotation with said shaft, said bearing mounted at least partially within said rotor, said rotor including a rotor inner surface and a rotor outer surface, said rotor inner surface being between said axis and said rotor outer surface;

a magnet mounted to said rotor outer surface along said annular rotor portion, said magnet including a magnet outer surface opposite said rotor outer surface; and

a stator mounted about said magnet outer surface, said stator is mounted between a housing and said magnet outer surface.

9. An electric motor comprising:

a rotor shaft defining an axis, said shaft mounted for rotation upon a bearing;

a rotor mounted for rotation with said rotor shaft, said bearing mounted at least partially within said rotor, said rotor including a rotor inner surface and a rotor outer surface, said rotor inner surface between said axis and said rotor outer surface, said rotor comprises a base portion and an annular rotor portion extending from said base portion, said base portion substantially transverse to said axis and said annular rotor portion substantially parallel to said axis;

a housing extending at least partially between said annular rotor portion and said shaft;

a clutch mounted within said housing;

a magnet mounted to said rotor outer surface, said magnet including a magnet outer surface opposite said rotor outer surface; and

a stator mounted about said magnet outer surface.

10. An electric motor comprising:

a rotor shaft defining an axis, said shaft mounted for rotation upon a bearing;

a rotor mounted for rotation with said rotor shaft, said rotor comprises a base portion and an annular rotor portion extending from said base portion, said base portion substantially transverse to said axis and said annular rotor portion substantially parallel to said axis, said bearing mounted at least partially within said annular rotor portion, said annular rotor portion including a rotor inner surface and a rotor outer surface, said rotor inner surface between said axis and said rotor outer surface;

a magnet mounted to said rotor outer surface, said magnet including a magnet outer surface opposite said rotor outer surface;

a housing comprising an annular housing portion which at least partially extends within said annular rotor portion, said bearing mounted between said annular rotor portion and said shaft;

a clutch mounted within said housing; and

a stator mounted to said housing about said magnet outer surface.

11. An electric motor comprising:

a rotor shaft defining an axis, said shaft mounted for rotation upon a bearing;

a rotor mounted for rotation with said rotor shaft, said rotor comprises a base portion and an annular rotor portion extending from said base portion, said base portion substantially transverse to said axis and said annular rotor portion substantially parallel to said axis, said bearing mounted at least partially within said annular rotor portion, said annular rotor portion including a rotor inner surface and a rotor outer surface, said rotor inner surface between said axis and said rotor outer surface;

a magnet mounted to said rotor outer surface, said magnet including a magnet outer surface opposite said rotor outer surface;

a housing comprising an annular housing portion which at least partially extends within said annular rotor portion, said annular housing portion is at least partially conical, said bearing mounted between said annular rotor portion and said shaft; and

a stator mounted to said housing about said magnet outer surface.