Fan embedded power generator

• US 8,522,522 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• 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: Poisson, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/847,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20120025676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.A
• US Class Current: 60/39.093
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 3/06 with front fan
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/768 equipped with permanent magnets

Abstract

A power generator, such as a permanent magnet alternator (“PMA”) or a permanent magnet generator (“PMG”), may be used to provide electric power to a deicing system, for example. The power generator is embedded within a spinner, and may be in communication with a locally mounted electronic control unit (“ECU”).

Claims

1. A turbine engine comprising:

a spinner;

a plurality of blades projecting radially outward from the spinner;

a power generator embedded within the spinner; and

an electronic control unit positioned within a nacelle radially surrounding a fan section of the turbine engine, wherein the electronic control unit is positioned radially outward of the blades.

2. The turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the power generator is one of a permanent magnet alternator and a permanent magnet generator.

3. The turbine engine of claim 2, wherein the spinner is directly connected to an engine shaft, such that rotation of the engine shaft rotates the spinner.

4. The turbine engine of claim 3, wherein the power generator is wholly embedded within the spinner.

5. The turbine engine of claim 3, wherein the power generator includes a rotor and a stator.

6. The turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is in communication with the power generator.

7. The turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the spinner is configured to rotate with rotation of a spool of the turbine engine.

8. The turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is in communication with a device positioned on the turbine engine.

9. The turbine engine of claim 8, wherein the device includes a deicing element positioned on a leading edge of the nacelle.

10. A spinner configured to support a plurality of blades and rotate about an axis, the spinner comprising:

an outer spinner housing; and

a power generator embedded within the spinner such that the outer spinner housing radially surrounds the entire power generator, wherein the power generator includes a rotor and a stator, the rotor rotating with rotation of the spinner, and wherein the power generator is one of a permanent magnet alternator and a permanent magnet generator; and

an electronic control unit embedded within the spinner such that the outer spinner housing radially surrounds at least a portion of the electronic control unit.

11. The spinner of claim 10 wherein the spinner is configured to rotate with rotation of a spool of a gas turbine engine.