Composite reinforced ring gear

• US 10,619,717 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2017
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Modrzejewski, Brian Stanley, Raje, Siddhesh Pradeep, Morales, Gilberto, Jackson, Kenneth Myron
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelleher, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prather, Gregory T
• Application Number:
  US15/676,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20190048983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/12 Rotor drives
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/28 with gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/36 with two central gears coupled by intermeshing orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/02043 for vehicle transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/06 Use of materials; Use of treatments of toothed members or worms to affect their intrinsic material properties coatings for lubrication F16H57/041; producing gear wheels from plastics or substances in a plastic state B29D15/00; heat treatment C21D9/32; electrolytic surface treatment C25D; heating by electromagnetic field H05B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/03 characterised by means for reinforcing gearboxes, e.g. ribs
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/032 characterised by the materials used

Abstract

A hybrid composite reinforced ring gear minimizing radial deformation during high RPM conditions includes a composite backing secured to a metal rim. In use, at operating temperature the composite backing contracts while the metal rim expands thus creating a compressive stress on the metal rim and significantly reduces radial deformation due to centrifugal forces as compared to an all steel ring gear.

Claims

1. A composite reinforced ring gear, comprising:

a metal rim having a rim inner circumference and a rim outer circumference;

a set of engagement features formed on the rim inner circumference;

a composite backing positioned circumferentially around the rim outer circumference; and

a composite bonding layer disposed between the metal rim and the composite backing.

2. The composite reinforced ring gear of claim 1, wherein the composite bonding layer comprises at least one of glass and epoxy.