Auxiliary fire resistant mount system for an auxiliary power unit

• US 8,864,067 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• 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: Bell, Melissa A., Rollins, Michael J., Peel, Jason, Giddings, Greg R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzell, Philip J
• Application Number:
  US13/484,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20130320134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 244/54, 244/58, 607/96, 607/97, 248/554, 248/557
• US Class Current: 244/54
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2041/002 Mounting arrangements for auxiliary power units (APU's)
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 41/00 Power installations for auxiliary purposes

Abstract

An auxiliary power unit is composed of a gas turbine engine, a gearbox, and a gearbox driven generator. A mount bracket is mechanically attached to the gearbox. The bracket is for connecting to an aircraft strut system. The aircraft strut system connects to the aircraft structure. The mount bracket has an upper mechanical attachment point and a lower mechanical attachment point to the gearbox. The gearbox includes an oil reservoir, and the lower attachment point is beneath the oil level within the oil reservoir such that said lower attachment point will be cooled by oil in the oil reservoir.

Claims

1. An auxiliary power unit comprising:

a mount bracket mechanically attached to a gearbox;

said mount bracket configured to be connected to a plurality of struts, said struts connected to an aircraft housing;

said mount bracket including an upper mechanical attachment point and a lower mechanical attachment point to the gearbox, said gearbox including an oil reservoir, and the lower attachment point being beneath an upper end of the oil reservoir and cooled by oil in said oil reservoir; and

a pair of said mount brackets on opposed sides of said gearbox, with each mounting bracket of said pair of mount brackets including an upper mechanical attachment point and a lower mechanical attachment point to said gearbox.

2. The auxiliary power unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mount bracket is connected to a mount link, said mount link configured to be connected to said struts.

3. The auxiliary power unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lower mechanical attachment points are vertically beneath an expected oil level in the oil reservoir.

4. The auxiliary power unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mount bracket has a leg extending vertically downwardly from said upper mechanical attachment point to said lower mechanical attachment point.

5. The auxiliary power unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mount bracket is formed of steel.

6. An auxiliary power unit comprising:

a mount bracket mechanically attached to a gearbox;

said mount bracket configured to be connected to a plurality of struts, said struts connected to an aircraft housing;

said mount bracket including an upper mechanical attachment point and a lower mechanical attachment point to the gearbox, said gearbox including an oil reservoir, and the lower attachment point being beneath an upper end of the oil reservoir and cooled by oil in said oil reservoir;

said mount bracket has a leg extending vertically downwardly from said upper mechanical attachment point to said lower mechanical attachment point; and

said leg includes an angled portion, and a straight portion.

7. The auxiliary power unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein there are a pair of mount brackets on opposed sides of said gearbox each having an upper mechanical attachment point and a low mechanical attachment point.

8. The auxiliary power unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein said lower mechanical attachment point is vertically beneath an expected oil level in the oil reservoir.

9. An aircraft including:

an aircraft housing, a plurality of struts attached to said housing;

said struts also connected to a mount bracket on an auxiliary power unit;

said mount bracket mechanically attached to a gearbox; and

said mount bracket including an upper mechanical attachment point and a lower mechanical attachment point to the gearbox, said gearbox including an oil reservoir, and the lower attachment point being beneath a vertically upper end of the oil reservoir and cooled by oil in said oil reservoir.

10. The aircraft as set forth in claim 9, wherein said mount bracket is connected to a mount link, said mount link connected to said struts.

11. The aircraft as set forth in claim 9, wherein said lower mechanical attachment point is vertically beneath an expected oil level in the oil reservoir.

12. The aircraft as set forth in claim 9, wherein said mount bracket is formed of steel.

13. The aircraft as set forth in claim 9, wherein there are a pair of mount brackets on opposed sides of said gearbox each having an upper mechanical attachment point and a lower mechanical attachment point.

14. The aircraft as set forth in claim 13, wherein said lower mechanical attachment points are vertically beneath an expected oil level in the oil reservoir.

15. The aircraft as set forth in claim 9, wherein said mount bracket has a leg extending vertically downwardly from said upper mechanical attachment point to said lower mechanical attachment point.

16. The aircraft as set forth in claim 15, wherein said leg includes an angled portion, and a straight portion.