US-12623549-B2 - Power system

US12623549B2US 12623549 B2US12623549 B2US 12623549B2US-12623549-B2

Abstract

A power system for an aircraft comprises: a first motor-generator component; a second motor-generator component; a common shaft, wherein the first and second motor-generator components are connected to the common shaft in series; and a de-coupler operable to disconnect the first motor-generator component from the common shaft.

Inventors

David James Tate

Assignees

HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20231222

Claims (20)

1 . A power system for an aircraft, the power system comprising: a first motor-generator component including a first drive shaft; a second motor-generator component including a second drive shaft; a common shaft, wherein the first and second motor-generator components are connected to the common shaft in series; and a de-coupler operable to disconnect the first drive shaft of the first motor-generator component from the common shaft, wherein the de-coupler comprises: a first torque coupler configured to selectively couple the first drive shaft of the first motor-generator component with the de-coupler; and a second torque coupler configured to couple the common shaft with the de-coupler.
2 . The power system according to claim 1 , further comprising a second de-coupler operable to disconnect the second drive shaft of the second motor-generator component from the common shaft, wherein the second de-coupler comprises: a third torque coupler configured to selectively couple the second drive shaft of the second motor-generator component with the second de-coupler; and a fourth torque coupler configured to couple the common shaft with the second de-coupler.
3 . The power system according to claim 1 , wherein the first drive shaft and the common shaft nest with each other.
4 . The power system according to claim 1 , wherein the common shaft extends through the first motor-generator component.
5 . The power system according to claim 1 , wherein the de-coupler is configured to slide from a first position to a second position along an axis of the common shaft to disconnect the first drive shaft of the first motor-generator component from the common shaft.
6 . The power system according to claim 5 , further comprising an actuator, the actuator configured to move the de-coupler from the first position to the second position to disconnect the first drive shaft of the first motor-generator component from the common shaft.
7 . The power system according to claim 5 , wherein the actuator is a solenoid.
8 . The power system according to claim 1 , wherein the first torque coupler comprises connector element teeth extending parallel to an axis of the common shaft and configured to engage with first shaft teeth extending parallel to the axis of the common shaft.
9 . The power system according to claim 1 , wherein the first torque coupler is disconnected from the common shaft when the de-coupler is in a disconnected position.
10 . The power system according to claim 1 , wherein the second torque coupler comprises a sliding spline configured to maintain connection between the second torque coupler and the common shaft as the de-coupler moves between a connected position and a disconnected position.
11 . The power system according to claim 1 , further comprising a bias element, the bias element configured to bias the de-coupler away from a disconnected position.
12 . The power system according to claim 1 , wherein the first motor-generator component comprises a motor.
13 . The power system according to claim 1 , wherein the first motor-generator component comprises a generator.
14 . An aircraft comprising the power system according to claim 1 .
15 . The power system according to claim 1 , wherein the second torque coupler is configured to maintain a connection between the common shaft and the de-coupler as the de-coupler moves between a connected position and a disconnected position.
16 . A power system comprising: a first motor-generator component including a first drive shaft; a second motor-generator component including a second drive shaft; a common shaft, wherein the first and second motor-generator components are connected to the common shaft in series; a first de-coupler configured to disconnect the first drive shaft of the first motor-generator component from the common shaft, wherein the first de-coupler comprises: a first torque coupler configured to selectively couple the first drive shaft of the first motor-generator component with the first de-coupler; and a second torque coupler configured to couple the common shaft with the first de-coupler; a first bias element configured to bias the first de-coupler away from a disconnected position; a second de-coupler configured to disconnect the second drive shaft of the second motor-generator component from the common shaft, wherein the second de-coupler further comprises: a third torque coupler configured to selectively couple the second drive shaft of the second motor-generator component with the second de-coupler; a fourth torque coupler configured to couple the common shaft with the second de-coupler; and a second bias element configured to bias the second de-coupler away from the disconnected position.
17 . The power system according to claim 16 , wherein the second torque coupler and the fourth torque coupler are configured to maintain a connection between the common shaft and the first de-coupler and the second de-coupler, respectively, as the first de-coupler and the second de-coupler move between a connected position and a disconnected position.
18 . The power system according to claim 16 , wherein each of the first torque coupler and the third torque coupler comprises connector element teeth extending parallel to an axis of the common shaft and configured to engage with shaft teeth extending parallel to the axis of the common shaft.
19 . The power system according to claim 16 , wherein the second torque coupler and the fourth torque coupler comprise sliding splines configured to maintain connection between the second torque coupler and the common shaft and the fourth torque coupler and the common shaft as the first de-coupler and the second de-coupler move between a connected position and a disconnected position.
20 . The power system according to claim 16 , further comprising: a first bias element configured to bias the first de-coupler away from a disconnected position; and a second bias element configured to bias the second de-coupler away from the disconnected position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and the benefit of European Patent Application No. 23156393.3, filed Feb. 13, 2023, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This application relates to power systems for aircraft. BACKGROUND In power systems for hybrid or electric propulsion aircraft, it may be desirable to include a plurality of motor-generator components (e.g. motors, generators or motor-generators) to provide redundancy and to give flexibility to meet speed, torque or power generation demands. However, such systems may require complex architectures, often with heavy, intermediate components, to connect the motor-generator components to other components of the system. SUMMARY In a first aspect, there is provided a power system for an aircraft, the power system comprising: a first motor-generator component; a second motor-generator component; a common shaft, wherein the first and second motor-generator components are connected to the common shaft in series; and a de-coupler operable to disconnect the first motor-generator component from the common shaft. Connecting the motor-generator components (e.g. motors, generators or motor-generators) to the common shaft in series can be space efficient and low-weight. The de-coupler improves the reliability of the power system, allowing the first motor-generator component to be disconnected from the common shaft in the event of the first motor-generator component having a fault. This may allow the second motor-generator component to continue to operate in the event of the first motor-generator component having the fault. The power system may comprise a second de-coupler operable to disconnect the second motor-generator component from the common shaft. The first motor-generator may comprise a first shaft, wherein the first shaft and the common shaft nest with each other. One of the common shaft and the first shaft may surround the other of the common shaft and the first shaft. The first shaft may surround the common shaft. The first shaft may be the first motor-generator's input and/or output shaft. The common shaft may extend through the first motor. The second motor-generator may comprise a second shaft, wherein the second shaft and the common shaft nest with each other. One of the common shaft and the second shaft may surround the other of the common shaft and the second shaft. The second shaft may surround the common shaft. The second shaft may be the second motor-generator's input and/or output shaft. The common shaft may extend through the second motor. The de-coupler may comprise a connector element, the connector element movable into a disconnected position to disconnect the first motor-generator component from the common shaft. The connector element may be slidable into the disconnected position. The connector element and the common shaft may nest with each other. The connector element may surround the common shaft. The power system may comprise an actuator, the actuator configured to move the connector element into the disconnected position. The actuator may be configured to maintain the connector element in the disconnected position in response to power being supplied to the actuator. The actuator may be configured to move the connect element out of the disconnected position. The power system may comprise a latch, the latch configured to maintain the connector element in the disconnected position. The actuator may be an electromagnetic actuator. The actuator may be a solenoid. The connector element may comprise a first torque coupler for connecting to the first shaft. The first torque coupler may comprise connector element teeth configured to engage with first shaft teeth on the first shaft. The connector element teeth may extend in an axial direction (e.g. parallel to an axis of the common shaft and/or an axis of the first shaft). The first shaft may comprise the first shaft teeth configured to engage with the connector element teeth. The first shaft teeth may extend in the axial direction. The first shaft teeth may extend in an opposing direction to the connector element teeth. The first torque coupler may be disconnected when the connector element is in the disconnected position. The connector element teeth may be out of contact with the first shaft teeth when the connector element is in the disconnected position. The connector element may comprise a second torque coupler for connecting to the common shaft. The second torque coupler may comprise a sliding spline. The power system may comprise a bias element. The bias element may be configured to bias the connector element away from the disconnected position. The bias element may be configured to bias the connector element towards the disconnected position. The bias element may be a spring. The second de-coupler may comprise a second connector element, the second connector element movable into a disconnected positio