Abstract: An electric motor cooling system is provided that includes a housing and first and second cooling sources that are different from one another respectively to provide first and second cooling flows. A stator is mounted in the housing and receives the first cooling flow. A rotor is rotatable relative to the stator and receives the second cooling flow. In the examples, the housing supports a journal bearing upon which the rotor is supported, and the second cooling flows through the journal bearing. The first cooling flow is provided by a low pressure source such as ram air, and the second cooling flow is provided by high pressure source such as bleed air, for example. A circumferential gap is provided between the rotor and stator. In one example, a seal is arranged between the housing and a stator for providing a cavity in fluid communication with the journal bearing and the gap. The cooling flow from the journal bearing passes through the cavity and into the gap for cooling the rotor.

Abstract: A vehicle motor system includes a motor that receives cooling fluid flow from two different cooling sources. A control, such as a valve, selectively changes the cooling flow between the two cooling sources in response to an operational state of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle motor system includes a motor that receives cooling fluid flow from two different cooling sources. A control, such as a valve, selectively changes the cooling flow between the two cooling sources in response to an operational state of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electrical connection for securing multiple wires within an interior of an electrical connector barrel includes the use of a spacer which is received within the barrel, and which includes guiding spaces to position the plurality of wires.

Abstract: An electrical connection for securing multiple wires within an interior of an electrical connector barrel includes the use of a spacer which is received within the barrel, and which includes guiding spaces to position the plurality of wires.

Abstract: A shaft assembly includes a metallic portion and a ceramic portion. In a disclosed example, a ceramic shaft has a generally conical end that is at least partially received within a generally conical recess in one end of a metallic shaft. The recess has a first portion that has an inner surface that is received directly against a corresponding outer surface on a section of the ceramic shaft conical portion. A second portion of the recess is radially spaced from the ceramic shaft and provides a controlled gap within which a braze alloy is maintained. In one example, the second portion has an axial length that is more than twice a radial depth of the second portion. In another example, a transition surface between the first and second portions of the recess has a linear profile.

Abstract: An electric motor cooling system is provided that includes a housing and first and second cooling sources that are different from one another respectively to provide first and second cooling flows. A stator is mounted in the housing and receives the first cooling flow. A rotor is rotatable relative to the stator and receives the second cooling flow. In the examples, the housing supports a journal bearing upon which the rotor is supported, and the second cooling flows through the journal bearing. The first cooling flow is provided by a low pressure source such as ram air, and the second cooling flow is provided by high pressure source such as bleed air, for example. A circumferential gap is provided between the rotor and stator. In one example, a seal is arranged between the housing and a stator for providing a cavity in fluid communication with the journal bearing and the gap. The cooling flow from the journal bearing passes through the cavity and into the gap for cooling the rotor.

Abstract: A diffuser includes multiple vanes rotatable about pivot pins between multiple positions. A mounting plate supports a backing plate. The vanes are arranged between the backing plate and the shroud. The pivot pins are in a slip fit relationship with the backing plate, vanes and shroud and are threadingly received by bosses in the mounting plate. The mounting plate and pivot pin arrangement better enables the backing plate and shroud to remain parallel with one another during deflection of the backing plate and/or shroud. Structure, such as integral protrusions and/or bolts, extend from between the backing plate and shroud through apertures in the vanes to better contain the vanes in the event of a catastrophic failure.

Abstract: A shaft assembly includes a metallic portion and a ceramic portion. In a disclosed example, a ceramic shaft has a generally conical end that is at least partially received within a generally conical recess in one end of a metallic shaft. The recess has a first portion that has an inner surface that is received directly against a corresponding outer surface on a section of the ceramic shaft conical portion. A second portion of the recess is radially spaced from the ceramic shaft and provides a controlled gap within which a braze alloy is maintained. In one example, the second portion has an axial length that is more than twice a radial depth of the second portion. In another example, a transition surface between the first and second portions of the recess has a linear profile.

Abstract: A vehicle motor system includes a motor that receives cooling fluid flow from two different cooling sources. A control, such as a valve, selectively changes the cooling flow between the two cooling sources in response to an operational state of the vehicle.

Abstract: A diffuser includes multiple vanes rotatable about pivot pins between multiple positions. A mounting plate supports a backing plate. The vanes are arranged between the backing plate and the shroud. The pivot pins are in a slip fit relationship with the backing plate, vanes and shroud and are threadingly received by bosses in the mounting plate. The mounting plate and pivot pin arrangement better enables the backing plate and shroud to remain parallel with one another during deflection of the backing plate and/or shroud. Structure, such as integral protrusions and/or bolts, extend from between the backing plate and shroud through apertures in the vanes to better contain the vanes in the event of a catastrophic failure.

Abstract: A bearing is provided particularly suitable for a turbine and turbine related components used in the aerospace industry. More particularly, the bearing is suitable for such applications as pneumatic starters for turbines. The bearing is preferably constructed from a M50 steel, which typically has a pre-treated hardness in the range of approximately 60 to 64 Rc. With the present invention, the bearing is nitrided to obtain a case hardness of approximately 74 Rc. To achieve such a case hardness, the bearing may require nitriding over several days. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pneumatic starter includes a shaft, preferably constructed from M50, that has a portion of its outer surface nitrided. The nitrided surface functions as an inner race of a bearing assembly. Nitriding the portion of the shaft extends the bearing life of the bearing due to its increased hardness.

Abstract: A starter is provided including a housing defining a fluid passageway with an inlet and an outlet. A turbine rotor is supported in the housing and includes blades arranged in the passageway between the inlet and the outlet. The rotor is movable within the passageway at a speed with a fluid exiting the blade toward the outlet. A spoiler is arranged in the passageway between the rotor and the outlet. The spoiler deflects the fluid exiting the blade and reduces the rotor speed. Preferably, the present invention spoiler is utilized to reduce the maximum speed at the no-load condition. The angle, number, position, and other characteristics of the spoiler may be tailored for the particular turbine and a particular speed for which it is desirable to reduce.

Abstract: A starter is provided including a housing defining a fluid passageway with an inlet and an outlet. A turbine rotor is supported in the housing and includes blades arranged in the passageway between the inlet and the outlet. The rotor is movable within the passageway at a speed with a fluid exiting the blade toward the outlet. A spoiler is arranged in the passageway between the rotor and the outlet. The spoiler deflects the fluid exiting the blade and reduces the rotor speed. Preferably, the present invention spoiler is utilized to reduce the maximum speed at the no-load condition. The angle, number, position, and other characteristics of the spoiler may be tailored for the particular turbine and a particular speed for which it is desirable to reduce.

Abstract: A redundant engine starting system is disclosed that includes at least first and second sub-starters that rotate corresponding sub-starter output shafts affixed by a joining gear to rotate an engine starter shaft to start the engine. Each sub-starter includes a speed sensor for detecting rotational speed of the sub-starter, and a control valve to control rotational speed of the sub-starter. A system control intelligence interprets sensed rotational speeds of the sub-starters and commands the control valves, so that the control valve of an operative sub-starter is commanded to allow increased rotational speed of the sub-starter and therefore its corresponding output shaft whenever the system control intelligence interprets the sensed rotational speed of an inoperative sub-starter.

Abstract: A pneumatic starter (10) incorporates a pawl and ratchet clutch assembly (50) having a ratchet member (46) mounted to a drive member (40) powered by an air expansion turbine (20), and a plurality of pawls (48) disposed circumferentially about the ratchet member (46) and operable in engagement therewith to transmit rotational drive torque from the drive member (40) to a driven member (60). Each of the pawls (48) is supported on a pivot pin (54) for pivotal movement into and out of engagement with the ratchet member (46) and translation between a engaged and drive position and a disengaged and retracted position to effectuate a change in the location of the center of gravity (93) of the pawl relative to its pivot axis (55). Preload springs (54) are provided for biasing the pawls (48) to pivot radially inwardly into engagement with the ratchet member (46).

Abstract: A pneumatic starter (10) incorporates a pawl and ratchet clutch assembly (50) having a ratchet member (46) mounted to a drive member (40) powered by an air expansion turbine (20), and a plurality of ferromagnetic pawls (48) disposed circumferentially about the ratchet member (46) and operable in engagement therewith to transmit rotational drive torque from the drive member (40) to a driven member (60). Each of the pawls (48) is supported for pivotal movement into and out of engagement with the ratchet member (46). Springs (54) are provided for biasing the pawls (48) to pivot radially inwardly into engagement with the ratchet member (46). At least one magnet (82) is disposed in operative association with and radially outwardly of each pawl (48), whereby the ferromagnetic pawls (48) are held by the magnets (82) out of engagement with the ratchet member (46) when the driven shaft (60) is rotating at a speed above a desired reengagement speed.

Abstract: Journal and/or thrust bearings of a high speed rotary machine are mounted on a portion of the machine stator by mounts which allow limited tracking of pivotal rotor displacements by the bearings to reduce the risk of bearing damage due to nonuniform bearing pressurization from such pivotal shaft displacements. The mounts resist radial and axial shaft displacements for maintenance of sufficient shaft-stator alignment to prevent risk of rotor-stator impact.

Abstract: There is described a turbine/compressor air cycle system including a source of bleed air, means for feeding the bleed air directly to a turbine, means for adjustably feeding a portion of the bleed air to a compressor and means for feeding used cabin air to the compressor, the amount of bleed air being fed to the compressor being dependent upon whether high or low pressure bleed air is extant.