Abstract: A disengagement/disconnect assembly for disengaging a generator from a gear box includes an inner ball screw having an angled threading on an outer surface thereof and surrounding and operatively engaged to a rotating generator drive shaft to cause rotation of the inner ball screw, the inner ball screw having axial dog teeth engaged to corresponding teeth of the gear box drive shaft, an outer ball screw surrounding and normally rotating with the inner ball screw and having a spherical ball and an angled ball track between the inner and outer ball screws, a lock, and a brake for slowing or stopping rotation of the outer ball screw so that the inner ball screw rotates relative to the outer ball screw along the ball track and slides axially toward the lock thereby disengaging the generator from the gear box drive shaft.

Abstract: A disengagement/disconnect assembly for disengaging a generator from a gear box may include an inner ball screw having an angled threading on an outer surface thereof and surrounding and operatively engaged to a rotating generator drive shaft to cause rotation of the inner ball screw. The inner ball screw may be attached to an engagement member having undercut and interlockable teeth engaged to corresponding teeth of an engagement member of the gear box. An outer ball screw may surround and normally rotate with the inner ball screw. A helical ball track may be formed between the inner and outer ball screws. A brake may be provided for slowing or stopping rotation of the outer ball screw so that the inner ball screw rotates relative to the outer ball screw along the ball track and slides axially away from the gear box thereby disengaging the generator from the gear box drive shaft.

Abstract: A high speed generator cooling system directs a cooling oil spray through a chamber inside a coil support wedge assembly, which may be disposed adjacent to the generator coils. Heat from the generator coils may be conducted through the walls of the coil support wedge assembly and into the chamber where it is removed by the cooling oil spray passing through the chamber. The cooling oil passes through a generator rotor shaft and into a cooling passage in least one of the rotor laminations.

Abstract: A permanent magnet rotor of a generator is used to excite a electromagnet stator to generate electric power for the generator and to control a disengagement mechanism whereby the generator can disengage from an accessory, such as a gear box drive shaft, when the generator is not working properly. The permanent magnet is affixed to an outer ball screw which normally rotates with an inner ball screw that is operatively engaged to the accessory. An increased load to the electromagnet stator slows or stops rotation of the permanent magnet rotor and outer ball screw, causing the inner ball screw to move axially from the outer ball screw and away from an accessory and toward a re-settable lock.

Abstract: A rotor mount assembly for an electrical machine, such as a high speed aerospace generator, comprises a spring having a simple annular structure together with an oil squeeze film damper (SFD). The spring is engineered to move the rotor critical speeds outside of the extremes of the operating speed range and the SFD damps out the rotor responses as the speed passes through these points.

Abstract: Centering rings may be used to modify the combined resonance of a rotor and its support assembly to migrate the rotor critical speeds such that they can be engineered out of the rotor operating speed range. The centering rings of the present invention may be useful for any rotating electrical machinery, especially high speed aerospace applications, such as generators and starter-generators.

Abstract: A disengagement/disconnect assembly for disengaging a generator from a gear box may include an inner ball screw having an angled threading on an outer surface thereof and surrounding and operatively engaged to a rotating generator drive shaft to cause rotation of the inner ball screw. The inner ball screw may be attached to an engagement member having undercut and interlockable teeth engaged to corresponding teeth of an engagement member of the gear box. An outer ball screw may surround and normally rotate with the inner ball screw. A helical ball track may be formed between the inner and outer ball screws. A brake may be provided for slowing or stopping rotation of the outer ball screw so that the inner ball screw rotates relative to the outer ball screw along the ball track and slides axially away from the gear box thereby disengaging the generator from the gear box drive shaft.

Abstract: A permanent magnet rotor of a generator is used to excite a permanent magnet stator to generate electric power for the generator and to control a disengagement mechanism whereby the generator can disengage from an accessory, such as a gear box drive shaft, when the generator is not working properly. The permanent magnet is affixed to an outer ball screw which normally rotates with an inner ball screw that is operatively engaged to the accessory. An increased load to the permanent magnet stator slows or stops rotation of the permanent magnet rotor and outer ball screw, causing the inner ball screw to move axially from the outer ball screw and away from an accessory and toward a re-settable lock.

Abstract: A centering ring may be used to provide a resilient mounting system with uniform stiffness for rotating machinery. The centering ring may have first and second exterior raised ridges on one surface and a central raised ridge on the other surface. The centering ring may be disposed between the housing of the rotating machinery and a bearing provided therein. Due to its uniform cross-sectional geometry about its entire circumference, the centering ring may provide uniform stiffness in any radial direction. The centering ring may be useful in any rotating machinery, including generators, turbo machines and turbine engines.

Abstract: A disengagement/disconnect assembly for disengaging a generator from a gear box includes an inner ball screw having an angled threading on an outer surface thereof and surrounding and operatively engaged to a rotating generator drive shaft to cause rotation of the inner ball screw, the inner ball screw having axial dog teeth engaged to corresponding teeth of the gear box drive shaft, an outer ball screw surrounding and normally rotating with the inner ball screw and having a spherical ball and an angled ball track between the inner and outer ball screws, a lock, and a brake for slowing or stopping rotation of the outer ball screw so that the inner ball screw rotates relative to the outer ball screw along the ball track and slides axially toward the lock thereby disengaging the generator from the gear box drive shaft.

Abstract: A high speed, high power generator has its main stator and main rotor configured to provide enhanced cooling capability. The generator includes a generator housing, a stator, a shaft, and a rotor. The stator is mounted within the generator housing. The shaft is rotationally mounted within the generator housing, and includes an inner surface that defines an internal fluid flow passage, an outer surface, and a plurality of interlamination cooling supply orifices extending between the shaft inner and outer surfaces. The rotor is mounted on the shaft and includes a plurality of poles formed from laminations, and one or more interlamination disks. Each interlamination disk is disposed between at least two of the laminations and includes a plurality of interlamination flow passages that receive a cooling medium from the shaft and direct the cooling medium, via centrifugal force, through the rotor and onto the stator.

Abstract: A high speed, high power generator has its main stator configured with one or more reduced-diameter sections. The generator includes a generator housing, a main rotor, and a main stator. The generator housing has a main stator cooling flow passage formed therein that is configured to receive a flow of a cooling medium. The main rotor is rotationally mounted in the generator housing. The main stator is mounted within the generator housing and surrounds at least a portion of the main rotor. The main stator includes a stator core coupled to the generator housing adjacent the main stator cooling flow passage, and includes two or more nominal-diameter sections and one or more reduced-diameter sections. The nominal-diameter sections each have a first outer diameter, and the reduced-diameter sections, each have a second outer diameter that is less than the first diameter.

Abstract: A high speed generator cooling system directs a cooling oil spray through a chamber inside a coil support wedge assembly, which may be disposed adjacent to the generator coils. Heat from the generator coils may be conducted through the walls of the coil support wedge assembly and into the chamber where it is removed by the cooling oil spray passing through the chamber. The cooling oil passes through a generator rotor shaft and into a cooling passage in least one of the rotor laminations.

Abstract: A rotor mount assembly for an electrical machine, such as a high speed aerospace generator, comprises a spring having a simple annular structure together with an oil squeeze film damper (SFD). The spring is engineered to move the rotor critical speeds outside of the extremes of the operating speed range and the SFD damps out the rotor responses as the speed passes through these points.

Abstract: Centering rings may be used to modify the combined resonance of a rotor and its support assembly to migrate the rotor critical speeds such that they can be engineered out of the rotor operating speed range. The centering rings of the present invention may be useful for any rotating electrical machinery, especially high speed aerospace applications, such as generators and starter-generators.

Abstract: A re-settable mechanical disconnect includes a fixed flange and a retracting flange, each including a plurality of ramped teeth that mate together. The incline of the ramp of each tooth may allow power to be transmitted from the engine to the generator at required speeds and may aid disengagement of the retracting flange form the fixed flange. The mechanical disconnect may be activated in the case of a generator failure and may be re-set and reused once the cause for activation is cleared. An actuator assembly may provide an external force in axial direction that may initiate disengagement and re-engagement of the retracting flange and the fixed flange. The mechanical disconnect may be suitable for, but not limited to, applications in the aircraft and aerospace industries, for example, for disengaging a variable frequency generator from an engine in the case of generator failure thus preventing damage to the gearbox.

Abstract: A centering ring may be used to provide a resilient mounting system with uniform stiffness for rotating machinery. The centering ring may have first and second exterior raised ridges on one surface and a central raised ridge on the other surface. The centering ring may be disposed between the housing of the rotating machinery and a bearing provided therein. Due to its uniform cross-sectional geometry about its entire circumference, the centering ring may provide uniform stiffness in any radial direction. The centering ring may be useful in any rotating machinery, including generators, turbo machines and turbine engines.