Abstract: A valve with supplemental media and a piston configured to open the valve when a first force is greater than a second force. The pressure of the supplemental media exerts a substantial portion of the first force. The valve also has a biasing member that changes volume as temperature changes and exerts a substantial portion of the second force. The second force decreases as the temperature of the biasing member increases.

Abstract: A rotating sealing system includes a non-metallic rotating seal configured to be attached to a rotating shaft. The rotating seal is configured to rotate with the rotating shaft about an axis. The rotating sealing system includes a stationary sealing surface configured to be attached to a stationary housing positioned around the rotating shaft. The stationary sealing surface is substantially parallel to the axis. The rotating seal is configured to seal with the stationary sealing surface as the rotating shaft rotates.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for supporting a planetary carrier within an aircraft gearbox includes a retainer for engaging a rotor mast and for supporting the planetary carrier.

Abstract: A valve with supplemental media and a piston configured to open the valve when a first force is greater than a second force. The pressure of the supplemental media exerts a substantial portion of the first force. The valve also has a biasing member that changes volume as temperature changes and exerts a substantial portion of the second force. The second force decreases as the temperature of the biasing member increases.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a valve can include a piston configured to open the valve when a first force is greater than a second force, a biasing member that pushes against the piston and exerts a substantial portion of the first force against the piston, and a material that exerts a substantial portion of the second force against the piston, wherein the material changes from a solid to a liquid at an approximate, predetermined temperature, the change of the material from solid to liquid decreases the second force and allows the piston to move and open the valve.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for supporting a planetary carrier within an aircraft gearbox includes a retainer for engaging a rotor mast and for supporting the planetary carrier.

Abstract: A rotorcraft includes a body, a rotor blade, and a power train coupled to the body and operable to rotate the rotor blade. The power train includes an engine, a gearbox in mechanical communication with the engine, and a driveshaft in mechanical communication with the gearbox. The rotorcraft also includes a sensor operable to detect a rotorcraft parameter, and a lubrication flow calculation unit operable to receive the rotorcraft parameter, generate the flow rate based on the rotorcraft parameter, and transmit the flow rate to a lubrication system configured to deliver lubricant to the gearbox at the transmitted flow rate.

Abstract: A fluid system includes an emergency subsystem and a main subsystem in fluid communication with a working element. The main subsystem is in fluid communication with the emergency subsystem. The system operates in a standard mode and an emergency mode. During standard mode, both the main and emergency subsystems jointly provide fluid to the working element. During emergency mode, the emergency subsystem is configured for independently providing fluid to the working element.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotorcraft includes a body, a rotor blade, and a power train coupled to the body and operable to rotate the rotor blade. The power train includes an engine, a gearbox in mechanical communication with the engine, and a driveshaft in mechanical communication with the gearbox. The rotorcraft also includes a sensor operable to detect a rotorcraft parameter, and a lubrication flow calculation unit operable to receive the rotorcraft parameter, generate the flow rate based on the rotorcraft parameter, and transmit the flow rate to a lubrication system configured to deliver lubricant to the gearbox at the transmitted flow rate.

Abstract: A rotating sealing system includes a non-metallic rotating seal configured to be attached to a rotating shaft. The rotating seal is configured to rotate with the rotating shaft about an axis. The rotating sealing system includes a stationary sealing surface configured to be attached to a stationary housing positioned around the rotating shaft. The stationary sealing surface is substantially parallel to the axis. The rotating seal is configured to seal with the stationary sealing surface as the rotating shaft rotates.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first shaft member including a first material and having a first shaft axis, a first distal end having a first diameter, and a first proximate end, and a second shaft member including a second material different from the first material, and having a second shaft axis, a second proximate end having a second diameter, and a second distal end. A joint permanently affixes the first distal end of the first shaft member to the second proximate end of the second shaft member such that the first shaft axis is aligned with the second shaft axis, where the first distal end substantially abuts the second proximate end, and wherein the first diameter is substantially identical to the second diameter. The second shaft member protrudes through a housing, the housing including a seal sealing against an outer diameter of the second shaft member.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a valve can include a piston configured to open the valve when a first force is greater than a second force, a biasing member that pushes against the piston and exerts a substantial portion of the first force against the piston, and a material that exerts a substantial portion of the second force against the piston, wherein the material changes from a solid to a liquid at an approximate, predetermined temperature, the change of the material from solid to liquid decreases the second force and allows the piston to move and open the valve.

Abstract: A lubrication system is disclosed. The lubrication system may have a collection area for collecting lubricating media and a pumping system for transporting the lubricating media from a withdrawal location of the collection area to a distribution location of the collection area. The lubricating media may collect in the collection area to a static level when the pumping system is off and to a dynamic level when the pumping system is on. The lubrication system may also include a drain valve located between the static level and the dynamic level. The drain valve may operable to open to drain a portion of the lubricating media in response to the lubricating media reaching a predefined threshold temperature and level. The valve may comprise a thermally-activated material, and the material may substantially change phase or volume upon reaching a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An injection jet includes a body having a first and a second passage disposed therein for channeling a fluid to a working element. The first passage remains fluidly separated from the second passage. A system includes the injection jet along with a main reservoir and an emergency reservoir. The first passage is in fluid communication with the main reservoir, while the second passage is in fluid communication with the emergency reservoir. The system operates in a standard mode and an emergency mode. Both the first passage and the second passage are configured for jointly supplying fluid to the working element during standard mode. The second passage is configured for independently supplying fluid to the working element during emergency mode.

Abstract: A lubrication system is disclosed. The lubrication system may have a collection area for collecting lubricating media and a pumping system for transporting the lubricating media from a withdrawal location of the collection area to a distribution location of the collection area. The lubricating media may collect in the collection area to a static level when the pumping system is off and to a dynamic level when the pumping system is on. The lubrication system may also include a drain valve located between the static level and the dynamic level. The drain valve may operable to open to drain a portion of the lubricating media in response to the lubricating media reaching a predefined threshold temperature and level. The valve may comprise a thermally-activated material, and the material may substantially change phase or volume upon reaching a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A bimetallic shaft for use in gearbox applications wherein the member of shaft that protrudes from the gearbox is designed and constructed from a corrosion-resistant metallic compound to prevent corrosion and wear to exposed shaft material. A gearbox comprising a bimetallic shaft having a corrosion-resistant material on the portion of the bimetallic shaft that protrudes from a gearbox housing, wherein a gearbox shaft seal radially surrounds the bimetallic shaft. A method of providing a bimetallic gearbox shaft comprising: a first shaft member comprising a non-corrosion-resistant material and having a first shaft axis, a second shaft member comprising a corrosion-resistant material and having a second shaft axis, and a joint that permanently affixes the first shaft member to the second shaft member such that the first shaft axis is aligned with the second shaft axis.

Abstract: A bimetallic shaft for use in gearbox applications wherein the member of shaft that protrudes from the gearbox is designed and constructed from a corrosion-resistant metallic compound to prevent corrosion and wear to exposed shaft material. A gearbox comprising a bimetallic shaft having a corrosion-resistant material on the portion of the bimetallic shaft that protrudes from a gearbox housing, wherein a gearbox shaft seal radially surrounds the bimetallic shaft. A method of providing a bimetallic gearbox shaft comprising: a first shaft member comprising a non-corrosion-resistant material and having a first shaft axis, a second shaft member comprising a corrosion-resistant material and having a second shaft axis, and a joint that permanently affixes the first shaft member to the second shaft member such that the first shaft axis is aligned with the second shaft axis.

Abstract: A fluid system includes an emergency subsystem and a main subsystem in fluid communication with a working element. The main subsystem is in fluid communication with the emergency subsystem. The system operates in a standard mode and an emergency mode. During standard mode, both the main and emergency subsystems jointly provide fluid to the working element. During emergency mode, the emergency subsystem is configured for independently providing fluid to the working element.

Abstract: An injection jet includes a body having a first and a second passage disposed therein for channeling a fluid to a working element. The first passage remains fluidly separated from the second passage. A system includes the injection jet along with a main reservoir and an emergency reservoir. The first passage is in fluid communication with the main reservoir, while the second passage is in fluid communication with the emergency reservoir. The system operates in a standard mode and an emergency mode. Both the first passage and the second passage are configured for jointly supplying fluid to the working element during standard mode. The second passage is configured for independently supplying fluid to the working element during emergency mode.

Abstract: A composite drive shaft in which the end adapters are captured in the composite material portion during the process of manufacturing of the composite drive shaft assembly is disclosed. The end adapters include lugs that protrude outward longitudinally to transmit torque, tensile, and compressive forces, and bending moments to the composite material portion and vice versa. To increase the load carrying capacity for axial force and bending moment, the end adapters may have at least one recessed circumferential groove. Before the manufacturing process, one or more bonding agents may be applied onto the interface of the end adapter to enhance the performance of engagement between the end adapters and the composite material portion. The composite material portion and end adapters are co-cured to produce a final drive shaft that requires no additional work for assembly.