Abstract: Difficulties in cooling the rotor (28) of a dynamoelectric machine carrying a rotating rectifier (54) are avoided by providing a coolant inlet 68 extending to the interior of a rectifier housing 50 through which the coolant may flow to emerge from a port 66 in the housing 50 and flow via an annulus 52 within the rotor shaft 30 to conduits 98 to cool the rotor windings 48. The coolant is returned to the interior of the rotor shaft 30 and ultimately to a coolant outlet 84.

Abstract: An integrated drive generator for an aircraft and a method of making and operating the same result in improved operation of the integrated drive generator, especially during cold start-up. This is accomplished through the use of at least one stop to prevent each of the cylinder blocks in the hydraulic pump and motor assembly of the integrated drive generator from moving away from the port plate more than a predetermined amount which will ensure establishment of hydraulic continuity between the pump and motor without substantial delay during cold start-up of the integrated drive generator.

Abstract: An integrated drive generator (40) for generating constant frequency alternating current which is driven by a drive shaft (12) at variable rotational speeds includes a constant speed drive having an input coupled to the drive shaft and at least one output which rotates at a fixed rotational velocity in response to the drive shaft rotating at a variable velocity and which drives a first drive shaft at a fixed rotational velocity and a second drive shaft at a fixed rotational velocity, an alternating current generator (23), having a rotor (37) mounted on a first shaft (42), with an outside periphery having a second radius farthest from an axis of rotation of the first shaft; an exciter (20) having a rotor (32) mounted on the first shaft, electrically coupled to a field winding of the generator, for supplying electrical power to the field winding of the alternating current generator; a permanent magnet generator (18), having a rotor (24) mounted on the second shaft, electrically coupled to the exciter, for suppl

Abstract: An integrated drive generator (40) for generating constant frequency alternating current which is driven by a drive shaft (12) at variable rotational speeds includes an alternating current generator (23) having a rotor (37) mounted on a first shaft (42), which is driven by an output of a constant speed drive (14) at a fixed rotational velocity, the constant speed drive also driving a second shaft (44) at a fixed rotational velocity; an exciter (20) having a rotor (32) mounted on the first shaft, electrically coupled to a field winding of the generator, for supplying electrical power to the field winding of hte alternating current generator; and a permanent magnet generator (18) having a rotor (24) mounted on the second shaft, electrically coupled to the exciter, for supplying electrical power to a field winding of the exciter. Using the second shaft reduces weight, as well as length.

Abstract: The effects of operational loading on a permanent magnet generator of the type having first and second permanent magnet assemblies 28, 30 mounted on a shaft 26, and movable relative to each other is eliminated by rotatably mounting each of the assemblies 28, 30 for rotation relative to the shaft 26, as well as to each other, and connecting them to the shaft by equal, but oppositely pitched helical spline connections 50, 52, 58, 60. Axial movement of the shaft 26 will then cause equal, but opposite relative movement of the permanent magnet assemblies 28, 30, so that the forces resisting movement of one such assembly act to encourage movement of the other, thereby balancing out said forces.

Abstract: Prior starting/generating systems which operate a generator as a motor to start a prime mover have been inefficient since motive power was delivered to the prime mover through hydrostatic trim and differential components of a constant speed drive interposed between the prime mover and the generator. In order to overcome this problem, means are provided between the prime mover and the generator for bypassing these components of the constant speed drive when operating in a starting mode so that motive power is transferred directly to the prime mover. This, coupled with the fact that the generator is operated as a motor responsive to generator speed and/or generator power factor, increases the efficiency of the system when in the starting mode.

Abstract: A torque transmitting apparatus which includes a tubular drive shaft defining a deaeration chamber integral with the interior of the shaft. Aerated liquid is ducted into one axial end of the deaeration chamber and separated air and residual liquid are ducted from the opposite end of the chamber, generally near the center thereof. Relative rapid rotation of the drive shaft causes radial acceleration of the liquid to effect separation of the more dense liquid from the air under the influence of centrifugal force. The deaerated liquid is ported from the outer periphery of the chamber during rotation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: Inefficiencies in electrical starter-generator systems for turbine engines are avoided in a construction including a dynamoelectric machine 16 operable as a motor or as a generator and having a rotor 26, a hydraulic torque converter 70 including an impeller 80 connected to the rotor 26 and a turbine 86. A system 94, 96 is provided for selectively providing hydraulic fluid to the torque converter 70 and a constant speed drive 112, 142, 144 is included. Overrunning clutches 108 and 158 interconnect the turbine 86 and an input for the constant speed drive for allowing the input to overrun the turbine 86 but not the reverse, and for interconnecting the rotor 26 and an output 130 of the constant speed drive for allowing the rotor 26 to overrun the output 130.

Abstract: Windage losses in a liquid cooled dynamoelectric machine having a stator 10 including an armature 14, a rotor 20 journalled for rotation about an axis within the armature 14, a pump 50, a sump 56 and a liquid flow path 24 within the rotor 20 are avoided through the use of a first transfer tube 58 connecting the pump 50 and one end 68 of the flow path along with a second transfer tube 92 coaxially surrounding the first transfer tube 58 and connected to the other flow path end 91 and to the sump 56.

Abstract: An in-line integrated drive generator including a constant speed drive unit having an input shaft defining an axis, an output including a differential on the axis and a control interconnecting the input shaft and the output to cause the output to rotate at a constant speed independent of the speed of a prime mover connected to the input shaft. A brushless generator assembly having a main field structure and an exciter rotor are disposed on the axis and are connected to the output to be driven thereby. A permanent magnet generator for energizing the exciter includes a permanent magnet assembly rotatable about the axis and contained within the constant speed drive unit. The invention provides an in-line drive generator with minimal frontal area as well as a shortened axial length.

Abstract: Difficulties in cooling the rotor (28) of a dynamoelectric machine carrying a rotating rectifier (54) are avoided by providing a coolant inlet 68 extending to the interior of a rectifier housing 50 through which the coolant may flow to emerge from a port 66 in the housing 50 and flow via an annulus 52 within the rotor shaft 30 to conduits 98 to cool the rotor windings 48. The coolant is returned to the interior of the rotor shaft 30 and ultimately to a coolant outlet 84.

Abstract: An integrated drive-generator system having a drive input shaft with a mechanical differential positioned in coaxial relation with the drive input shaft, a generator positioned alongside said differential and drive input shaft, and a hydrostatic transmission having a pair of coaxial hydraulically interconnected units positioned alongside said differential and drive input shaft and circumferentially spaced from said generator. A pair of drive connections to said differential are at one end of said hydrostatic transmission and the generator is drivingly connected to another element of the differential and with all of the interconnecting drive elements being located in a generally planar relation at the top of a housing for the system.