Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

Goodrich Corporation

Brayton Reed

Joyel M Schaefer

Mark R Gurvich

Michael King

Georgios S Zafiris

Raghu Iyer

Kevin Thomas Gryk

Jeffrey J Allen

Douglas McNeil

Jerry Lee Goeke

Edward P Marron

Gianfranco Barbato

A drive shaft body has an axial cross-sectional shape, which includes a plurality of undulations increasing a drive shaft body diameter through an infinite number of diameters across at least 15% of an axial length between axial ends. There is at least one reinforcing belt associated with adjacent ones of the plurality of undulations. In another drive shaft, a drive shaft body has an axial cross-sectional shape which includes undulations increasing a drive shaft body diameter through an infinite number of diameters across at least 15% of an axial length between the axial ends. The undulations extend along a non-zero angle relative to a circumferential direction defined relative to a drive axis of the drive shaft, such that the undulations form a spiral with an intermediate smaller diameter spiral portion. There is at least one reinforcing belt associated with at least one of the undulations and the intermediate portion.

Drive shaft with non-cylindrical shape and spaced reinforcements

A method of testing a part includes placing a first member on a part to be tested. A second member is placed on an opposed surface of the part. One of the members has an ultrasonic transmitter and the other has an ultrasonic receiver. At least one of the members has at least one magnetic element and the other has at least one of a magnetic element or a ferromagnetic metallic element which is attracted to magnets. One of the members moves along the surface of the part such that magnetic attraction causes the other to move along the opposed surface of the part with the one of the members. A controller causes an ultrasonic signal to be sent from the transmitter through the part to be tested which is received by the receiver and then analyzed by an ultrasonic testing machine.

Method for testing drive shafts and other bodies

A drive shaft extends between axial ends and has at least one portion through which an outer diameter of the drive shaft changes through an infinite number of diameters, with the at least one portion extending across at least 15% of an axial distance between the axial ends of the drive shaft. A drive shaft with a generally spiral undulation at its outer periphery is also disclosed.

Drive shaft with non-cylindrical shape

An aircraft drive shaft that includes an outer shaft with a first diameter that is configured to couple a first gearbox and a second gearbox to provide power transfer between the two gearboxes. An inner shaft that is concentric with the outer shaft and has a second diameter that is configured to provide structural support to the outer shaft. A gap is located between an outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the outer shaft. The gap has a size from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface that is at least as large as a largest ballistic projectile cross-section size that the aircraft is expected to encounter on an upcoming mission. A sleeve is located at least at a first end of the outer shaft and connects the outer shaft to the inner shaft.

Drive shaft with ballistic tolerance

A testing device includes a first member to be positioned on one surface of a part to be tested. A second member to be positioned on an opposed surface of the part to be tested. One of the first and second members have an ultrasonic transmitter and the other has an ultrasonic receiver. At least one of the first and second members have at least one magnetic element and the other of the first and second member have at least one magnetic or at least one ferromagnetic metallic element such that when one of the first and second members moves along the surface of the tested part the other of the first and second members will move along an opposed surface with the one of the members.

Device for testing drive shafts and other bodies

A drive shaft has a tubular portion extending between axial ends and is hollow. There are deformations on the tubular portions. The deformations extend for a circumferential extent that is less than 180° about a central axis of the tubular portion.

Drive shafts with enhanced bending flexibility

A drive shaft for transferring torque including a tubular insert extending along an axis and defining a first layer of the drive shaft including at least one straight portion and at least one undulation, wherein the tubular insert includes a first material having a first deformation temperature, and a polymeric tubular covering defining a second layer of the drive shaft surrounding the tubular insert including a second material having a deformation temperature lower than the deformation temperature of the first material, wherein the covering includes at least one straight portion adjacent to the straight portion of the tubular insert and at least one undulation adjacent to the at least one undulation of the tubular insert.

Hybrid composite drive shaft and a method of making

A flexible composite driveshaft formed by automated fiber placement includes a first region extending longitudinally about an axis and having a substantially constant first diameter and a second region adjacent to the first region. The second region includes a first diaphragm extending radially outward from the first region about a circumference of the driveshaft and a second diaphragm extending radially outward from the first region about the circumference of the driveshaft. The first and second regions each include a plurality of strips of unidirectional fiber tape, wherein the plurality of strips is arranged in a plurality of stacked layers and wherein a first portion of the plurality of strips is oriented in a circumferential direction. At least one of the circumferentially-oriented strips of unidirectional fiber tape is positioned between the first and second diaphragms and comprises a plurality of folds formed about the circumference of the driveshaft.

Flexible thermoplastic driveshaft

A flexible coupling includes a first flange having an outer edge, a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a first plurality of passages. A second flange including an outer edge section, a first surface section, a second surface section opposite the first surface section, and a second plurality of passages. A connecting element extends between and connecting the first flange and the second flange through one of the first plurality of passages and one of the second plurality passages. The connecting element includes a connecting member having a first stop element and a second stop element. A compliant component is arranged on the connecting element. The compliant component is positioned on the connecting member between one of: the first stop element and the first surface; the second stop element and the second surface section; and between the second surface and the first surface section.

Flexible coupling for joining metallic and composite drive shafts

A drive shaft for an aircraft according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an elongated core extending between a pair of opposed couplings, an energy absorption layer made of a composite comprising metal, the energy absorption layer disposed on the core, and a first composite ballistic layer disposed along a length of the core.

Ballistic resistant drive shaft

A mechanical system for an aerospace application includes a drive input connected to a first axial end of a first diaphragm member, and a drive output connected to a second axial end of a second diaphragm member. The drive output is an aerospace component. The first and second diaphragm members are formed with two axial ends and at least one undulation extending radially of the axial ends. The at least one undulation is intermediate the ends. A tubular portion connects the first and second diaphragm members. The first and second diaphragm members and the tubular member are formed of fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites. The first and second diaphragm members are connected to axial ends of the tubular member by welding of the axial ends of the tubular portion to one of the inner ends of each of said first and second diaphragm members. The aerospace component is a propeller.

Composite drive shafts

A drive shaft which includes a first tube body having one or more first body channels defined through a wall thickness thereof. The one or more channels are configured to increase bending and/or axial flexibility of the first tube body while only allowing for a less than proportional reduction in torsional stiffness of the first tube body. A second tube body can be concentrically disposed relative to the first tube body and connected to the first tube body at a first end portion and a second end portion. The second tube body can include one or more second body channels defined through a wall thickness thereof. The one or more channels are configured to increase bending and/or axial flexibility of the second tube body while only allowing for a less than proportional reduction in torsional stiffness of the second tube body.

Drive shafts

A polymer-matrix fiber-reinforced composite structure includes a plurality of polymer composite layers having at least one polymer composite layer that includes a first polymer-matrix and a first fluorescent agent interspersed through the first polymer-matrix. Damage to the polymer composite structure results in a change in fluorescence at the point of damage. A method for detecting damage in the polymer composite structure described above including the steps of applying light having a wavelength selected to induce fluorescence in the first fluorescent agent to the polymer composite structure, detecting a detected fluorescence pattern, and comparing the detected fluorescence pattern to a predetermined normal fluorescence pattern.

Composite structures with damage detection capability

A drive shaft has a tubular member extending between axial ends and being hollow. The tubular member is formed of a thermoplastic matrix with embedded fibers. At least one ring member is positioned radially of the tubular member. A method is also disclosed.

Drive shafts made of composite materials and methods of making such shafts

A composite shaft includes a shaft body formed from a plurality of polymer impregnated fiber-reinforced material layers having an annular outer surface and an annular inner surface defining a passage. A plurality of internal support members extend along the passage. Each of the plurality of internal support members includes a support body formed from molded plastic having an outer surface that abuts the annular inner surface of the support body, a first end, an opposing second end, and a circular end wall arranged at one of the first end and the opposing second end.

Growing community of inventors

Rome, NY, United States of America

Brayton Reed