Textron Innovations Inc.

Bell Textron Inc.

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Cody C Anderson

Gilberto Morales

Grant Michael Beall

Jacob P Speed

Matthew M Wilcox

Carlos Alexander Fenny

Paul K Oldroyd

Charles Hubert Speller

Lawrence Mark Zunski

Gilbert Morales

Methods and systems are described for a gearbox lockout device. It may be desirable in certain vehicles to lock a drive shaft within a gearbox for a period of time. Lockout embodiments under the present disclosure include a shaft configured to selectively engage the drive shaft via teeth. An inner and outer collar surrounding the shaft can be manipulated to restrict the movement of the shaft once the shaft's teeth are engaged with the teeth of the drive shaft. The system can be torqued up and locked in place. This can allow for more safe transporting of the vehicle, easier maintenance, or other advantages.

Integrated gearbox lockout device

A motor assembly is described and includes a housing; a plurality of motors disposed within the housing; and a drive shaft comprising a plurality of interconnected drive shaft segments, wherein each one of the drive shaft segments is driven by a different one of the motors connected to the drive shaft segment via an integrated overrunning clutch.

Aircraft rotor assembly with segmented input shaft for electric motor stack and gearbox unit

A rotorcraft includes a plurality of fan assemblies. Each fan assembly of the plurality of fan assemblies includes a drivetrain having a gearbox with an input shaft and a mast coaxially aligned with the input shaft, and a plurality of electric motors coupled to the input shaft. Each electric motor of the plurality of electric motors is coupled to the input shaft via a sprag clutch.

Drivetrain for an aircraft including gearbox with coaxial input and output shafts

A clutch has an inner race, an outer race spaced from the inner race and forming a radial cavity between the races, and a plurality of sprags disposed in the radial cavity. The sprags have a different coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) from the inner race, the outer race, or both races, and a sprag cage retains the sprags at a uniform spacing within the radial cavity. When the clutch is at a first temperature, a gap exists between the sprags and the inner race, between the sprags and the outer race, or between the sprags and both races, and the clutch is disengaged. When the clutch is at a second temperature the sprags are in contact with both the races, and the clutch is engaged.

Mechanism and method to engage/disengage a sprag clutch based on coefficients of thermal expansion

An example of a ceramic bearing system includes a shaft comprising two radially extending shoulders that define a channel therebetween, a first tolerance ring disposed in the channel of the shaft, and a bearing assembly comprising a ceramic bearing. The bearing assembly is positioned around the first tolerance ring and has an axial length that is longer than an axial length of the first tolerance ring.

Ceramic bearing system

A hybrid composite and metallic gear includes a generally cylindrical shaft interface. A composite web is coupled to the shaft interface. The composite web includes a generally cylindrical rim having an outer surface. The outer surface includes a plurality of locks each having a radially outwardly extending profile. A generally cylindrical metallic gear ring having a plurality of external teeth includes an inner surface. The inner surface includes a plurality of detents each having a radially outwardly extending profile that corresponds with one of the locks of the composite web. When the composite web is positioned within the metallic gear ring, the corresponding locks and detents each form a lock and detent coupling establishing an interlocking interface between the composite web and the metallic gear ring.

Growing community of inventors

Lantana, TX, United States of America

Cody C Anderson