Textron Innovations Inc.

Ezra M Tiprigan

Charles Hubert Speller

Russell Lee Mueller

Tyson Henry

Eric Stephen Olson

A drive system for an aircraft includes a first gearbox assembly and a second gearbox assembly that is in mechanical communication with the first gearbox assembly. A first pressurized lubrication system is configured to circulate a first lubricant through the first gearbox assembly. A second pressurized lubrication system is configured to circulate a second lubricant through the second gearbox assembly. An emergency lubrication system is configured to autonomously supply a portion of the first lubricant to the second gearbox assembly responsive to a loss of pressure in the second pressurized lubrication system. The emergency lubrication system is also configured to autonomously supply a portion of the second lubricant to the first gearbox assembly responsive to a loss of pressure in the first pressurized lubrication system.

Autonomous emergency lubrication of aircraft gearboxes

A pump assembly, comprising a pump and housing having an inlet passage and an outlet passage. The pump includes inlet and outlet ports and opposing first and second drive inputs configured to be rotated together in a pumping direction to operate the pump. The pump can be installed in the housing in a first orientation, in which the first drive input is configured for being rotated by a drive source in a first external direction to operate the pump, and a second orientation, in which the second drive input is configured for being rotated by the drive source in a second external direction opposite of the first external direction to operate the pump. In both the first orientation and the second orientation, the inlet port is in fluid communication with the inlet passage and the outlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet passage.

Dual input pump assembly

A drive system for an aircraft such as a tiltrotor aircraft. The drive system includes first and second gearbox assemblies in mechanical communication with each other. A first lubrication system is associated with the first gearbox assembly and includes a bifurcated tank configured to contain a lubricant in an operating chamber including a lower sump and in an emergency chamber including an upper sump. A second lubrication system is associated with the second gearbox assembly. An emergency pump is in fluid communication with the emergency chamber. The emergency pump is configured to supply the lubricant to the first gearbox assembly from the emergency chamber responsive to a failure in the first lubrication system. In addition, the emergency pump is configured to supply the lubricant to the second gearbox assembly and to the operating chamber from the emergency chamber responsive to a failure in the second lubrication system.

Persistent lubrication systems for aircraft gearboxes

A propulsion assembly for a rotorcraft includes a raceway having a tapered inner surface and a mast configured to receive the raceway at a raceway receiving station. The mast has a tapered outer surface at the raceway receiving station. The propulsion assembly includes a mast bearing assembly having a plurality of bearings facing the mast to engage the raceway. The tapered inner surface of the raceway is friction welded to the tapered outer surface of the mast at the raceway receiving station to form a tapered friction weld line.

Friction welded raceways for use in rotorcraft propulsion assemblies

A tiltrotor aircraft may be provided and may include a mast assembly, in which the mast assembly may include a mast; a bearing system; a housing; and a housing cap secured to the housing, wherein the bearing system is between the mast and the housing. The bearing system may further include a first bearing assembly including a first inner race, a first outer race, and a plurality of first tapered roller bearings; a second bearing assembly including a second inner race, a second outer race, and a plurality of second tapered roller bearings; an inner spacer and an outer spacer in which the inner and outer spacers are between the first and second bearing assemblies; and a retaining device in which the retaining device and the housing cap provide, at least in part, pre-loading for the first and second bearing assemblies.

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North Richland Hills, TX, United States of America

Ezra M Tiprigan