Rolls-royce Corporation

Kyle Hassler

Kevin Beckner

Matthew Tyler Bouton

Doug Schwerin

Andy Copeland

Matt Starr

Joseph A Swift

Mark Winely

Sean Warrenburg

Kevin Mock

Thaddeus Hendricks

A clutch for a lift fan comprising at least one output shaft lug key positioned in a keyway of at least two output clutch plates and extending axially from one to the other of the two output clutch plates. The output shaft lug key couples the rotation of the output clutch plates to the rotation an output shaft and allows axial movement of the two output clutch plates relative the output shaft lug key. The output shaft has an outer radial surface and an oppositely disposed inner radial surface, and the inner surface of the output shaft lug key extends radially to the seat of the keyway.

Lift fan clutch plate for protecting wear surfaces

A clutch assembly may comprise a plurality of clutch discs and a housing configured to receive the plurality of clutch discs. The housing may include an outer wall and an inner wall defining a channel therebetween. The outer wall may have an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid connection with the channel. The channel may be configured to pass a first heat transfer medium between the inlet port and outlet port. The housing may include a plurality of surface features extending inwards from the inner wall and toward the plurality of clutch discs. The plurality of surface features is configured to transfer heat from second heat transfer medium to the housing, thereby transferring heat away from the plurality of clutch discs. The channel may be configured to transfer heat from the housing to the first heat transfer medium, thereby transferring heat away from the housing.

Clutch assembly with integrated surface cooling

A clutch for a lift fan is configured such that in an engaged position, two output clutch plates are in frictional communication with input clutch plates and a load is transferred from an input shaft to an output shaft via the two output clutch plates, the input clutch plates and an output shaft lug key, and in a disengaged position each of the two output clutch plates are axially displaced from input clutch plate. A metallic clip is coupled to the outer periphery of the output clutch plate. The metallic clip defines a key way in the output clutch plate.

Lift fan clutch plate for preventing blade tilt

A clutch for a lift fan with input and output shafts on a common rotational axis, connected by disc shaped output clutch plates oriented normal to the axis. A keyway extends radially inward from a mouth at an outer diameter of each output clutch plate to a seat at an inner diameter of the respective clutch plate. At least one output shaft lug key may be positioned in the keyway and extends axially from one output clutch plate to the other output clutch plate, which couples the rotation of the output clutch plates to the rotation the output shaft and allows axial movement of the two output clutch plates relative the output shaft lug key, the output shaft has an outer radial surface and an inner radial surface. At least one input clutch plate positioned axially between the two output clutch plates and rotationally fixed to the input shaft.

Lift fan clutch plate with improved axial positioning

A clutch for a lift fan comprises at least one output shaft lug key positioned in a keyway of at least two output clutch plates and extending axially from one to the other of the two output clutch plates. The output shaft lug key couples the rotation of the output clutch plates to the rotation an output shaft and allows axial movement of the two output clutch plates relative the output shaft lug key. The width of an inner surface of the output shaft lug key varies along the axial length as a function of the proximity to a home axial position of each of the output clutch plates when in the disengaged position.

Lift fan clutch plate to reduce instability

An exemplary cone brake device includes a brake drum and a thermal sprayed coating deposited and bonded to the outer surface. The thermal sprayed coating is configured to engage a friction lining when one of the brake drum and the friction element is moved toward the other of the brake drum and the friction element, so as to decrease the speed of an aerospace propeller.

Growing community of inventors

Pittsboro, IN, United States of America

Kyle Hassler