Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Mark Denton Bystry

Michael Joseph DeVita

Joseph Lawrence Simonetti

Michael Peter Strauss

Timothy Fred Lauder

Matthew J Tarascio

Brian St Rock

Charles E Lents

Hayden M Reeve

Frederick L Bourne

Lawrence E Zeidner

Carl A Palmer

Alfred Russell Smiley

Niranjan Desai

Adam Kasprzyk

A system for starting a gas turbine engine includes a rotor drive system and a hydraulic motor system operatively connected to the rotor drive system. A gas turbine engine is operatively connected to the hydraulic motor system for starting the gas turbine engine. A method for starting an engine includes initiating single-engine-operation on a multi-engine aircraft. Single-engine operation includes operating a first engine and powering down a second engine. The method includes running a hydraulic motor system. The hydraulic motor system is driven by the rotor drive system and is operatively connected to the second engine. The method includes identifying a need to start the second engine and starting the second engine using the hydraulic motor system.

Systems and methods for starting an engine

A control system for an in-flight engine restart system of a rotorcraft includes an engine control unit that controls and detects status of an engine. The control system also includes a flight control computer that communicates with the engine control unit, an engine operation control system, and a pilot interface including pilot controls. The engine operation control system includes a processor that initiates a health check of the in-flight engine restart system to determine an in-flight engine restart system status. The engine operation control system processes engine mode of operation commands to establish an engine mode of operation, and delivers commands to aspects of the in-flight engine restart system including the engine control unit based on processing of the engine mode of operation commands. The engine operation control system reports the in-flight engine restart system status and results of the engine mode of operation commands to the flight control computer.

Control system for rotorcraft in-flight engine restarting

A rotorcraft includes at least one first engine operatively connected to a first rotor, and a second engine operatively connected to at least one of a second rotor or an electrical generator for driving an electrical system, wherein the second engine is a different size than the first engine. The second engine can be smaller than the at least one first engine, for example.

Engine systems for rotorcraft

Embodiments are directed to selecting, by a computing device comprising a processor, the size of at least one prime mover associated with an aircraft to satisfy a baseline power requirement for operation of the aircraft during a steady state load condition, selecting at least one power source configuration to supplement power provided by the at least one prime mover during a transient load condition associated with the operation of the aircraft, and selecting, by the computing device, a parameter of the at least one power source configuration to provide a total power in an amount that is greater than a threshold during the transient condition.

Supplemental power for reduction of prime mover

One aspect is an electrical augmentation system for a gas turbine engine. The electrical augmentation system includes an electric motor operably coupled to a shaft of the gas turbine engine, and an energy storage device operable to provide a temporary increased current source to the electric motor. The electrical augmentation system includes a control system having a torque demand anticipation circuit operable to determine an anticipated torque increase condition for the gas turbine engine. Based on the anticipated torque increase condition, the torque demand anticipation circuit commands a temporary torque increase by the electric motor using the energy storage device.

Electrical augmentation of a gas turbine engine

An electrified propulsion system for a rotary wing aircraft includes a flight control computer that receives a signal indicative of a power demand on an engine; an engine control system that is in communication with the engine and is configured to control operation of the engine at a selected operating point; a generator that is in mechanical communication with the engine and is configured to receive mechanical power from the engine and convert the mechanical power to electrical power; an electric motor that is in electrical communication with the generator and is configured to receive the electric power; and a rotor that is in mechanical communication with the electric motor; wherein the electric motor is configured to control rotation and provide the mechanical power demand of the rotor at the selected operating point in response to the received signal.

Electrified rotorcraft

A torque converter for converting torque between an input shaft and an output shaft includes an impeller operably connected to the input shaft and rotatable therewith. The torque converter further includes a turbine operably connected to the output shaft and rotatable therewith. A fluid flow system directs a flow of motive fluid through the impeller and through the turbine to drive rotation of the output shaft relative to the input shaft. A lockup mechanism is engageable to urge rotation of the output shaft at an output shaft rotational speed identical to an input shaft rotational speed. A switching module controls an actuation system to urge engagement of the lockup mechanism.

Torque converter for rotorcraft

A fluid cooled system includes a first heat generating component. A first airflow pathway directs a first flow of air across a first heat exchanger. A second airflow pathway directs a second flow of air across a second heat exchanger. A first working fluid is flowed from the first heat generating component, through the first heat exchanger and through the second heat exchanger and returned to the first heat generating component.

Redundant cooling for fluid cooled systems

An engine starting system for a rotary wing aircraft includes a controller that receives a signal indicative of a start command for an engine, a transmission input module that is mechanically coupled to a transmission system and an accessory gearbox and a starter motor that is mechanically coupled to a compressor drive shaft of the engine. Also, a method for restarting an engine in flight includes receiving by a controller a signal indicative of a start command for the engine, determining by the controller that an overrunning clutch is coupled to the engine, transmitting by a transmission system motive power to the engine in response to the determining that the overrunning clutch is coupled to the engine and driving via a compressor drive shaft a compressor section of the engine according to a design speed.

In-flight mechanically assisted turbine engine starting system

A rotary wing aircraft propulsion system includes an engine, a heat exchanger cooling a fluid from the engine and a thermoelectric generator in thermal communication with the fluid to generate electrical power. The thermoelectric generator provides electrical power to at least one aircraft component.

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Stratford, CT, United States of America

Mark Denton Bystry