Torque multiplier for aircraft propeller

US5154372A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Peter Hora · Schrobenhausen, DE
• David Edward Bulman · Cincinnati, US
• Thomas C. Hermans · Cincinnati, US
• Thomas G. Wakeman · Sharonville, US
• Walter D. Howard · Cincinnati, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 23, 1990
• Grant date: Oct 13, 1992
• Expiry date: Jul 23, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T50/60
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention concerns aircraft propellers of the variable pitch type. Each propeller blade is carried by a trunnion which is rotatably mounted to a common ring. Each trunnion contains a reduction gear set which is driven by a radial shaft. The reduction gear sets multiply the torque applied by the shafts, thus allowing shafts of reduced diameter to be used. The reduced diameter is important when the shafts must pass through a turbine flowpath, and thus be concealed within turbine blades. The reduced diameter shafts can be easily concealed within turbine blades without redesigning and compromising blade aerodynamics.