Maintaining drive system alignment in tiltrotor aircraft
US9663225B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 2017 |
| Grant date | May 30, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/1966
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A drive system for a tiltrotor aircraft includes a first gearbox rotatably mounted to the airframe and rotatable about a longitudinal axis to operate the tiltrotor aircraft between helicopter and airplane modes. A second gearbox extends generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the first gearbox. A common shaft, rotatable about the longitudinal axis, transfers torque from an output gear of the second gearbox to an input gear of the first gearbox. A support assembly couples the second gearbox to the airframe and includes a fixed joint proximate the longitudinal axis, a first directional reacting joint remote from the longitudinal axis providing a first radial growth degree of freedom to the second gearbox and a second directional reacting joint remote from the longitudinal axis providing a second radial growth degree of freedom to the second gearbox that is not parallel with the first radial growth degree of freedom.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.