Brakes – Wheel – Frictional and positive
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-15
2001-07-17
Oberleitner, Robert J. (Department: 3613)
Brakes
Wheel
Frictional and positive
C188S031000, C188S069000, C310S077000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260667
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a generator including a rotor containment brake for applying a braking force to a rotor and to a process for operating the generator, including applying a braking force to the rotor upon bearing failure.
Generators for generating electricity in aircraft applications are generally operated at high speeds, e.g., in the range of 12,000 to 30,000 rpm. At such high operating speeds, a failure of the rotor bearings can cause catastrophic damage, e.g., by having parts thrown through the housing, thereby damaging other aircraft parts. It is known in the art to disconnect rotor shafts from the driving source, e.g., a gear box shaft, either through use of a shear section or by a non-shear type disconnect, the latter of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,045.
However, the disconnect systems known in the art do not operate instantaneously. That is, there is a delay between the occurrence of bearing failure and the disconnect. During the delay, there is a possibility the rotor parts will not be sufficiently contained within the generator housing. Accordingly, there is still a need to provide a mechanism for restricting prolonged rotor rotation immediately after bearing failure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a generator and process for operating a generator in which, upon a bearing failure, a braking force is applied to the rotor shaft responsive to the bearing failure. Preferably, the rotor shaft at the anti-drive end is hollow and the brake is provided in the hollow of the rotor shaft. The rotor can include a plate member extending radially inwardly from the rotor shaft inside of the hollow at the anti-drive end towards the longitudinal axis, with the brake applying the braking force to the plate member. In a preferred aspect, the brake includes a cylindrical support splined to the housing and extending into the hollow in the anti-drive end of the rotor shaft, a carrier plate fixedly connected to the support and extending radially from the support towards the rotor shaft, a screw thread provided on the support, and a threaded plate mounted on the screw thread, the threaded plate extending radially from the support towards the rotor shaft and being spaced from the carrier plate. Rotation of the threaded plate about the support causes the threaded plate to move towards the carrier plate, pressing the plate member of the rotor between the carrier plate and the threaded plate, thereby applying braking force thereto.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3080031 (1963-03-01), Young
patent: 3220218 (1965-11-01), Rio et al.
patent: 3620045 (1971-11-01), Butterfield
patent: 3620046 (1971-11-01), Wenzel et al.
patent: 4095681 (1978-06-01), David
patent: 4846313 (1989-07-01), Sharp
patent: 5982063 (1999-11-01), Lutz et al.
Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus
Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
Oberleitner Robert J.
Williams Thomas J.
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