Patent Application
20200384975
Lightweight gearboxes are used in the propulsion systems for various vehicles, including air cushion vehicles. Traditional gearbox systems for such vehicles do not allow maintenance personnel to select the direction of the lift fan shafting prior to installation or, after installation into the vehicle, without specialized tools. Such gearboxes are also not easily reconfigured to be moved from the port side of the vehicle to the starboard side, or vice versa.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary, and the foregoing Background, is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A lightweight gearbox control mechanism is presented that may be used in various applications, including air cushion vehicles. Embodiments of the gearbox are manually operated gearbox and allow maintenance personnel to select the direction of the lift fan shafting prior to installation. The present technology permits the gearbox to be moved from a port side of the vehicle to a starboard side of the vehicle, and vice versa, without the use of specialized tools.
Power is delivered to the gearbox through a lift fan drive driveshaft and a propulsor driveshaft. The lift fan section of the gearbox is driven by a combining section through a lift fan interconnect driveshaft. The basic design of the gearbox is functionally identical and functionally interchangeable.
These and other aspects of the present system and method will be apparent after consideration of the Detailed Description and Figures herein. It is to be understood, however, that the scope of the invention shall be determined by the claims as issued and not by whether given subject matter addresses any or all issues noted in the Background or includes any features or aspects recited in this Summary.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention, including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
With reference to
One embodiment of the gears and components that make up the lift fan section 18 are depicted in
The direction of rotation of the lift fan is determined, in particular embodiments, by the location that the lift fan interconnect driveshaft 22 is installed, which selects the direction of rotation of a driving gear from the combining section 16. The unused location of the lift fan interconnect driveshaft 22 allows the opposite rotating gear to freewheel and operate unloaded. Alternatively, the lift fan interconnect driveshaft 22 can be removed entirely to completely disengage the lift fan output shaft 12 from the power train. The rotation of each gear is illustrated in
With reference to
With reference to
Because of its basic design, the gearbox 10 is functionally identical and functionally interchangeable. The gearbox 10 is capable of being reconfigured to move it from the port side to the starboard side of the vehicle and vice versa. The remaining elements of the basic gearbox design is not described herein because those of skill in the art will recognize their configuration within the gearbox 10, as depicted in
Although the technology been described in language that is specific to certain structures, materials, and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures, materials, and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc. used in the specification (other than the claims) are understood as modified in all instances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification or claims which is modified by the term “approximately” should at least be construed in light of the number of recited significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass and provide support for claims that recite any and all subranges or any and all individual values subsumed therein. For example, a stated range of 1 to 10 should be considered to include and provide support for claims that recite any and all subranges or individual values that are between and/or inclusive of the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 5.5 to 10, 2.34 to 3.56, and so forth) or any values from 1 to 10 (e.g., 3, 5.8, 9.9994, and so forth).
The present application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/858,497, titled “Gearbox for Air Cushion Vehicles”, filed Jun. 7, 2019, which is incorporated herein as if set out in full.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62858497 | Jun 2019 | US |
