IP Library Granted Patent US 11,142,329
Granted Patent B2
US 11,142,329 · App. 16/812,862 · Granted Oct 12, 2021

Pre-start motoring synchronization for multiple engines

Inventors: Matthew D. Teicholz (Mystic, CT); James W. Dunn (South Windsor, CT); Christopher P. Kmetz (Amston, CT); Louis A. Celiberti (Glastonbury, CT)
Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
B64D31/02B64D27/12F01D13/003F01D19/00F01D21/003F01D25/34F02C7/26F02C7/268F02C7/275F02C9/42F05D2220/323F05D2260/85F05D2270/13F05D2270/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,142,329
App. No.
16/812,862
Granted
Oct 12, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aspect includes a system for pre-start motoring control for multiple engines of an aircraft. The system includes a first engine starting system of a first engine and a controller. The controller is operable to control a motoring time of the first engine starting system relative to one or more other engine starting systems of one or more other engines of the aircraft by adjusting the motoring time of the first engine starting system within a tolerance of the motoring time of the one or more other engine starting systems in a pre-start motoring sequence.

Claims (29)

1. A system for pre-start motoring control for multiple engines of an aircraft, the system comprising:

a first engine starting system of a first engine; and

a controller operable to control a motoring time of the first engine starting system relative to one or more other engine starting systems of one or more other engines of the aircraft by adjusting the motoring time of the first engine starting system within a tolerance of a motoring time of the one or more other engine starting systems in a pre-start motoring sequence based on comparing the motoring time of the first engine starting system with the motoring time of the one or more other engine starting systems.

2. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the motoring time of the first engine starting system is controlled relative to the one or more other engine starting systems by comparing a first value of the motoring time of the first engine starting system with a first value of the motoring time of the one or more other engine starting systems and selecting larger value as the motoring time for the first engine starting system and the one or more other engine starting systems.

3. The system as in claim 2 , wherein the controller provides the first value of the motoring time of the first engine starting system to one or more other controllers and receives the first value of the motoring time of the one or more other engine starting systems from the one or more other controllers.

4. The system as in claim 2 , wherein the controller maintains the motoring time of the first engine starting system as the first value of the motoring time of the first engine starting system based on determining that the first value of the motoring time of the first engine starting system is greater than or equal to the first value of the motoring time of the one or more other engine starting systems.

5. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the pre-start motoring sequence comprises simultaneous motoring of the first engine and the one or more other engines.

6. The system as is claim 1 , wherein the pre-start motoring sequence comprises sequential motoring of the first engine and the one or more other engines.

7. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the first engine starting system to maintain a starting spool speed of the first engine below a resonance speed during the motoring time of the first engine starting system.

8. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operable to validate the motoring time of the one or more other engine starting systems and range limit the motoring time of the first engine starting system prior to performing motoring of the first engine during the pre-start motoring sequence.

9. A system of an aircraft, the system comprising:

a first engine system comprising a first gas turbine engine, a first starter, and a first controller operable to control the first starter to perform motoring of the first gas turbine engine in a pre-start motoring sequence; and

a second engine system comprising a second gas turbine engine, a second starter, and a second controller operable to control the second starter to perform motoring of the second gas turbine engine in the pre-start motoring sequence, wherein a motoring time of the first gas turbine engine is controlled within a tolerance of a motoring time of the second gas turbine engine by adjusting the motoring time of the first gas turbine engine relative to the motoring time of the second gas turbine engine based on comparing the motoring time of the first gas turbine engine with the motoring time of the second gas turbine engine.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein at least one engine control interface coordinates the motoring time of the first gas turbine engine relative to the motoring time of the second gas turbine engine.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first controller and the second controller exchange first values of the motoring time of the first gas turbine engine and the motoring time of the second gas turbine engine and select a larger value as the motoring time of the first gas turbine engine and the motoring time of the second gas turbine engine.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the pre-start motoring sequence comprises simultaneous motoring of the first gas turbine engine and the second gas turbine engine.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the pre-start motoring sequence comprises sequential motoring of the first gas turbine engine and the second gas turbine engine.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the motoring time of the first gas turbine engine and the motoring time of the second gas turbine engine are validated and range limited prior to performing motoring of the first gas turbine engine and the second gas turbine engine during the pre-start motoring sequence.

15. A method for pre-start motoring control for multiple engines of an aircraft, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller, a motoring time of a first engine starting system of a first engine;

comparing, by the controller, the motoring time of the first engine starting system with a motoring time of one or more other engine starting systems of one or more other engines of the aircraft; and

controlling the motoring time of the first engine starting system relative to a tolerance of the motoring time of the one or more other engine starting systems by adjusting the motoring time of the first engine starting system relative to the one or more other engine starting systems in a pre-start motoring sequence based on comparing the motoring time of the first engine starting system with the motoring time of the one or more other engine starting systems.

16. The method as in claim 15 , wherein the controller maintains the motoring time of the first engine starting system as a first value of the motoring time of the first engine starting system based on determining that the first value of the motoring time of the first engine starting system is greater than or equal to a first value of the motoring time of the one or more other engine starting systems.

17. The method as in claim 15 , wherein the pre-start motoring sequence comprises simultaneous motoring of the first engine and the one or more other engines.

18. The method as in claim 15 , wherein the pre-start motoring sequence comprises sequential motoring of the first engine and the one or more other engines.

19. The method as in claim 15 , further comprising controlling the first engine starting system to maintain a starting spool speed of the first engine below a resonance speed during the motoring time of the first engine starting system, and the motoring time of the first engine starting system is determined by the controller using a bowed rotor start risk model based on a target speed, a temperature at shutdown, a time of engine shutdown, a current engine temperature, and an ambient temperature.

20. The method as in claim 15 , further comprising:

validating the motoring time of the one or more other engine starting systems; and

range limiting the motoring time of the first engine starting system prior to performing motoring of the first engine during the pre-start motoring sequence.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2020
From: TEICHOLZ, MATTHEW D.; DUNN, JAMES W.; KMETZ, CHRISTOPHER P.; CELIBERTI, LOUIS A.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052054/0598 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15216233 · Jul 21, 2016
Related Publication 20200207482A1 · Jul 2, 2020