IP Library Granted Patent US 11,970,283
Granted Patent B2
US 11,970,283 · App. 18/115,265 · Granted Apr 30, 2024

Dual motor input with overrunning clutch

Inventors: Kirk L. Groninga (Keller, TX); Daniel B. Robertson (Southlake, TX)
Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
B64D35/08B64C27/12B64C27/28B64D27/24F16H1/28F16H57/0025H02K7/116
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,970,283
App. No.
18/115,265
Granted
Apr 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dual-motor system includes a first motor rotationally coupled to a first drive shaft. The first drive shaft is coupled to a common shaft couplable to a rotationally driveable member. The dual-motor system also includes a second motor rotationally coupled to a second drive shaft. The second drive shaft is coupled to the common shaft. The first motor and the second motor are coaxially aligned with the first drive shaft passing through the second drive shaft.

Claims (34)

1. A dual-motor system comprising:

a first motor rotationally coupled to a first drive shaft operable to drive a rotationally driveable member;

a second motor rotationally coupled to a second drive shaft, the second drive shaft operable to drive the rotationally drivable member; and

wherein the first motor and the second motor are coaxially aligned with the first drive shaft and the first drive shaft passes through the second drive shaft.

2. The dual-motor system of claim 1 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are electric motors.

3. The dual-motor system of claim 1 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are hydraulic motors.

4. The dual-motor system of claim 1 , wherein the first drive shaft is operable to drive the rotationally drivable member via a first overrunning clutch and the second drive shaft is operable to drive the rotationally drivable member via a second overrunning clutch.

5. The dual-motor system of claim 1 , wherein the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft are rotationally coupled to an output shaft through a gear set.

6. The dual-motor system of claim 5 , wherein the gear set is a planetary gear set.

7. The dual-motor system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft are rotationally coupled to an output shaft through a gear set; and

the first motor and the second motor are electric motors.

8. The dual-motor system of claim 1 , wherein the first drive shaft is coaxial with the first motor and the second drive shaft is coaxial with the second motor.

9. The dual-motor system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first drive shaft is a motor shaft of the first motor; and

the second drive shaft is a motor shaft of the second motor.

10. An aircraft comprising:

a rotor;

a first motor rotationally coupled to a first drive shaft and operable to drive the rotor;

a second motor rotationally coupled to a second drive shaft and operable to drive the rotor; and

wherein the first motor and the second motor are coaxially aligned with the first drive shaft and the first drive shaft passes through the second drive shaft.

11. The aircraft of claim 10 , wherein the rotor comprises blades.

12. The aircraft of claim 10 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are electric motors.

13. The aircraft of claim 10 , wherein the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft are operable to drive the rotor through a gear set.

14. The aircraft of claim 13 , wherein the gear set is a planetary gear set.

15. The aircraft of claim 13 , wherein the first drive shaft is operable to drive the rotor via a first overrunning clutch and the second drive shaft is operable to drive the rotor via a second overrunning clutch.

16. The aircraft of claim 14 , wherein the first drive shaft is coaxial with the first motor and the second drive shaft is coaxial with the second motor.

17. An aircraft comprising:

a rotor coupled to a planetary gear set;

a first electric motor rotationally coupled to a first drive shaft, the first drive shaft coupled to a first overrunning clutch; and

a second electric motor rotationally coupled to a second drive shaft, the second drive shaft coupled to a second overrunning clutch, wherein the first motor and the second motor are coaxially aligned with the first drive shaft and the first drive shaft passes through the second drive shaft.

18. The aircraft of claim 17 , wherein the rotor is a tail rotor.

19. The aircraft of claim 17 , wherein the rotor is in a ducted fan.

20. The aircraft of claim 17 , wherein the rotor comprises blades.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2023
From: BELL TEXTRON INC.
To: BELL TEXTRON RHODE ISLAND INC.
Reel/Frame 062875/0592 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2023
From: BELL TEXTRON RHODE ISLAND INC.
To: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 062875/0613 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2023
From: GRONINGA, KIRK L.; ROBERTSON, DANIEL B.
To: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
Reel/Frame 062875/0632 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 3, 2023
From: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
To: BELL TEXTRON INC.
Reel/Frame 062954/0578 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16414402 · May 16, 2019
Related Publication 20230202668A1 · Jun 29, 2023