GEARED MOTOR FOR AN AIRCRAFT

By directly fixing or carrying the rotor of the electric motor on the sun gear of the planetary reducer, the geared motor design addresses the bulkiness and heaviness issues, resulting in a more compact and efficient motor suitable for aircraft use.

FR3155570A1Active Publication Date: 2025-05-23SAFRAN TRANSMISSION SYST +1
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Patent Information

Application Number
FR2023012787
Authority / Receiving Office
FR · FR
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-11-21
Publication Date
2025-05-23
Estimated Expiration
2043-11-21

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing geared motors for aircraft are bulky and heavy due to the need for an intermediate connecting or coupling part between the electric motor and the mechanical reducer, which hampers compactness and efficiency.

Method used

A geared motor design where the rotor of the electric motor is directly fixed or carried by the sun gear of the planetary reducer, eliminating the need for an intermediate connecting part, thereby enhancing compactness and reducing mass.

Benefits of technology

The solution results in a more compact and lightweight geared motor, improving its efficiency and reducing the overall size and weight, which is particularly advantageous for aircraft applications.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Geared motor (10), in particular for an aircraft, this geared motor (10) comprising an electric motor (12) and a mechanical reducer (14), the reducer (14) being of the planetary type and comprising a sun gear (26) rotatable about an axis (A), a crown gear (28) rotatable about the axis (A), and satellites (30) interposed between the sun gear (26) and the crown gear (28) and meshed with the sun gear (26) and the crown gear (28), the satellites (30) being carried by a planet carrier (32) which is fixed, the electric motor (12) being aligned on the axis (A) and comprising a rotor (16) and a stator (18), characterized in that the rotor (16) is directly fixed to the sun gear (26) or directly carried by the sun gear (26). Figure for the abstract: Figure 1
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Description

Title of the invention: REDUCED MOTOR FOR AN AIRCRAFT Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates in particular to a geared motor, in particular for an aircraft, as well as an aircraft comprising such a geared motor. Technical approval plan

[0002] The state of the art includes in particular documents FR-A1-2 987 416, FR-Al-2 853 382, ​​FR-A1-3 041 054, FR-A1-3 073 915, FR-A1-3 084 428.

[0003] The combination of an electric motor and a mechanical reducer forms a geared motor.

[0004] The role of a mechanical reducer is to modify the speed ratio and the torque between the input axis and the output axis of a mechanism.

[0005] New generations of dual-flow turbomachines, particularly those with a high bypass ratio, include a mechanical reducer to drive the shaft of a fan (also called a "fan"). Usually, the reducer aims to transform the so-called fast rotation speed of the shaft of a power turbine into a slower rotation speed for the shaft driving the fan.

[0006] Such a reducer comprises a central pinion, called a sun gear, a crown gear and pinions called satellites, which are engaged between the sun gear and the crown gear. The satellites are held by a frame called a planet carrier. The sun gear, the crown gear and the planet carrier are planetary gears because their axes of revolution coincide with the longitudinal axis of the turbomachine. The satellites each have a different axis of revolution and are equally distributed over the same operating diameter around the axis of the planetary gears. These axes are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the turbomachine.

[0007] There are several reducer architectures. In the state of the art of double-flow turbomachines, the reducers are of the planetary or epicyclic type. In other similar applications, there are so-called differential or "compound" architectures.

[0008] - on a planetary reducer, the planet carrier is fixed and the crown constitutes the output shaft of the device which rotates in the opposite direction to the solar.

[0009] - on an epicyclic reducer, the crown is fixed and the planet carrier constitutes the output shaft of the device which rotates in the same direction as the solar.

[0010] - on a differential reducer, no element is fixed in rotation. The crown rotates in the opposite direction of the solar and the satellite carrier.

[0011] Reducers can be composed of one or more meshing stages. This meshing is ensured in different ways such as by contact, by friction or even by magnetic field. There are several types of contact meshing such as with straight or herringbone teeth.

[0012] A turbomachine rotor, such as a propeller, can be driven by an output shaft of an electric motor via a part called a wheel. In this configuration called "direct drive", the propeller is driven at the same speed as the rotor.

[0013] In the case of using a reducer, the output torque of the reducer is transmitted by a similar part (wheel) to the propeller. This configuration is relatively heavy and bulky, in particular because of the wheel which forms a connecting part.

[0014] The present invention provides a solution to this problem, which is simple, effective and economical. Summary of the invention

[0015] The invention relates to a geared motor for an aircraft, this geared motor comprising an electric motor and a mechanical reducer, the reducer being of the planetary type and comprising a mobile sun gear rotating about an axis, a crown gear rotating about the axis, and satellites interposed between the sun gear and the crown gear and meshed with the sun gear and the crown gear, the satellites being carried by a planet carrier which is fixed, the electric motor being centered on the axis and comprising a rotor and a stator, characterized in that the rotor is directly fixed to the sun gear or is directly carried by the sun gear.

[0016] The particularity of the invention is linked to the fact that the rotor is directly fixed to the solar or carried by the solar, that is to say that there is no intermediate connecting or coupling part as in the prior art. This is particularly advantageous for reducing the size and mass of the geared motor, and therefore increasing its compactness.

[0017] The present invention is compatible: - a single-stage or multi-stage reducer; - straight, helical or herringbone teeth; - any type of single-piece or cage and cage-carrier type planet carrier; - any type of satellite guide bearings, such as rolling elements or hydrodynamic.

[0018] The geared motor according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation from one another, or in combination with one another; these characteristics having in particular the advantage of making the geared motor more compact: • the solar has a general L or C shape in axial section and comprises an internal cylindrical wall which includes or carries external teeth, a radial annular wall which extends from the internal cylindrical wall radially outwards, and possibly a cylindrical wall external which extends around the internal cylindrical wall and which is connected to the external periphery of the radial annular wall, the rotor being directly fixed to the external periphery of the radial annular wall or to the external cylindrical wall, and being directly carried by the external periphery of the radial annular wall or by the external cylindrical wall; the rotor extends around the teeth of the solar; the sun gear has a length or dimension along the axis that is greater than or equal to a length or dimension along the axis of the sun gear teeth; the rotor comprises an annular row of permanent magnets; the geared motor further comprises a first solar guide bearing, which is mounted between the solar and the planet carrier, and a second solar guide bearing, which is mounted between the solar and the crown; the first bearing has a diameter greater than the diameter of the sun gear teeth, and the second bearing has a diameter less than the diameter of the sun gear teeth; the first bearing is carried by the radial annular wall of the solar, and the second bearing is located radially inside the internal cylindrical wall of the solar; the crown has a general L or C shape in axial section and comprises an external cylindrical wall which comprises or carries internal teeth, a radial annular wall which extends radially inwards from the external cylindrical wall, and preferably an internal cylindrical wall which extends radially inside the external cylindrical wall and which is connected to the internal periphery of the radial annular wall; the rotor extends at least partly around the internal teeth of the crown; the geared motor comprises an output shaft which is rotatably coupled by splines to the inner periphery of the radial annular wall of the crown or the inner cylindrical wall of the crown; the planet carrier is fixed to a casing of the geared motor, the stator of the motor being fixed directly to the casing or carried directly by the casing; the casing has a general L or C shape in axial section and comprises an external cylindrical wall which comprises or carries the stator, a radial annular wall which extends radially inwards from the external cylindrical wall, and preferably an internal cylindrical wall which extends radially inside the external cylindrical wall and which is connected to the internal periphery of the radial annular wall; • the geared motor further comprises a guide bearing for the output shaft, this bearing being mounted between the output shaft and the internal periphery of the radial annular wall of the casing or of the internal cylindrical wall of the casing; • the planet carrier is fixed to the radial annular wall of the casing;

[0019] — the solar comprises an external toothing,

[0020] — the crown comprises internal teeth.

[0021] The invention further relates to an aircraft comprising a geared motor as described above for driving a propulsion propeller. Brief description of the figures

[0022] Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment of the invention with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a schematic perspective and axial sectional view of a mo toreducer according to the invention;

[0024] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic axial sectional view of the geared motor of the [Fig.l]. Detailed description of the invention

[0025] [Fig.l] illustrates an embodiment of a geared motor 10 according to the invention, this geared motor being particularly suitable for use in an aircraft.

[0026] The aircraft is for example of the VTOL type, that is to say vertical takeoff and landing. The geared motor 10 can for example be used to drive the propulsion propeller or one of the propulsion propellers of the aircraft.

[0027] The geared motor 10 comprises an electric motor 12 and a mechanical reducer 14.

[0028] The electric motor 12 has an annular shape and is aligned on an axis A, which is a common axis with the reducer 14.

[0029] The electric motor 12 comprises a rotor 16 and a stator 18. In the example shown, the rotor 16 is located radially inside the stator 18.

[0030] The rotor 16 comprises an annular row of permanent magnets 20. These magnets 20 can be separated from each other by spacers 22. The number of magnets 20 can be greater than 20 or 30 for example.

[0031] The stator 18 may comprise an annular row of windings (not shown) which are formed by windings around cores 24. The number of cores 24 is for example equal to the number of permanent magnets 20.

[0032] The reducer 14 is of the planetary type, that is to say that it comprises a movable crown and a fixed planet carrier.

[0033] The reducer 14 comprises a solar 26 mobile in rotation around the axis A, a crown 28 mobile in rotation around this axis A, and satellites 30 interposed between the sun 26 and the crown 28 and meshed with the sun 26 and the crown 28.

[0034] The satellites 30 are carried by a planet carrier 32 which is fixed. Conventionally, each of the satellites 32 is mounted on an axis which forms a smooth bearing or around which a rolling bearing is mounted.

[0035] In the example shown, the solar 26 has a general L or C shape in axial section and comprises:

[0036] - an internal cylindrical wall 26a which comprises or carries an external toothing 33,

[0037] - a radial annular wall 26b which extends from the internal cylindrical wall 26a outwards,

[0038] - and possibly an external cylindrical wall 26c which extends around the wall internal cylindrical 26a and which is connected to the external periphery of the radial wall 26b.

[0039] As seen in the example shown, the rotor 16 is directly fixed to the outer periphery of the radial wall 26b or to the outer cylindrical wall 26c, or the stator 18 is directly carried by the outer periphery of the radial wall 26b or by the outer cylindrical wall 26c.

[0040] It can be seen from the drawings that the rotor 16 can extend around the gear 33 of the stator 26.

[0041] The stator 26 and in particular its outer wall 26c can have a length L1 or dimension along the axis A which is greater than or equal to a length L2 or dimension along the axis A of the gear 33 of the stator 26.

[0042] Advantageously, the motor - reducer 10 comprises a first bearing 34 for guiding the stator 26, which is mounted between the stator 26 and the carrier s 32, and a second bearing 36 for guiding the stator 26, which is mounted between the stator 26 and the crown 28.

[0043] The first bearing 34 preferably has a diameter D1 greater than that D2 of the gear 33 of the stator 26, and the second bearing 36 has a diameter D3 less than that D2 of the gear 33 of the stator 26.

[0044] In the example shown, the first bearing 34 is carried by the radial wall 26b, and the second bearing 36 is located inside the internal cylindrical wall 26c.

[0045] In the example also shown, the crown 28 has a general L or C shape in axial section and comprises:

[0046] - an external cylindrical wall 28a which comprises or carries an internal toothing 38,

[0047] - a radial annular wall 28b which extends from the external cylindrical wall 28a inward,

[0048] - and possibly an internal cylindrical wall 28c which extends inside the external cylindrical wall 28a and which is connected to the internal periphery of the radial wall 28b.

[0049] The rotor 16 may extend at least partly around the internal toothing 38 of the crown 28.

[0050] The geared motor 10 further comprises an output shaft 50 in the example shown, which is rotationally coupled by splines 40 to the internal periphery of the radial wall 28b or to the internal cylindrical wall 28c.

[0051] As in the example shown, the planet carrier 32 is fixed to a casing 42 of the geared motor 10.

[0052] In the example also shown, the planet carrier 32 has a general L-shape in axial section and comprises:

[0053] - an external cylindrical wall 32a, one axial end of which is fixed to the casing 42, and

[0054] - a radial annular wall 32b which extends from the external cylindrical wall 32a inward and which carries the 30 satellites.

[0055] The satellites 30 are interposed axially between the walls 28b and 32b.

[0056] The stator 18 of the motor 12 can be fixed directly to the casing 42 or carried directly by the casing 42.

[0057] The casing 42 may have a general L or C shape in axial section and comprise:

[0058] - an external cylindrical wall 42a,

[0059] - a radial annular wall 42b which extends from the outer cylindrical wall towards the interior,

[0060] - and possibly an internal cylindrical wall 42c which extends inside the external cylindrical wall 42a and which is connected to the internal periphery of the radial wall 42b.

[0061] The geared motor 10 may comprise a bearing 44 for guiding the output shaft 50, this bearing 44 being mounted between the output shaft 50 and the internal periphery of the radial wall 42b or the internal cylindrical wall 42c of the casing 42.

[0062] The planet carrier 32 can be fixed to the radial wall 42b of the casing 42, as in the example shown.

Claims

Claims

1. Geared motor (10) for an aircraft, this geared motor (10) comprising an electric motor (12) and a mechanical reducer (14), the reducer (14) being of the planetary type and comprising a sun gear (26) rotatable about an axis (A), a crown gear (28) rotatable about the axis (A), and satellites (30) interposed between the sun gear (26) and the crown gear (28) and meshed with the sun gear (26) and the crown gear (28), the satellites (30) being carried by a planet carrier (32) which is fixed, the electric motor (12) being centered on the axis (A) and comprising a rotor (16) and a stator (18), characterized in that the rotor (16) is directly fixed to the sun gear (26) or is directly carried by the sun gear (26).

2. Geared motor (10) according to claim 1, in which the solar (26) has in axial section a general L or C shape and comprises an internal cylindrical wall (26a) which comprises or carries an external toothing (33), a radial annular wall (26b) which extends from the internal cylindrical wall (26a) radially outwards, and preferably an external cylindrical wall (26c) which extends around the internal cylindrical wall (26a) and which is connected to the external periphery of the radial annular wall (26b), the rotor (16) being directly fixed to the external periphery of the radial annular wall (26b) or to the external cylindrical wall (26c), and being directly carried by the external periphery of the radial annular wall (26b) or by the external cylindrical wall (26c).

3. Geared motor (10) according to claim 2, in which the rotor (16) extends around the teeth (33) of the sun (26).

4. Geared motor (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the sun gear (26) has a length (L1) or dimension along the axis (A) which is greater than or equal to a length (D2) or dimension along the axis (A) of the teeth (33) of the sun gear (26).

5. Geared motor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the rotor (16) comprises an annular row of permanent magnets (20).

6. Geared motor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a first bearing (34) for guiding the sun (26), which is mounted between the sun (26) and the planet carrier (32), and a second bearing (36) for guiding the sun (26), which is mounted between the sun (26) and the ring (28).

7. Geared motor (10) according to claim 6, in which the first bearing (34) has a diameter (D1) greater than the diameter (D2) of the teeth (33) of the sun gear (26), and the second bearing (36) has a diameter (D3) less than the diameter of the teeth (33) of the sun gear (26).

8. Geared motor (10) according to claim 6 or 7, dependent on one of claims 2 to 4, in which the first bearing (34) is carried by the radial annular wall (26b) of the solar (26), and the second bearing (36) is located radially inside the internal cylindrical wall (26c) of the solar (26).

9. Geared motor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the crown (28) has a general L or C shape in axial section and comprises an external cylindrical wall (28a) which comprises or carries internal teeth (38), a radial annular wall (28b) which extends radially inwards from the external cylindrical wall (28a), and preferably an internal cylindrical wall (28c) which extends radially inside the external cylindrical wall (28a) and which is connected to the internal periphery of the radial annular wall (28b).

10. Geared motor (10) according to claim 9, in which the rotor (16) extends at least partly around the internal teeth (38) of the crown (28).

11. Geared motor (10) according to claim 9 or 10, comprising an output shaft (50) which is rotatably coupled by splines (40) to the inner periphery of the radial annular wall (28b) of the crown (28) or of the inner cylindrical wall (28c) of the crown (28).

12. Geared motor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the planet carrier (32) is fixed to a casing (42) of the geared motor, the stator (18) of the motor (14) being fixed directly to the casing (42) or carried directly by the casing (42).

13. Geared motor (10) according to claim 12, in which the casing (42) has in axial section a general L or C shape and comprises an external cylindrical wall (42a) which comprises or carries the stator (18), a radial annular wall (42b) which extends radially inwards from the external cylindrical wall (42a), and preferably an internal cylindrical wall (42c) which extends radially inside the external cylindrical wall (42a) and which is connected to the internal periphery of the radial annular wall (42b).

14. Geared motor (10) according to claim 13, dependent on claims 11 and 12, further comprising a guide bearing (44) the output shaft (50), this bearing (44) being mounted between the output shaft (50) and the internal periphery of the radial annular wall (42b) of the housing (42) or of the internal cylindrical wall (42c) of the housing (42).

15. Geared motor (10) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the planet carrier (32) is fixed to the radial annular wall (42b) of the casing (42).

16. Aircraft, comprising a geared motor (10) according to one of the preceding claims for driving a propulsion propeller.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Flexible connection between the planet carrier and the fixed support of a speed reducer

    FR2853382A1

  • DEVICE FOR LUBRICATING AN EPICYCLOIDAL REDUCTION GEAR

    FR2987416A1

  • dispositif D'ALIMENTATION EN HUILE POUR UN REDUCTEUR A TRAIN EPICYCLOIDAL.

    FR3041054A1

  • TURBOMACHINE PLANETARY OR EPICYCLOIDAL GEAR REDUCER CAGE

    FR3073915A1

  • TURBOMACHINE PLANETARY OR EPICYCLOIDAL GEAR REDUCER CAGE

    FR3084428A1