Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T07:43:39.908Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Modern Solutions to Coupling and Transmission Problems of Aircraft Engines

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

Marcel Bruyère
Marcel Bruyère*
Affiliation:
SEM Hispano Suiza
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

After a brief review of the classification of the couplings from the kinematic and mechanical points of view, the problem of aircraft engine Interconnection is introduced, together with some solutions which have made it possible to overcome the difficulty presented by the joint, at the expense, however, of some other mechanical requirements. The troubles experienced with couplings are to be blamed on the following three aspects of the conventional coupling designs: the use of gear-tooth couplings, sliding splined shaft arrangements, and the use of couplings of excessive weight. Possible improvements in the conventional designs using splined shafts are described, also the correct means of ensuring lubrication and the possibility of avoiding the need of lubrication by use of elastic distortion. Some Information is given about the effect of materials to be used for joint faces. The author then deals with coupling systems which are essentially based on the elastic property of materials. Three systems are investigated: flexible shafts, diaphragms and flexible couplings. Although flexible shafts are excellent for small misalignments, they do not permit axial movements of which diaphragms and flexible couplings are capable. The author then deals with sliding motions by recirculation of rollers which considerably extend the possibilities of axial movement. While couplings are devices normally intended to (ink up adjacent units, they become transmissions when units are some distance apart, and the typical feature of transmissions is that they require to be supported on one or more bearings. Straight and curved transmissions are presented, together with a brief survey of the following problems:

Torsional and bending strength, critical speeds, bearings, damping, loads on attachment points, effect of high and low temperatures, selection of materials, end couplings.

Typical test results are given, including those for the Breguet 941 curved transmission which has been run for 17 000 hours, that is 3.6 X 1010 revolutions, with only one relubrication at 10 000 hours. A short length instructional film showed the operation of a flexible bearing under critical speed conditions (this bearing is a part of the Breguet 941 curved transmission), and also demonstrated the endurance of the joints using sliding-type flexible couplings.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 69 , Issue 654 , June 1965 , pp. 365 - 379
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1965

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Anderson, J. H. Turbocompressor Drive Couplings. Journal of Engineering for Power, January 1962.Google Scholar
2.Marin, J. Design for Fatigue Loading. Machine Design, 6th July 1961.Google Scholar
3.Gough, H. J. and Clenshaw, W. J.Some Experiments on the Resistance of Metals to Fatigue under Combined Stresses. R and M. HMSO, London, 1951.Google Scholar
4.Bruyère, M.High Power Flexible Transmissions. Technique et Science Aéronautiques et Spatiales, Tome6, 1962.Google Scholar
5.Rothfuss, N. B. High Speed Power Couplings. Product Engineering, 18th February 1963.Google Scholar
6.Bruyère, M. New Flexible Power Transmissions for Aircraft. Société des Ingénieurs de l'Automobile, 10th June 1963.Google Scholar
7.Woorhes, J. E., Mellor, C. C. and Dubenski, R. D. The Control of Shaft Vibrations at Hypercritical Speeds. ASME, March 1964.Google Scholar
8.Julien, A., Bouchard, R., Guimbretière, P., Treyer, A., Furia, A. and Morlon, J. Development of Transmission Joints and Couplings. Société des Ingénieurs de l'Automobile, 21st April 1964.Google Scholar
9.Bruyère, M.Contribution to the Study of Power Losses in Spiral Bevel Gear Assembly. Association Technique Maritime et Aeronautique, Paris, May 1963.Google Scholar