Mechanical disconnects for parallel power lanes in hybrid electric propulsion systems

Abstract

A hybrid propulsion system for driving an air mover about a rotation axis, has: a heat engine driving a heat engine shaft; an electric motor driving a motor shaft, the heat engine and the electric motor being axially offset from one another relative to the rotation axis; a gearbox having at least one input in driving engagement with the heat engine shaft and the motor shaft, and an output drivingly engageable to the air mover; and a disconnect mechanism disposed between one of the heat engine and the electric motor and the gearbox, the disconnect mechanism having an engaged configuration in which the one of the heat engine and the electric motor is drivingly engaged to the gearbox through the disconnect mechanism and a disengaged configuration in which the disconnect mechanism disengages the one of the heat engine and the electric motor from the gearbox.

1 . A hybrid propulsion system for driving an air mover about a rotation axis, comprising: a heat engine driving a heat engine shaft; an electric motor driving a motor shaft, the heat engine and the electric motor being axially offset from one another relative to the rotation axis; a gearbox having at least one input in driving engagement with the heat engine shaft and the motor shaft, and an output drivingly engageable to the air mover; and a disconnect mechanism disposed between one of the heat engine and the electric motor and the gearbox, the disconnect mechanism having an engaged configuration in which the one of the heat engine and the electric motor is drivingly engaged to the gearbox through the disconnect mechanism and a disengaged configuration in which the disconnect mechanism disengages the one of the heat engine and the electric motor from the gearbox. 
     
     
         2 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat engine shaft and the motor shaft are concentric. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is disposed axially between the gearbox and the heat engine relative to the rotation axis. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 3 , wherein the one of the heat engine and the electric motor is the electric motor, the disconnect mechanism configured to selectively engage or disengage the electric motor from the gearbox. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 4 , wherein the motor shaft is disposed around the heat engine shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor shaft and the heat engine shaft are combined as a single common shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 6 , wherein the electric motor includes a rotor drivingly engageable to the single common shaft through the disconnect mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 7 , comprising a second disconnect mechanism between the electric motor and the heat engine, the second disconnect mechanism having a second engaged configuration in which the second disconnect mechanism drivingly engages the heat engine to the gearbox and a second disengaged configuration in which the second disconnect mechanism disengages the heat engine from the gearbox. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 1 , comprising a second disconnect mechanism between the other of the heat engine and the electric motor and the gearbox, the second disconnect mechanism having a second engaged configuration in which the second disconnect mechanism drivingly engages the other of the heat engine and the electric motor to the gearbox and a second disengaged configuration in which the second disconnect mechanism disengages the other of the heat engine and the electric motor from the gearbox. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 1 , comprising a turbine having an inlet fluidly connected to an exhaust of the heat engine, the turbine having a turbine shaft drivingly engaged to the heat engine shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 10 , comprising a turbine gearbox, the turbine shaft drivingly engaged to the heat engine shaft through the turbine gearbox. 
     
     
         12 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 10 , wherein the heat engine is disposed axially between the gearbox and the turbine relative to the rotation axis. 
     
     
         13 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 12 , wherein the turbine shaft is coaxial with the heat engine shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 10 , comprising a compressor having an outlet fluidly connected to an air intake of the heat engine, the compressor drivingly engaged to the turbine shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 14 , wherein the compressor and the turbine are coaxial. 
     
     
         16 . A hybrid propulsion system for driving an air mover about a rotation axis, comprising: a heat engine driving a heat engine shaft; an electric motor driving a motor shaft; a gearbox having at least one input in driving engagement with the heat engine shaft and the motor shaft, and an output drivingly engageable to the air mover, the heat engine, the electric motor, and the gearbox being serially disposed one after the other along the rotation axis; and a disconnect mechanism disposed between one of the heat engine and the electric motor and the gearbox, the disconnect mechanism having an engaged configuration in which the one of the heat engine and the electric motor is drivingly engaged to the gearbox through the disconnect mechanism and a disengaged configuration in which the disconnect mechanism disengages the one of the heat engine and the electric motor from the gearbox. 
     
     
         17 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 16 , wherein the heat engine shaft and the motor shaft are concentric. 
     
     
         18 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 17 , wherein the motor shaft is disposed around the heat engine shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 16 , wherein the motor shaft and the heat engine shaft are combined as a single common shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The hybrid propulsion system of  claim 19 , wherein the electric motor includes a rotor drivingly engageable to the single common shaft through the disconnect mechanism.