Auxilliary power and thrust unit drive system

摘要

An aircraft auxiliary power and thrust unit includes at least one blade mounted to a fan shaft which are mounted to a tail cone of the aircraft and rotatable relative to the tail cone. Also included is an air intake assembly which includes an opening defined by the tail cone and a channel in fluid communication with the opening and the at least one blade. A first drive shaft positioned to extend in a direction transverse to the fan shaft and engageable to rotate with the fan shaft and first drive shaft engaged and the first drive shaft engageable to a second drive shaft positioned transverse to the first drive shaft such that the second drive shaft rotates with the first drive shaft with the first and second drive shafts engaged. The second drive shaft is positioned outside of the channel of the air intake.

主权项

1. An improved aircraft auxiliary power and thrust unit (10′) for an aircraft, comprising:
at least one blade (56, 59, 61) mounted to a fan shaft (58) wherein the at least one blade and the fan shaft are mounted to a tail cone (12) of the aircraft wherein the at least one blade and the fan shaft are rotatable relative to the aircraft; an air intake assembly (38) comprising an opening (40) defined by the tail cone and a channel (16) in fluid communication with the opening and the at least one blade; a first drive shaft (60) positioned to extend in a direction transverse to the fan shaft with a first end portion (62) of the first drive shaft engageable with the fan shaft such that the fan shaft and the first drive shaft rotate together with the first end portion of the first drive shaft and the shaft engaged; and a second drive shaft (64) positioned to extend in a direction transverse to the first drive shaft with a first end portion (66) of the second drive shaft engageable with a second end portion (68) of the first drive shaft such that rotation of the first drive shaft imparts rotation to the second drive shaft with the first end portion of the second drive shaft and the second end portion of the first drive shaft engaged and wherein the second drive shaft is positioned outside of the channel of the air intake assembly.