Ram air turbine with integrated heat exchanger

摘要

A ram air turbine system for generating electrical power in an aircraft when the system is exposed to an airstream exterior of the aircraft. The ram air turbine system includes a turbine, a housing defining an interior, a gearbox having a speed-increasing gear train, and a generator.

主权项

1. A ram air turbine system for generating electrical power in an aircraft when the system is exposed to an airstream exterior of the aircraft, the system comprising:
a turbine having multiple blades and a turbine output shaft operably coupled to the blades such that rotation of the blades rotates the turbine output shaft; a housing having a body defining an interior; a gearbox located within the interior and having a speed-increasing gear train with a gearbox output element and operably coupled to the turbine output shaft such that the gearbox output element rotates at a faster speed than the blades; a generator located within the interior and having a stator and a rotor where the rotor operably couples to the gearbox output element; and heat exchanger integrated with the housing for cooling the gearbox and the generator, the heat exchanger having a coolant circuit extending from the gearbox to the generator and formed at least in part by passageways formed within the body such that heat from the gearbox and the generator is transferred to the housing by coolant circulating in the coolant circuit; wherein the turbine, gearbox, heat exchanger, and generator are linearly arranged such that the airstream passing through the blades flows over the gearbox, the heat exchanger, and the generator to provide for heat transfer from the circulating coolant to the airstream via the housing.