One prop governor for two propellers
I don't know if I can describe it in detail, but the problem is basically as follows:
We
have a gas turbine engine (420 shp turboshaft engine mostly used in
helicopters). We want to use it in an experimental aircraft. The engine
would drive 2 counter rotating constant speed propellers (probably of
diameter ~1800 mm at ~2800 RPM). Propellers are connected to the engine
through a transmission system that we want to design ourselves. The
propellers are some distance in front and to both sides of the engine
(one prop about 1,2 m on Port, the other 1,2m on Starboard).
Now it comes:
We need to have a prop governor to govern both propellers (one governor since they are connected through the same transmission).
How
can I find the system I need? Is there somebody who can tell me where I
can find expertise and advise (without having to wait for ages)?
The front/rear thing works okay with piston engines, less so with turboshafts, with all that hot gas coming out one end.
You
might consider a small gearbox on the engine with counter rotating
output shafts, and timing belt drives, not unlike the Wright Flyer
except for the crossed chains.
The point about the desirability of indpendent feathering is well taken.
Given
the relative weight of turboshaft engines and gearboxes, two smaller
engines might turn out lighter than the drivetrain you propose.
...
and that is about the limit of my expertise in the domain of
airplanes. However, I have been designing products for a long time, and
I've made an observation: The likelihood of success in building a
complex product is considerably reduced by the presence of components
that are themselves unproven, because it forces you to put multiple
development cycles in series in time. I.e., you can't tie down the
airframe design until you've worked the bugs out of the transmission. A
lot of projects run out of money before the second development cycle
can be completed. A third development cycle, i.e., two unproven
components, pretty much dooms the product. Yes, CAD/CAE/CAM shortens
development cycles, but it also burns money at a prodigious rate.
There are several reasons why we chose to have this engine and the 2
props. I don't want to explain all about it except that this small
aircraft is supposed to have besides conventional TOL, also VTOL
capabilities. Let's say that the aircraft can be seen as a mixture of 3
concepts one is the CONVAIR POGO XFY-1 tail-sitter (or T-Wing
tail-sitter), one is the BELL EAGLE EYE and the third is the FREEWING.
You can imagine that it is difficult to explain you all of the details.
Yes,
the point about feathering one of the two propellers is indeed well
taken because we would have two overload couplings, one per propeller.
The
transmission comprises 3 single mesh bevel gearboxes, one just behind
the engine PTOutput shaft (plus overload couplings) to drive two shafts
to port and starboard, then a single mesh bevel reduction-gearbox on
port side and one on starboard side to drive the propellers.
Maybe
we can use 2 prop governors, one per propeller driven by each reduction
gearbox in the propeller nacelle? What do you think?
But then we possibly create other problems, like introduce a new source of vibration excitation.
Very true:
The
likelihood of success in building a complex product is considerably
reduced by the presence of components that are themselves unproven!
That's very true, but then again if you don't try something new … Being a
hard headed person, I would like first to learn as much as possible
before I decide to let go of this idea.
1. One governor on the engine
Left Propeller
__________| |__________
| |_____________
| ____________ |
| | | |___________________________________________
| | | _________ ___Hi Pressure to Left & Right Prop__->
__Red Gearbox __ | | __Gearbox__
| ___| |___ | | | | |
| | | |___|____Shaft_______|__|________________|_________|__|___Shaft_
| | | |___|____________________________________________________->
| | | | | ___| |___ | __ __| |
_______________ | ________| Governor |_____|__|___|
| | | |
____________________________________________
| Engine |
|
2. Two governors, one per reduction gearbox
Left Propeller
__________| |__________
| |_____________
| ___________ |
| | | |
| | | |
__Red Gearbox __ | | __Gearbox__
| ___| |___ | | | | |
| | | |___|____Shaft____________________________|__________|__|___Shaft_
| | | |___|_________________________________________________________->
| | | | | | | | __ __| |
__________________ | | |______|__|____|
___| |___ | | | |
|Left |_________| | __________________________________
| Governor_____________| | Engine |
|________| |
It did not succeed very well, but I think you can see enough.
As you can see the reduction gearbox has two outputs.
The
reason for using two governors would be if for example in the event of a
failure in one of the props, then the overload coupling would uncouple
and it could be feathered.
In order to prevent the governors to
become a new excitation source (by not pulling the same torque), do you
think a syncrophaser (like on twin engine aircraft) would help?filter
If you have comments, don't hesitate to give them because I don't know much yet, I want to learn as much as possible.
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