Redesign of the Top Cover of the Apache Transmission Housing Using Composites

摘要

The AH-64 top cover has been re-designed out of composites by going through several iterations of the critical and interface elements, and manufacturing and development tests. The final configuration will maximize producibility and performance. The focus of the design centered around the curvic coupling, the ring gear within the skirt of the top cover, along with the details of the oil-jet manifold and several interfaces. No risks are foreseen in the sealing of the interfaces. Detailed finite-element structural analyses were conducted with ABAQUS. Analysis results are correlating well with test data. The re-design, structured in response to the program goals of the U.S. Army Enhanced Rotorcraft Drive System (ERDS), will establish the development of advanced, high-potential drive system technology concepts offering performance improvements for conventional rotorcraft transmissions and drive system components.