Aircraft Engine Driven Accessory Shaft Coupling Improvements Using High-Strength Nonmetallic Adapter/Bushings, a Progress Report.

摘要

Engine driven accessories, such as generators, starters, and pumps, are commonly connected to their respective power takeoff shafts by spline couplings. These shaft couplings, which allow rapid installation and removal of the accessory, are capable of high torque transmission and are considered to be self-centering. This Technical Memorandum presents information pertaining to manufacturing techniques, contains previously unpublished test data, and includes all of the new spline designs produced and evaluated by NAVAIRTESTCEN. Extensive laboratory testing and 40,000 hr of flight on six aircraft types have demonstrated the value of the new spline designs. Some of the benefits of the new coupling technique are: (1) higher accessory power system reliability, (2) elimination of wear and premature failure, (3) reclamation of gearboxes at the organizational level, and (4) reduction of maintenance induced failures. A series of nonmetallic couplings are available for a large number of accessory equipment applications due to the expanding size/rating range of coupling designs.