US 11,939,077 B2
Fan clutch for convertible engine
Alan Hisashi Steinert, Fort Worth, TX (US); Thomas Dewey Parsons, Fort Worth, TX (US); and Troy Cyril Schank, Keller, TX (US)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed on Mar. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/686,347.
Application 17/686,347 is a division of application No. 16/035,340, filed on Jul. 13, 2018, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2022/0194619 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. B64D 35/02 (2006.01); B64D 27/20 (2006.01); F02C 7/36 (2006.01); F02K 3/06 (2006.01); F02K 3/075 (2006.01); F04D 25/16 (2006.01); B64C 29/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 35/02 (2013.01) [B64D 27/20 (2013.01); F02C 7/36 (2013.01); F02K 3/06 (2013.01); F02K 3/075 (2013.01); F04D 25/166 (2013.01); B64C 29/0033 (2013.01); F05D 2220/323 (2013.01); F05D 2240/12 (2013.01); F05D 2260/407 (2013.01); F05D 2260/408 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A convertible engine for an aircraft, comprising:
an engine core comprising a low pressure turbine shaft; and
a bypass fan system comprising:
an inner fan disposed longitudinally along a length of the low pressure turbine shaft;
an outer fan disposed at least partially concentrically around the inner fan and at least partially longitudinally overlapping the inner fan along the length of the low pressure turbine shaft; and
a fan clutch disposed at least partially concentrically around the inner fan and at least partially longitudinally overlapping the inner fan along the length of the low pressure turbine shaft, the outer fan disposed at least partially concentrically around the fan clutch, and the fan clutch being disposed at least partially longitudinally overlapping the outer fan along the length of the low pressure turbine shaft;
wherein the fan clutch is configured to selectively rotationally decouple the outer fan from the inner fan.