A generator comprising a generator housing and a generator drive shaft including a power input shaft coupled to a drive member through a coupling arrangement, whereby in use the drive member is coupled to an output shaft of an associated engine. The coupling arrangement is arranged within the generator housing and comprises first and second coupling members and an insulator member interposed between the first and second coupling members. The coupling arrangement is configured such that the input...

A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to b...

A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to b...

An integral cooling air diffuser for a starter/generator of the type having an air inlet and a cooling fan for blowing cooling air from the air inlet into the starter/generator through the diffuser, the diffuser having a number of aerodynamic vanes for efficiently directing air flow into the starter/generator. In one embodiment the vanes are in the general shape of an aerodynamic air foil.

A system for actively controlling the charging profile of a battery uses a software-based generator control unit to control the charging voltage. The voltage may be initially reduced following battery discharge to prevent large current inrush transients. The voltage may then be raised above a normal charging level to increase the battery charging rate. The control system provides better control over battery charging prevent overheating of the battery and generator and allows the battery to be re...

A bearing failure detector for an electrical generator includes a disc located within the bearing assembly near the location of the main bearings. The disc includes an electrically conductive ring encased in an insulation layer. The ring is exposed along inside diameter of the detector disc adjacent to the periphery of the shaft, but the dimensions of the inside diameter of the ring are slightly greater than the normal internal clearance of the main bearings, so that the shaft does not contact t...

A controller for a starter/generator used with an aircraft engine, includes means for monitoring field return current in a generator field winding; means for monitoring generator voltage; and microprocessor control means for adjusting generator field current as a function of the field current and voltage and field return current. The field return current and output voltage monitoring functions allow for open field, field integrity, over voltage, field weakening and torque limiting functions to b...

An electric generator of the type that is oil-cooled and generally used in aircraft includes a fluid brake assembly. The fluid brake assembly includes a fluid brake rotor which is generally in the form of a fan or impeller which is connected to the drive shaft of the generator. Under normal conditions with the cooling oil withdrawn from the housing of the generator by the scavenge system, the fluid brake rotor freely turns with the shaft. When the oil scavenge system becomes incapacitated, the g...

Core-type brushes used in dynamoelectric machines, such as electric motors, have cores which are arranged in substantially parallel planes extending at an angle with respect to the direction at which the brushes move toward the commutator as the brushes wear. As the brushes wear, the position of the cores relative to the outer surface of the commutator changes, preventing constant positioning of the cores relative to the commutator surface and reducing or preventing non-uniform commutator wear w...

A fin control actuator for missiles carried on aircraft has a device which locks the fin shaft against aerodynamic loads and prevents the transmission of these loads through the drive train. The fin shaft lock includes a plunger which has a cam having a locking portion for engaging the output shaft and preventing the output shaft from rotating in one direction when the plunger is in the locking position. The cam also has a camming portion for engaging the output shaft and pushing the plunger to ...