Oct.

22, 1968
COUPLING BETWEEN THE SHAFT OF THE COMPRESSOR DRIVE 3,406,535
R. SUDEROW
TURBINE
AND THE COMPRESSOR SHAFT OF GAS TURBIN E DRIVE UNITS
Filed June 27, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet . . .

NWENTOR
Oct. 22,COUPLING
1968 R. SUDEROW 3,406,535
BETWEEN THE SHAFT OF THE COMPRESSOR DRIVE TURBINE
AND THE COMPRESS OR SHAFT OF GAS TURBINE DRIVE UNITS
Filed June 27, 1966 2. Sheets-Sheet 2

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RUDOLF SUDEROW
 United States Patent Office 3,406,535
Patented Oct. 22, 1968
2
3,406,535 sor-drive-turbine-shaft is customarily supported forwardly
COUPLNG BETWEEN THE SHAFT OF THE COM thereof within the compressor shaft at the height of the
PRESSOR DRIVETURBINE AND THE COMPRES rearward compressor-bearing so that the entire rotor of
SOR SHAFT OF GASTURBINE DRIVE UNITS the gas turbine drive unit rotates on three bearings.
Rudolf Suderow, deceased, late of Stuttgart-Degerloch, The disadvantage of this known prior art construction
Germany, by Käthe Suderow, Sigrun Suderow, and resides in the forward and rearward threaded connection
Birgit Suderow, Stuttgart-Degerloch, Germany, sole of the tie-rod which is sensitive to shaft displacements
heirs, assignors to Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft, and offsets, even if occurring only within small limits,
Stuttgart-Unterturkheim, Germany
Filed June 27, 1966, Ser. No. 561,320 which displacements and offsets cannot be avoided by
Claims priority, application Germany, July 1, 1965, 10 reason of the high pressures and thermal expansions ex
D 47,625 isting within the drive unit. Moreover, the continuous or
34 Claims. (C. 64-9) uninterrupted one-piece tie-rod is a relatively heavy addi
tional structural part.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 15
It is furthermore known in the prior art to compose
the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft of several parts which
A coupling arrangement, especially for use in gas tur are threadably connected with each other by flanged con
bine drive units, wherein the turbine drive shaft and the nections, whereby the shaft part adjacent the compres
compressor shaft are releasably coupled by means of a sor shaft end carries external teeth that engage with the
form-locking connection which provides for transmis internal teeth of a coupling piece which, in turn, is non
sion of driving torque in the circumferential direction and 20 rotatably connected by means of entrainment teeth with
for absorption of thrust in the axial direction, while al the end of the compressor-shaft so as to rotate in unison
lowing for angular movement of one shaft with respect therewith. The form-locking connection between the com
to the other while in the coupled condition. The coupling, pressor-shaft and the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft in
according to the present invention, can be actuated, i.e., 25
the axial direction takes place thereby by means of a
engaged or disengaged, by manipulation of an assembly shorter central tie-rod whose forward end is threadably
key or wrench positioned within the turbine drive shaft, connected with the compressor-shaft and whose rear end
thereby obviating disassembly of the combustion chamber is threadably connected with the forward sectional part
to effect coupling actuation. The present invention further of the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft. Even though this
contemplates that the assembly key or wrench might be construction is more favorable from a weight point of
in the form of a shaft of an output or load turbine, where 30 view, it is beset in addition to the disadvantages which
such second turbine is employed, said shaft being dis threaded connections inherently entail as such, with the
posed coaxially within the hollow turbine drive shaft. shortcoming that the central space cannot be utilized at
Further, the output or load turbine shaft may itself be all or can be utilized only in a constructively complicated
of hollow construction, thus permitting the operating me 35
manner as passage space for lines and pipes for the con
dia to be conducted therethrough. duction of operating media such as lubricating oil and
bearing blocking air.
Furthermore, it is also known in the prior art to simply
The present invention relates to a coupling between thread the forward end of the compressor-drive-turbine
the shaft of the compressor-drive-turbine (compressor 40 shaft into the rear end of the compressor-shaft and to
drive-turbine-shaft) and the compressor-shaft of gas tur realize the torque transmission between the two afore
bine drive units, having mutual centering means and a mentioned shafts by means of a coupling sleeve by way
mutual arrangement of the two aforementioned shafts of an entrainment tooth system. However, with this type
angularly moveable relative to each other within slight of construction, the threaded connection is particularly
limits, which in the coupled or engaged condition are 45 and directly endangered for the absorption of the turbine
form-lockingly connected with each other in the circum thrust forces acting in the axial direction toward the rear
ferential direction for the transmission of the driving during any occurring shaft displacements and offsets by
torque and in the axial direction for the absorption of reason of the long lever arm, i.e. the large distance be
the axial thrust. tween the threader connection and compressor-drive-tur
It is known with gas turbine drive units to couple the 50 bines.
rear end of the compressor shaft with the forward end Additionally, it is known in the prior art to extend
the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft by way of a central the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft on the turbine side
tial direction by way of a splined connection and to estab through the hollow compressor shaft, to center the com
lish the axial connection between the compressor or the pressor-drive-turbine-shaft within the hollow compressor
compressor shaft and the compressor-drive-turbines or 55 shaft and to suspend the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft
the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft by way of a central at the forward end of the compressor shaft by way of an
tie rod, whose forward end is threadably connected with abutment disk which absorbs the axial turbine thrust and
the rear end of the compressor or the compressor shaft is supported at the compressor shaft. The shortcoming and
and whose rear end is threadably connected to the rear drawback of this construction resides in the fact that the
of the compressor-drive-turbines with the rear shaft sec 60 assembly of the aforementioned axial connection between
tion thereof. This measure is necessary for reasons of the compressor-shaft and the compressor-drive-turbine
transmitting the turbine thrust acting rearwardly in the shaft can be undertaken only from the side of the com
axial direction to the compressor shaft which is supported pressor. This, however, is possible only with few types of
by way of a forward and rearward roller bearing, of drive units, and more particularly only with such drive
which one, for the most part the forward bearing is con 65 units which are accessible at the forward end thereof,
structed as fixed bearing whereas the one and only bear i.e., in which no auxiliary aggregates and no auxiliary
ing of the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft, which is dis drive means are provided at the forward end thereof.
posed for the most part to the rear of the compressor This latter type of prior art construction, however, is not
drive-turbines, is constructed as loose bearing for reasons realizable at all with propeller drive units having a for
of the occurring strong thermal expansions, which loose 70 wardly extending shaft for the drive of a forwardly ar
bearing is not capable of absorbing the turbine thrust and ranged reduction-gear for the propeller.
transmit the same to the engine housing. The compres The present invention aims at avoiding the disadvan
 3,406,535
3 4
tages of the known constructions and at creating between permits speedy assembly and disassembly of the coupling
the compressor-shaft and the shaft of the compressor together with extensive preassembly of a large number
drive-turbines a coupling which can be actuated from the of parts thereof outside of the turbine unit.
side of the turbine, i.e., which, without requiring disas Still another object of the present invention resides
sembly of the combustion chamber system, permits the in a coupling between the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft
assembly and disassembly of the completely assembled and the compressor-shaft of a gas turbine drive unit which
turbine rotor or rotors consisting of turbine wheels and is relatively insensitive to any angular offsets and/or dis
turbine shafts. Furthermore, it is an aim of the present placements of the two shafts, requires no bulky and heavy
invention to keep the coupling insensitive with respect to connecting pieces, and eliminates the disadvantages cus
slight shaft displacements and additionally to So construct O tomarily encountered inherently with threaded connec
the same that in order to keep free a central passage tions exposed to large fluctuations in temperature.
within the rotor shafts for the accommodation of operat Still a further object of the present invention resides
ing media lines, threaded connections for the form-lock in a coupling for use between the compressor-drive-tur
ing absorption of the thrust forces in the axial direction bine-shaft and the compressor-shaft of gas turbine drive
and central tie-rods are avoided. units which, by operationally reliable means transmits
As solution to the underlying problem the present in completely satisfactorily both the torque and the axial
vention proposes as coupling for the form-locking con thrusts occurring within the unit notwithstanding the high
nection of the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft with the temperatures and pressures that may occur therein.
compressor-shaft in the axial direction a rotary locking Another object of the present invention resides in a
mechanism adapted to be actuated from the turbine side. 20 coupling of the type described above which leaves great
With a gas turbine drive unit having an output turbine freedom in the accommodation of lines, pipes and the
mechanically separate from the compressor-drive-turbine, like for the conduction of operating media used in the
which drives a forwardly extending shaft (an output shaft) gas turbine within the space present within the hollow
disposed coaxially within the compressor-drive-turbine shafts.
shaft, the output shaft serves according to the present in 25 These and further objects, features and advantages of
vention for the actuation of the moveable parts of the the present invention will become more obvious from the
rotary locking mechanism of the present invention. following description when taken in connection with the
In the actual construction of the present invention the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of ill
rotary locking mechanism consists, on the one hand, of lustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the
a locking piece securely connected in the circumferential 3) present invention, and wherein:
direction and in the axial direction with the compressor FIGURE 1 is a partial axial longitudinal cross-sec
shaft and, on the other, of a cylindrically shaped, rotary tional view through a gas turbine drive unit within the
locking member coordinated from an assembly point of area of the coupling between the compressor-shaft and the
view to the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft and form-lock compressor-drive-turbine-shaft as well as the output shaft.
ingly connected to the axial direction with the locking 35 FIGURE 2 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view,
piece in the locked condition. which rotary locking mem on an enlarged scale, of certain details of the locking
ber serves for the support of the compressor-drive-turbine mechanism of FIGURE 1, taken along line II-II of
shaft in the axial direction, of a locking sleeve fixing the FIGURE 1, the parts being shown in the locked condition
rotary locking member in the circumferential direction thereof, unfolded or unwound in the circumferential
with respect to the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft, of ra 40 direction, and
dially directed locking bolts or like means rigidly secured FIGURE 3 is a partial schematic view, similar to FIG
in the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft and distributed over URE 2, showing the same parts in the unlocked condition
the circumference thereof which in turn fix the locking thereof.
sleeve with respect to the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference
in the circumferential direction as well as of an assembly 45 numerals are used throughout the various views desig
key or wrench adapted to be inserted from the turbine nate like parts, reference numeral 11 designates the com
side and adapted to be coupled with the locking sleeve in pressor shaft and reference numeral 12 generally desig
the circumferential direction for the actuation of the ro nates the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft. The coupling
tary locking mechanism, whereby with a gas turbine drive for the form-locking connection of the compressor shaft
unit having an output or load turbine the output shaft 50 11 with the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft 12 in the axial
thereof serves simultaneously as assembly key or wrench. direction (X, Y) is constructed according to the present
The present invention makes it possible with the elimi invention as rotary locking mechanism. The latter essen
nation of the disadvantages encountered with the prior tially consists, on the one hand, of a locking piece gen
art construction to realize in the simplest manner the erally designated by reference numeral 14 securely con
assembly and disassembly of the completed turbine rotor nected with the compressor shaft 11 by a threaded con
or of the two turbine rotors by merely a short withdrawal necting means 13 and, on the other, of the following parts
and thereupon short rotation of the output turbine to coordinated from an assembly point of view to the com
gether with its shaft or a part equivalent thereof to be pressor-drive-turbine-shaft 12: A rotary locking member
used as actuating key. generally designated by reference numeral 15, several
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention 60 locking bolts 16 which distributed over the circumference
to provide a coupling between the compressor-drive-tur are Securely arranged in the compressor-drive-turbine
bine-shaft and the compressor-shaft of gas turbine drive shaft 12 and project radially inwardly, a locking sleeve 17,
units which eliminates by extremely simple means all of a spring 18 prestressing the sleeve 17 in the direction of
the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks en the arrow Y and finally an assembled key or wrench
countered with the prior art constructions. 65 which, with a gas turbine drive unit having a free output
It is another object of the present invention to pro or load turbine and a forwardly extending output shaft
vide a coupling between the compressor-drive-turbine 19, is constituted by the latter.
shaft and the compressor-shaft of gas turbine drive units The locking piece 14 is provided at its rear end with
which greatly facilitates assembly and disassembly there teeth 20 whereas the forward end is constructed as
of, permits such assembly and disassembly from the tur spherical centering means 21, on which is centered the
bine side thereof and dispenses with expensive and com forward end 22 of the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft 12,
plicated parts for the assembly and disassembly. which is supported thereon to be angularly moveable
A further object of the present invention resides in a within small limits. An annular groove 23 extending con
coupling between the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft and tinuously in the circumferential direction is provided in
the compressor shaft of a gas turbine drive unit which the locking piece 14 directly in front of the teeth 20.
 5
3,406,535
6
The forward end of the rotary locking member 15 is of the locking sleeve 17 come to lie behind the locking
constructed as toothed element 24 which has the same bolts 16. The withdrawing or retraction of the output
division or pitch as the teeth 20. Rearwardly of the teeth shaft 19 and of the locking sleeve 17 is limited by an
24 there is provided at the locking member 15 a radially abutment collar 47 provided thereon which abuts against
outwardly directed collar 25, against which is supported the forward edge 48a of a spacer bushing or sleeve 48
in the axial direction X the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft which is arranged in front of the support sleeve 46 and
12 by way of a shoulder 26 and a pressure or thrust ring may be in one piece with the latter. In the retracted posi
27. The locking member 15 is provided at the rear end tion, in which the internal teeth 39 of the output shaft
thereof with teeth 28 and in front of these teeth 28, with 19 are disengaged from the external teeth 38 of the cou
individual guide grooves 29 having a length l in the cir 10 pling piece 37, takes place the unlocking operation, prop
cumferential direction (FIGURE 3) which are distributed erly speaking, by rotation of the output shaft 19 in the
over the circumference and correspond in their number circumferential direction Z while taking along the locking
to the number of the locking bolts 16. The length l of the sleeve 17 by way of the teeth 34 and 33 and of the locking
guide grooves 29 corresponds to the division or pitch of member 15 by way of the teeth 32 and 28, and more
the teeth 20 and 24 plus the diameter of the locking bolts 5 particularly to such an extent until the position illustrated
16 which engage in these guide grooves 29 with slight play in FIGURE 3 is reached, i.e., until the edges 29a of the
in the axial directionX and Y. guide grooves 29 laterally abut against the locking bolts
Apertures 30 (FIGURES 2 and 3) are provided for 16. In this position, the teeth 24a of the tooth system 24
Wardly at the locking sleeve 17 so that the latter is con of the locking member 15 are disposed opposite the gaps
structed thereat in a fork-like manner and is provided with 20 of the teeth 20a of the tooth system 20 of the locking
individual fingers 31 which extend about and engage the piece 14. This position (unlocked position) of the rotary
locking bolts 16 in the circumferential direction A, Z in locking member 15 with respect to the locking piece 14
a form-locking manner whereby the locking sleeve 17 is is then fixed again by the automatic forward movement
fixed in the circumferential direction A, Z with respect in the direction Y of the locking sleeve 17 with the aid of
to the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft 12. Furthermore, 25 the spring 18 relative to the output shaft 19 by means of
internal teeth 32 are provided at the locking sleeve 17 the fingers 31 and the locking bolts 16 so that now the
which engage with the external teeth 28 of the rotary compressor-drive-turbine-shaft 12 together with the lock
locking member 15. The rotary locking member 15 has ing sleeve 17, the spring 18, the sleeves 46, 48 and the
a greater length than the length f of the apertures 30. rotary locking member 15 can be pulled off from the lock
Additional internal teeth 33 are arranged within the rear 30 ing piece 14 in the direction of arrow X, i.e., can be sep
ward area of the locking sleeve 17 with which external arated from the compressor shaft 11 and the coupling
teeth 34 provided at the forward end of the output shaft piece 42.
19 can be brought into temporary engagement for the During assembly of the drive unit, the compressor
purpose of locking and unlocking of the coupling mech drive turbines and the output turbines are preassembled
anism. The rear end of the locking sleeve 17 is con with the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft 12 and the output
structed as ring-shaped abutment 35 which serves for the shaft 19 as well as with the parts 27, 15, 16, 17, 18, 46
withdrawal of the locking sleeve 17 by means of the ex and 48 outside of the drive unit. Then all of the afore
ternal teeth 34 during the locking and unlocking of the mentioned parts are introduced, preassembled, into the
mechanism. drive unit in the direction of arrow Y whereby the for
The forward end 36 of the output shaft 19 is centered 40 ward end 22 of the compressor-drive-tubine-shaft 12 is
on a coupling piece 37 which is provided with external initially coupled in the circumferential direction with the
teeth 38 with which engage the internal teeth 39 of the compressor-shaft 11 and the coupling piece 42 by means
output shaft 19. The coupling piece 37 is secured on the of the entrainment teeth 42, 43a and simultaneously the
rear end of a shaft 40 and is non-rotatably connected with teeth 24a of the rotary locking member 15 are brought
the shaft 40 by way of entrainment or spline teeth 41. The 45 through the gaps 20b of the locking piece 14 into the
shaft 40 extends forwardly through the hollow compres position illustrated in FIGURE 3. In order to enable this
sor-shaft 11 to a conventional speed-reduction gear for the operation, the locking piece 14 is secured or fixed on the
propeller drive. compressor shaft 11 in the circumferential direction in
The torque transmission from the compressor-drive Such a manner that its tooth gaps 20b are aligned with the
turbine-shaft 12 to the compressor shaft 11 takes place 50 tooth gaps of the internal teeth 43 of the coupling piece
by way of a coupling piece 42 having internal teeth 43 42. For purposes of locking the coupling mechanism, i.e.,
and 44 which engage with corresponding external teeth in order to establish also the form-locking connection of
43a and 44a of the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft 12 and the two shafts 11 and 12 in the axial direction Y, X, the
the compressor shaft 11, respectively. output shaft 19 is again retracted at first relative to the
The last compressor section or stage which is shown 55 compression-drive-turbine-shaft 12, taking along the lock
only in part, is indicated in FIGURE 1 by reference ing sleeve 17, in the direction of the arrow X for such
numeral 45. The support of the spring 18 toward the rear a distance until the abutment collar 47 thereof abuts
takes place by means of a bushing 46 which is securely against the forward edge 48a of the abutment sleeve 48.
connected at the rear thereof by any conventional known Thereupon the locking, properly speaking, takes place by
means with the compressor-drive-turbines (not shown) 60 rotation of the output shaft 19 in the circumferential direc
and is taken along by the latter in the circumferential tion, and more particularly in the direction of arrow A
direction. while taking along the locking sleeve 17 and the rotary
Operation locking member 15 into the position illustrated in FIG
The handling and operation of the coupling and rotary URE 2 in which the teeth 24a and the teeth 20a are in
locking mechanism of the present invention are as fol 65 alignment. This position of the rotary locking member 15
lows: is finally fixed by forward movement of the locking sleeve
FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate the mechanism in the 17 with the aid of the spring 18 and by the fingers 31
locked condition. For purposes of unlocking the mecha which form-lockingly engage about the locking bolts 16,
nism, the output shaft 19 is withdrawn or pulled back with respect to the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft 12
in the direction of arrow X whereby the external teeth 34 70 which again is fixed by way of the coupling piece 42
are brought into engagement with the internal teeth 33 and the entrainment teeth 43, 43a and 44, 44a, with re
of the locking sleeve 17 which at the same time is taken spect to compressor shaft 11. In the locked position of the
back by way of the annularly shaped abutment 35 by mechanism the external teeth 34 of the output shaft 19
means of the external teeth 34 of the output shaft 19 for are out of engagement with the internal teeth 33 of of the
such a distance until the fingers 31 at the forward end 75 locking sleeve 17 so that the compressor-drive-turbine
 3,406,535 S
7
shaft 12 and the output-shaft 19 can rotate at different wardly directed abutment collar effective in the axial di
rotary speeds. rection for the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft and being
While several embodiments have been shown and de provided at the rear end thereof with external tooth means
scribed in the present application, it is understood that and with individual guide grooves corresponding in num
the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of nu ber to the locking bolt means, said guide grooves being
merous changes and modifications as known to a person effective as abutment for the locking bolt means in the
skilled in the art and the present invention is therefore circumferential direction, each guide groove extending in
not to be construed as limited to the details shown and the circumferential direction with a length corresponding
described herein but encompasses all such changes and to the pitch of the external tooth means plus the diameter
modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the ap O of a locking bolt means, said locking bolt means engaging
pended claims. in said guide grooves, and the width of said guide grooves
What is claimed is: in the axial direction being larger than the diameter of
1. A coupling, especially for use in gas turbine drive the locking bolt means by an amount necessary for the
units having a compressor and a compressor-drive-turbine, movement play.
each having shafts therein, and a combustion chamber 7. A coupling according to claim 6, wherein apertures
located between the compressor and the compressor-drive are provided at the forward end of the locking sleeve
turbine, for releasably engaging the compressor-drive means whose width in the circumferential direction sub
turbine shaft and the compressor-shaft of gas turbine stantially corresponds to the diameter of the locking bolt
drive units, comprising means for aligning said two shafts means, said locking bolt means being form-lockingly eni
with respect to each other while permitting angular move 20 gaged by the fingers of the forward end of the locking
ments thereof within slight limits, and coupling means sleeve means which are formed by said apertures, the
form-lockingly connecting said two shafts with each other locking sleeve means being provided to the rear of said
for the transmission of the driving torque in the circum apertures with internal tooth means engaging into the
ferential direction and for the absorption of the thrust in external tooth means engaging into the external tooth
the axial direction, including rotary locking means re 25 means of the rotary locking means, and further internal
motely actuatable from the turbine side, whereby said tooth means arranged at the rear end of the locking sleeve
two shafts may be engaged or disengaged with one an means with which is brought into engagement only dur
other without disassembling the combustion chamber. ing the locking and unlocking operation the external tooth
2. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the gas means provided at the forward end of the actuating key
turbine drive unit further includes output turbine means 30 ICalS.
mechanically separate from the compressor drive turbine 8. A coupling according to claim 7, wherein the ex
means and an output shaft driven by said output turbine ternal tooth means provided at the rear end of the rotary
means and extending forwardly within and substantially locking means have a greater axial length than the axial
coaxially to the compressor drive turbine shaft, said ro length of the apertures provided at the forward end of
tary locking means including a plurality of movable parts the locking sleeve means.
and actuating means for actuating the movable parts 9. A coupling according to claim 8, further comprising
thereof, said output shaft serving as said actuating means. spring means supported securely in the axial direction to
3. A coupling according to claim 2, wherein said rotary ward the turbine, said locking sleeve means being under
locking means comprises, on the one hand, locking piece prestress by said spring means in the axial direction.
means operatively connected with the compressor shaft 40 10. A coupling according to claim 9, wherein said lock
in the circumferential as well as in the axial direction and, ing sleeve means is provided at the rear end thereof rear
on the other, substantially cylindrically shaped rotary wardly of the internal tooth means with an annularly
locking means coordinated from an assembly point of shaped abutment means, said locking sleeve means being
view to the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft and form temporarily retracted by way of said abutment means
lockingly connected in the locked condition with the lock by means of the external tooth means of the output shaft
ing piece means in the axial direction, locking sleeve for the locking and unlocking of the locking mechanism.
means fixing the rotary locking means in the circumferen 11. A coupling according to claim 10, further compris
tial direction with respect to the compressor-drive-turbine ing a coupling piece for centering the forward end of the
shaft radially directed locking bolt means rigidly secured output shaft, the forward end of said output shaft being
in the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft and distributed over provided with internal tooth means engaging with external
the circumference thereof for fixing the locking sleeve tooth means provided on said coupling piece, a forwardly
means in the circumferential direction with respect to the extending shaft for the drive of a propeller speed reduc
compressor-drive-turbine-shaft, and actuating key means tion gear, and means securely connecting the coupling
adapted to be inserted from the turbine side and adapted piece with said last-mentioned shaft.
to be coupled in the circumferential direction with the 12. A coupling according to claim 11, wherein the in
locking sleeve means for the actuation of the rotary lock ternal tooth means of the output shaft are brought out of
ing means. engagement with the external teeth of said coupling piece
4. A coupling according to claim 3, wherein the out during the locking and unlocking operations with said
put shaft simultaneously serves as assembly key means.
5. A coupling according to claim 4, wherein said lock 60 output shaft in the retracted position.
13. A coupling according to claim 12, wherein said
ing piece means, which is securely connected with the locking sleeve means is centered within the compressor
compressor shaft in the axial and in the circumferential drive-turbine-shaft.
direction, is provided with a continuous annular groove 14. A coupling according to claim 13, further compris
means in the circumferential direction and with tooth
means disposed rearwardly of the groove means in the 65 rear support
ing
end of
sleeve means fixed on the turbine side, the
said spring means resting against said support
direction toward turbine. sleeve means, a forwardly extending abutment sleeve dis
6. A coupling according to claim 5, wherein said rotary posed in front of said support sleeve means, the forward
locking means is provided forwardly thereof with tooth
means having a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the end of said abutment sleeve serving as abutment in the
tooth means of the locking piece means and engaging in 70 axial direction for the locking sleeve means, and said lock
the locked condition of the coupling into said annular ing sleeve means being provided with an abutment collar
groove means in front of the tooth means of the locking . to engage with the forward end of the abutment sleeve.
piece means with the individual teeth of said two tooth 15. A coupling according to claim 14, wherein the for
means being in alignment in the axial direction, said ward portion of the coupling piece means is constructed
rotary locking means further including a radially out 75 as spherically shaped centering means for the angularly
 3,406,535
10
moveable support of forward end of the compressor-drive sleeve means which are formed by said apertures, the
turbine-shaft. locking sleeve means being provided to the rear of said
16. A coupling according to claim 15, further compris apertures with internal tooth means engaging into the
ing a coupling element between said compressor shaft and external tooth means of the rotary locking means, and
said compressor-drive-turbine-shaft, said coupling piece further internal tooth means arranged at the rear end
means being fixed on the compressor shaft in the circum of the locking sleeve means with which is brought into
ferential direction in such a matter that the tooth gaps engagement only during the locking and unlocking oper
thereof are in alignment with the tooth gaps of the inter ation the external tooth means provided at the forward
nal tooth means of the coupling element which is securely end of the actuating key means.
mounted on the compressor shaft. O 23. A coupling according to claim 22, wherein the
17. A coupling according to claim 16, wherein entrain external tooth means provided at the rear end of the
ment tooth means are provided at the forward end of the rotary locking means have a greater axial length than the
compressor-drive-turbine-shaft at the height of the center axial length of the apertures provided at the forward end
ing means between said coupling element and the com of the locking sleeve means.
pressor drive turbine shaft. 5 24. A coupling according to claim 23, further com
18. A coupling according to claim 17, wherein the com prising spring means supported securely in the axial
pressor-drive-turbine-shaft, the output-shaft and the move direction toward the turbine, said locking sleeve means
able parts of said rotary locking means are preassembled being under prestress by said spring means in the axial
outside of the drive unit. direction.
19. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein said 20 25. A coupling according to claim 23, wherein said
rotary locking means comprises, on the one hand, locking locking sleeve means is provided at the rear end thereof
piece means operatively connected with the compressor rearwardly of the internal tooth means with an annularly
shaft in the circumferential as well as in the axial direc shaped abutment means, said locking sleeve means being
tion and, on the other, substantially cylindrically shaped temporarily retracted by way of said abutment means by
rotary locking means coordinated from an assembly point 25 means of external tooth means provided at said key means
of view to the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft and form for the locking and unlocking of the locking mechanism.
lockingly connected in the locked condition with the lock 26. A coupling according to claim 25, further com
ing piece means in the axial direction, locking sleeve prising an output shaft forming a part of said actuating
means fixing the rotary locking means in the circum key means, a coupling piece for centering the forward
ferential direction with respect to the compressor-drive 30 end of the output shaft, the forward end of said output
turbine-shaft, radially directed locking bolt means ragidly shaft being provided with internal tooth means engaging
Secured in the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft and dis with external tooth means provided on said coupling
tributed over the circumference thereof for fixing the piece, a forwardly extending shaft for the drive of a
locking sleeve means in the circumferential direction with propeller speed reduction gear, and means securely con
respect to the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft, and actuat necting the coupling piece with said last-mentioned shaft.
ing key means adapted to be inserted from the turbine 27. A coupling according to claim 26, wherein the
side and adapted to be coupled in the circumferential internal tooth means of the output shaft are brought out
direction with the locking sleeve means for the actuation of engagement with the external teeth of said coupling
of the rotary locking means. piece during the locking and unlocking operations with
20. A coupling according to claim 19, wherein said 40 said output shaft in the retracted position.
locking piece means, which is securely connected with the 28. A coupling according to claim 19, wherein said
compressor shaft in the axial and in the circumferential locking sleeve means is centered within the compressor
direction, is provided with a continuous annular groove drive-turbine-shaft.
means in the circumferential direction and with tooth 29. A coupling according to claim 19, further com
means disposed rearwardly of the groove means in the prising spring means supported securely in the axial direc
direction toward turbine. tion toward the turbine, said locking sleeve means being
21. A coupling according to claim 20, wherein said under prestress by said spring means in the axial direction.
rotary locking means is provided forwardly thereof with 30. A coupling according to claim 29, further com
tooth means having a pitch corresponding to the pitch of prising support sleeve means fixed on the turbine side,
the tooth means of the locking piece means and engaging 50 the rear end of said spring means resting against said
in the locked condition of the coupling into said annular support sleeve means, a forwardly extending abutment
groove means in front of the tooth means of the locking sleeve disposed in front of said support sleeve means,
piece means with the individual teeth of said two tooth the forward end of said abutment sleeve serving as abut
means being in alignment in the axial direction, said rotary ment in the axial direction for the locking sleeve means,
locking means further including a radially outwardly 55 and said locking sleeve means being provided with an
directed abutment collar effective in the axial direction for abutment collar to engage with the forward end of the
the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft and being provided at abutment sleeve.
the rear end thereof with external tooth means and with 31. A coupling according to claim 19, wherein the
individual guide grooves corresponding in number to the forward portion of the coupling piece means is constructed
locking bolt means, said guide grooves being effective 60 as spherically shaped centering means for the angularly
as abutment for the locking bolt means in the circum moveable support of forward end of the compressor
ferential direction, each guide groove extending in the drive-turbine-shaft.
circumferential direction with a length corresponding to 32. A coupling according to claim 19, further com
the pitch of the external tooth means plus the diameter prising a coupling element between said compressor shaft
of a locking bolt means, said locking bolt means engag 65 and said compressor-drive-turbine-shaft, said coupling
ing in said guide grooves, and the width of said guide piece means being fixed on the compressor shaft in the
grooves in the axial direction being larger than the diam circumferential direction in such a manner that the tooth
eter of the locking bolt means by an amount necessary gaps thereof are in alignment with the tooth gaps of the
for the movement play. internal tooth means of the coupling element which is
22. A coupling according to claim 21, wherein aper 70 securely mounted on the compressor shaft.
tures are provided at the forward end of the locking sleeve 33. A coupling according to claim 32, wherein entrain
means whose width in the circumferential direction sub ment tooth means are provided at the forward end of
stantially corresponds to the diameter of the locking bolt the compressor-drive-turbine-shaft at the height of the
means, said locking bolt means being form-lockingly centering means between said coupling element and the
engaged by the fingers of the forward end of the locking 75 compressor drive turbine shaft.
 11
3,406,535 12
34. A coupling according to claim 2, wherein the 2,744,395 5/1956 Massey et al. ---------- 649??
compressor-drive-turbine-shaft, the output-shaft and the 2,785,550 3/1957 Petrie ------------------ 64-9
moveable parts of said rotary locking means are pre- 2,836,041 5/1958 Petrie ------------------- 649???
assembled outside of the drive unit. 2,864,244 12/1958 Prachar --------------- 64-9?
5
References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS
UNITED STATES PATENTS 770,683 3/1957 Great Britain.
2,525,695. 10/1950 Lombard -------------- 64-9 HALL C. COE, Primary Examiner.
2,712,740 7/1955 Boyd --------------------- 64-9