Importance

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Abstract

An electrical generator drive which comprises a power source able to transmit power at a rotational speed which may fluctuate substantially in service, an electrical generator which requires a rotational input of power at a substantially constant speed, and a controllable drive transmission of high rotational inertia coupling together the power source and the electrical generator. The drive transmission comprises an epicyclic gear having an input member driven by the power source, an output member coupled with the electrical generator, and a reaction member, a monitoring device responsive to fluctuations from a predetermined value in the rotational speed of the output member, and a control device including a hydraulic pump/motor unit coupled with the reaction member and controllable by the monitoring device in order to vary the relative rotation between the reaction member and the other members of the epicyclic gear so as to maintain a substantially constant predetermined speed of the output member. To enable the generator drive to respond rapidly to speed fluctuations of the power source, so as to maintain an substantially constant input speed to the generator, the monitoring device includes an electronic control unit having a memory which is programmed with a predetermined value corresponding to the required input speed to the generator derived from the output member. Further, in view of the high rotational inertia of the drive transmision, at least one flexible coupling is provided in the transmission to absorb torsionally any speed fluctuation imparted to the transmission by the power source.

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First Claim