A planetary gearbox system with a ring gear, a sun gear, a carrier and planetary gears as parts in a geared aircraft turbofan engine, with one static part of the parts being in rest under nominal operation and with a kinematic switch device for decoupling the static part to become a rotatable part or with a kinematic switch device for coupling the rotatable part to become a static part. The invention also relates to a method for operating a planetary gearbox system.

A safety coupling has a driving coupling member engaged with a driven coupling member by a frictional connection. The frictional connection can be disconnected by activation of a release element. The release element can be activated by a centrifugal device wherein a centrifugal unit of the centrifugal device is radially moveable to interact with a shift gate in dependence of the revolution speed of the centrifugal unit and the slip between the driving coupling member and the driven coupling member. The centrifugal device includes a stop to limit the centrifugal force applied to the centrifugal unit.

A safety coupling has a driving coupling member engaged with a driven coupling member by a frictional connection. The frictional connection can be disconnected by activation of a release element. The release element can be activated by a centrifugal device wherein a centrifugal unit of the centrifugal device is radially moveable to interact with a shift gate in dependence of the revolution speed of the centrifugal unit and the slip between the driving coupling member and the driven coupling member. The centrifugal device includes a stop to limit the centrifugal force applied to the centrifugal unit.

Methods and systems according to one or more examples are provided for reducing chatter in a no-back brake during aiding load operations. In one example, an apparatus comprises a no-back brake, disposed within an actuator coupled to an aircraft, including a shaft, and a ball ramp plate, coupled to the shaft, to receive a force comprising an air loading force and is displaced responsive to the force. The apparatus further comprises a brake, coupled to the shaft and coupled to the ball ramp plate, and displaced by the ball ramp plate corresponding to a distance the ball ramp plate is displaced. The apparatus further comprises a modulating spring, coupled to the shaft and coupled to the brake, configured to compress in response to the brake being displaced, and the modulating spring is configured to apply a selective compressive force at the brake corresponding to a distance the brake is displaced.

An example system for disconnecting a driven member from a driving member is described. The system includes a vibration detection device configured to output vibration signals indicative of vibration levels of the driven member. The system also includes a controller including at least one processor. The controller is arranged to (i) determine that a vibration signal output by the vibration detection device satisfies a threshold condition and (ii) based at least on the determination that the vibration signal satisfies the threshold condition, trigger a mechanical disconnection of the driven member from the driving member by a mechanical disconnect device.

An example system for disconnecting a driven member from a driving member is described. The system includes a vibration detection device configured to output vibration signals indicative of vibration levels of the driven member. The system also includes a controller including at least one processor. The controller is arranged to (i) determine that a vibration signal output by the vibration detection device satisfies a threshold condition and (ii) based at least on the determination that the vibration signal satisfies the threshold condition, trigger a mechanical disconnection of the driven member from the driving member by a mechanical disconnect device.

A planetary gearbox system with a ring gear, a sun gear, a carrier and planetary gears as parts in a geared aircraft turbofan engine, with one static part of the parts being in rest under nominal operation and with a kinematic switch device for decoupling the static part to become a rotatable part or with a kinematic switch device for coupling the rotatable part to become a static part. The invention also relates to a method for operating a planetary gearbox system.

A rotation locking device for use in a row-level sun tracking solar energy collection system includes a housing, a first locking member, a second locking member, and an actuator. The housing is configured to be mounted to a pile and configured to permit a torque tube to extend through the housing. The first locking member has a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections attached to and rotatable with the torque tube. The second locking member is connected to the housing and has a plurality of mating elements for engaging projections of the first locking member. The actuator is configured to relatively move the first and second locking members between an unlocked position in which the mating elements are disengaged from the projections and a locked position in which the mating elements are engaged with the projections to inhibit rotation of the torque tube with respect to the housing.

An example system for disconnecting a driven member from a driving member is described. The system includes a vibration detection device configured to output vibration signals indicative of vibration levels of the driven member. The system also includes a controller including at least one processor. The controller is arranged to (i) determine that a vibration signal output by the vibration detection device satisfies a threshold condition and (ii) based at least on the determination that the vibration signal satisfies the threshold condition, trigger a mechanical disconnection of the driven member from the driving member by a mechanical disconnect device.

An example system for disconnecting a driven member from a driving member is described. The system includes a vibration detection device configured to output vibration signals indicative of vibration levels of the driven member. The system also includes a controller including at least one processor. The controller is arranged to (i) determine that a vibration signal output by the vibration detection device satisfies a threshold condition and (ii) based at least on the determination that the vibration signal satisfies the threshold condition, trigger a mechanical disconnection of the driven member from the driving member by a mechanical disconnect device.