Kawasaki Delivers First Aeronautical Integrated Drive Generator (T-IDG^®) for Next Generation P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Tokyo, November 24, 2010 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that it has delivered a traction-drive integrated drive generator (T-IDG) to joint development partner Sinfonia Technology Co., Ltd. for the Ministry of Defense's first next-generation P-1 maritime patrol aircraft production craft. The T-IDG will have controllers installed by Sinfonia Technology before being installed as the drive generator for the first P-1 production craft.

The IDG is a drive generator that uses the aircraft engine to generate electrical power. The constant-speed drive unit adjusts the variable speed of engine rotations (approx. 5,000-10,000 rpm) so that the power generator always rotates at a constant speed in order to provide the aircraft a steady supply of power at a constant frequency of 400Hz.

The newly developed T-IDG has a constant-speed drive unit with a high-speed traction-drive continuously variable transmission (CVT), instead of a conventional hydraulic CVT, and it is the world’s first such IDG to be used with large-size aircraft. Both ultra efficient and ultra durable, the T-IDG has advanced controls that enable it to provide a high quality supply of power while contributing significantly to increased aircraft fuel economy and reliability. In developing the T-IDG, Kawasaki worked on the traction drive CVT and overall integration of the IDG while Sinfonia Technology was responsible for the generator and its control unit.

The traction drive used in the T-IDG utilizes the viscous resistance of oil film to transmit power, while the traction drive CVT used by Kawasaki is a half-toroidal type. A half-toroidal type is one in which power is transmitted by two opposing conical discs and two rollers between them. By changing the angle of the rollers, it is possible to keep the power generator at a constant rate of rotation even when the rotational speed of the engine changes. The T-IDG can supply up to 90 kVA of power and will be upgraded to 250 kVA in the future.

Kawasaki will continue to commercially develop the T-IDG for use in aircraft around the world.

The T-IDG features the following

1. Reduced weight

By employing a compact traction drive and ceramic bearing and developing technology to control the traction drive's rotation at high speeds (15,000 rpm, double the speed of an automotive traction drive), Kawasaki has successfully reduced torque by accelerating rotation to produce a lightweight TD-CVT.

2. Higher efficiency and reliability

A power split mechanism that distributes the engine’s drive power to both the traction drive and the gear, as well as a sensor-free control that allows for virtual control of the traction drive, have been employed to significantly increase overall power transmission efficiency and reliability.

3. Environment resistance

In order to meet strict environmental conditions required for aircraft, Kawasaki developed a negative-G capable oil system, traction oil with high mobility at low temperatures and a sealing technique for resisting pressure difference.

4. High response

The highly-responsive electro-hydraulic servo system used to control traction drive speed ensures a high quality supply of power while allowing for uninterrupted switching when switching between other power supplies.

T-IDG^® is a registered trademark of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.