Patent ID: 6838779

Claim:
A starter-generator for an engine comprising: a variable frequency dynamoelectric machine alternatively operable as a motor or as a generator, said variable frequency dynamoelectric machine having a rotor a torque converter for selectively coupling and decoupling said rotor to an aircraft engine, said torque converter for coupling said rotor to the engine when said variable frequency dynamoelectric machine is operated as a motor, a coupling for interconnecting said rotor and the engine at about the same speed when said rotor and the engine are coupled and operating to decouple said rotor from the engine for a speed of said rotor greater than a speed of the engine; and wherein the engine (a) may be started by said variable frequency dynamoelectric machine when operated as a motor through a first power train including said torque converter and (b) may drive said variable frequency dynamoelectric machine as a generator to create an electrical output of a frequency varying with the speed of the engine through a second power train including said coupling.