Patent ID: 7692335

Claim:
An apparatus for providing phase-synchronized alternating current (AC) power from multiple AC generators, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of AC generators; an AC power bus directly connectable to all of the AC generators; a gearbox mechanically coupled to a prime mover; the gearbox having an interface drive shaft receptacle attached thereto; the AC generators each having a rotor driven by mechanical energy from said prime mover supplied via said gearbox to generate AC electrical power; each of the rotors having a interface drive shaft receptacle attached thereto; all of the AC generators producing AC electrical power that is equal in phase-synchronization so that circulating currents among the AC generators are precluded; common interface drive shafts each with a keyed spline pattern at the gearbox and each of the multiple AC generators, the keyed spline pattern allowing only one orientation for insertion in a corresponding gearbox receptacle and a corresponding generator drive shaft receptacle, said interface drive shaft keying an orientation of each rotor of each of the multiple AC generators to said gearbox, said gearbox receptacle and said generator drive shaft receptacles each being fixed in rotational position and turning at identical speed, said generator drive shaft receptacle being fixed in rotational position relative to a phase output power of the generator ;and wherein each of the AC generators are arranged such that the interface drive shafts drive each of the AC generators.