Lightweight Gearbox for Air Cushion Vehicles

SBIR N181-072Volume 1 Cover SheetAVX Aircraft proposes to define and develop a concept for a new gearbox for ship-shore connector (SSC) that meets or exceeds the stated baseline requirements for PMS377 LCAC lightweight gearbox that reduces fuel consumption and improves maintainability. AVX will capitalize on the company’s experience designing and developing light weight, reliable drive systems for multiple rotorcraft applications including USMC MV-22.AVX is presently testing our designed 2000 SHP gearbox developed for the DARPA Tern UAV, with our end-to-end experience on design development and manufacture of lightweight gearboxes. AVX recently completed an ADD-AMRDEC contract for Ultra Reliable Design that included a complete review of all gearboxes on the UH-60, AH-64 and CH-47, including root-cause analysis of all field usage. All this combined experience will enable AVX to support PMS377 goals for significant performance and maintenance improvements for the SSC. Based on recent experience AVX would design the baseline gearbox and subcontract the manufacture of the gears, bearings and housings. AVX would then assemble and test the gearbox in a new facility in Fort Worth, Texas. This facility would provide AVX Aircraft the opportunity to provide gearboxes for commercial and military customers for rotorcraft and Naval vessels.