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A system that selectively alters a phase angle of an electrical generator. The system has a powered input shaft for transmitting power and an output shaft for receiving power for delivery to the electrical generator. A coupler portion interconnects the input shaft with the output shaft and transmits

A system that selectively alters a phase angle of an electrical generator. The system has a powered input shaft for transmitting power and an output shaft for receiving power for delivery to the electrical generator. A coupler portion interconnects the input shaft with the output shaft and transmits power therebetween. The coupler portion is selectively moveable in an axial direction between a first axial position wherein the input shaft and output shaft are disposed at a first relative angular position, and a second axial position wherein the input shaft and output shaft are disposed at a second relative angular position different than the first position.

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The invention claimed is: 1. An electrical power system comprising: at least one pair of generators having parallel outputs configured to power a common electrical bus; a power transmission device having a pair of rotary output elements and an input element; a rotary drive source for driving the in

The invention claimed is: 1. An electrical power system comprising: at least one pair of generators having parallel outputs configured to power a common electrical bus; a power transmission device having a pair of rotary output elements and an input element; a rotary drive source for driving the input of the power transmission; at least one adjustable coupler mechanism controllable to adjust a phase angle of a rotor shaft of the at least one generator; and a controller; wherein the at least one generator includes one coupler mechanism to couple the rotor shaft of the generator to one of the rotary output elements; and the controller being configured to monitor an output electrical phase angle of each generator and control the at least one coupler mechanism in response to a detected phase error between the respective generator output electrical phase angles by adjusting a relative angular position between one of the rotor shafts and the coupled rotary output element such that the phase error is substantially eliminated. 2. The power system of claim 1, wherein the relative angular position is adjusted by an actuator configured to move the coupler mechanism axially to change the relative angular position between the rotor shaft and the coupled rotary output element. 3. The power system of claim 1, wherein also including an aircraft, the aircraft including a plurality of turbine engines, and wherein each turbine engine including an electrical power system. 4. The power system of claim 1, wherein each coupler mechanism comprises: an annular coupler portion having internal splines and external splines; and an actuator portion; the external coupler portion splines and internal splines of a first coupled shaft comprising a first pair of mateable splines; and the coupler portion internal splines and external splines of a second coupled shaft comprising a second pair of mateable splines; the first pair of mateable splines deviating linearly with respect to the second set of mateable splines; wherein the coupler mechanism is selectively moveable by the actuator portion along an axis between a first axial position, wherein the input shaft and output shaft are disposed at a first relative angular position, and a second axial position, wherein the input shaft and output shaft are disposed at a second relative angular position different than the first position, such that the output electrical phase of the generator with which the coupler portion is coupled is adjustable in response to movement of the coupler portion to substantially synchronize the output electrical phase of one of the generators with the output electrical phase of the other generators. 5. The power system of claim 1, wherein the generators are variable frequency starter/generators. 6. The power system of claim 1, wherein the power system is disposed on an aircraft and driven by an engine of the aircraft. 7. A synchronization system for synchronizing a plurality of generators connected in parallel on a common bus in an engine, the system comprising: a primary rotary drive shaft drivingly connected to the engine; a power transmission device having an input and a plurality of output drive shafts, the power transmission device being driven by the primary rotary drive shaft and configured to power the plurality of generators at a predetermined rotational frequency; at least one coupler mechanism connected between an input shaft of at least one of the generators and one of the output drive shafts of the power transmission device; and a controller for monitoring an output electrical phase angle of the generators and controlling the at least one coupler mechanism in response to a predetermined deviation between the respective generator electrical output phase angles; wherein the coupler mechanism is selectively moveable to adjust a relative angular position of the input shaft relative to the associated output shaft; and wherein the output electrical phase of the generator with which the coupler portion is coupled is adjustable in response to movement of the coupler mechanism to substantially synchronize the output electrical phase of one of the starter/generators with the output electrical phase of the other starter/generators. 8. The synchronization system of claim 7, wherein each coupler mechanism also includes: an annular coupler portion having internal splines and external splines; and an actuator portion; the external coupler portion splines and a plurality of internal splines of a first coupled shaft comprising a first pair of mateable splines; and the coupler portion internal splines and a plurality of external splines of a second coupled shaft comprising a second pair of mateable splines; the first pair of mateable splines having splines that vary linearly with respect to the second set of mateable splines; wherein the coupler mechanism is selectively moveable by the actuator portion along an axis between a first axial position, wherein the input shaft and output shaft are disposed at a first relative angular position, and a second axial position, wherein the input shaft and output shaft are disposed at a second relative angular position different than the first position, such that the output electrical phase of the generator with which the coupler portion is coupled is adjustable in response to movement of the coupler portion to substantially synchronize the output electrical phase of one of the generators with the output electrical phase of the other generators. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first pair of mateable splines being aligned parallel to the axis, and the second pair of mateable splines having splines that are curved with respect to the axis. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the coupler portion internal splines having an axially helical twist relative to the coupler portion external splines. 11. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the coupler portion external splines and the coupler portion internal splines having an axially helical twist relative to the other. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the coupler portion also having an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly operable to move the coupler portion in an axial direction to forcibly advance the coupler portion, the actuator assembly in electrical communication with a controller portion, the actuator assembly configured to adjust the position of the coupler portion in response to a control signal from the controller portion. 13. The system of claim 7, wherein the first coupled shaft extends slightly beyond the end of the second coupled shaft, such that moving the coupler portion axially beyond the end of the second coupled shaft disengages the coupler portion from the second coupled shaft, while still maintaining mechanical engagement with the first coupled shaft to mechanically disconnect the generator. 14. The system of claim 8, wherein the actuator portion includes an actuator motor, a plurality of posts threadably attached to an actuator plate, and an endless belt engageable with the plurality of posts to rotate the posts concurrently to advance or retract the actuator plate, to adjust the coupler portion between the first axial position and the second axial position. 15. The system of claim 7, wherein the system also includes a controller portion, the controller portion having a phase-sensing portion, the phase sensing portion in electrical communication with the controller for transmitting a sensor signal representing a current output of the generator, the controller configured to receive the sensed signal and compare the sensor signal with a second sensor signal from a second generator to determine a relative electrical phase angle of the respective generators, and to generate a control signal to the actuator motor for adjusting the relative electrical phase angle of the generators by axial movement of the coupler portion until the error signal is cancelled. 16. The system of claim 7, wherein the power transmission device is one of: a gearbox, a belt and pulley arrangement; a hydraulic transmission; and a plurality of power take-offs; and the drive means or prime mover is a single shaft and the power transmission devise are configured to match the rotational speed and power of the generators. 17. The system of claim 7, wherein the generators are variable frequency starter/generators. 18. A method of synchronizing a pair of electrical generators for connection to a common electrical bus, comprising: driving a rotor shaft of each generator from a common drive source; providing a transmission device between each generator and the common drive source; coupling the rotor shaft of at least one generator to an input shaft of the transmission device with a coupler device, the coupler device being selectively moveable to adjust a relative angular position between the rotor shaft and the input shaft; sensing a phase difference between each electrical generator output current; determining whether circulating currents are present based on a sensed phase difference between the generator output currents; and in response to a sensed phase difference, moving the coupler axially to a second position between the rotor shaft and the input shaft until the sensed phase difference is substantially eliminated. 19. The method of claim 18, also comprising the steps of: providing an actuator configured to automatically move the coupler axially in response to the sensed phase difference, wherein the actuator includes an actuator motor, a plurality of posts threadably attached to an actuator plate, and an endless belt engageable with the plurality of posts to rotate the posts concurrently to advance or retract the actuator plate, to adjust the coupler portion between the first axial position and the second axial position. 20. The method of claim 18, also comprising: transmitting data indicating the phase difference in the output currents to a computer; generating a maintenance report indicating whether generator outputs are synchronized based on the determined circulating currents; setting forth any deviation in the respective phase angles in response to a sensed phase difference; manually adjusting a phase angle for at least one of the generators based on the generated maintenance report until both of the generators are synchronized; and setting the phase actuator in the synchronized positions such that the generators are locked in phase and do not self-adjust; repeating the above steps at predetermined service intervals on an aircraft.