US Patent 10428740 Twin shafts driving adjacent fans for aircraft propulsion

A propulsion system for an aircraft has at least two fans with each fan having a fan drive shaft. A turboshaft gas turbine engine drives each of the at least two fans. The turboshaft engine drives an output shaft which drives a gear to, in turn, engage to drive a gear on a first intermediate shaft extending from the turboshaft gas turbine engine in a rearward direction toward an intermediate fan drive shaft. The intermediate fan drive shaft drives the fan drive shaft, and the at least two first intermediate drive shafts extending over a distance that is greater in an axial dimension defined between the turboshaft gas turbine engine and the fan than it is in a width dimension defined between the at least two fans.