Abstract: A unitary composite stator vane for a gas turbine engine comprising an aerodynamically configured airfoil section, a foot extending substantially perpendicularly from one end of the airfoil section, and a smoothly contoured transition section interconnecting the airfoil section with the foot. The stator vane is comprised of a composite material including a plurality of compression molded, heat cured plies. The plies include a plurality of centrally located internal plies of reinforcement material of continuous yarns of para-aramid fibers. On each side of the internal plies are plies of resin impregnated graphite fiber material. The graphite fibers are protected by an external steel wire mesh ply covering the leading edges of the vanes. Substantially all of the internal para-aramid reinforcement fibers are discontinuous proximate the transition section between the airfoil section and foot.

Abstract: A ram air turbine power system is provided with a deployable ram air turbine mounted in-line with a power supply unit such as an electrical generator and/or an hydraulic pump. The ram air turbine includes a turbine shaft supported for rotation by bearings within a generator housing, wherein a rear end of the turbine shaft and a generator shaft are supported by a common bearing, and further wherein the forwards ends of the turbine and generator shafts are supported by a pair of bearings separated by a resilient bearing mount. In addition, the in-line ram air turbine and related power supply unit are supported from a hollow strut with hydraulic and electrical lines and related mechanical linkages extending therethrough.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating for superalloy turbine engine vanes and blades that are exposed to high temperature gas is disclosed. The coating includes an Aluminide or MCrAlY layer, an alumina layer, and a ceramic top layer. The ceramic layer has a columnar grain microstructure. A bond inhibitor is disposed in the gaps between the columnar grains. This inhibitor is either unstabilized zirconia, unstabilized hafnia, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine has a disc with dovetail grooves and a plurality of blades with dovetail roots contoured to be received within the grooves. The inner surface of a flexible, high temperature, low compression set seal is bonded to the inner surface of each root portion. The outer surface of the seal has two portions inclined at an angle and spaced apart to define a surface portion for sealingly contacting the base of the groove. The longitudinal edges of the outer surface are curved to facilitate assembly.

Abstract: A composite stator vane for a gas turbine engine comprising a plurality of compression molded, heat cured plies, the plies including a plurality of centrally located internal plies of reinforcement material of unidirectional yarns of para-aramid fibers, a plurality of plies of resin impregnated graphite fiber material on each side of the centrally located plies of reinforcement material, and an external steel wire mesh ply on the leading edge of the vane.

Abstract: A hot gas recirculation pocket is provided in a gas turbine engine to capture hot gas ingested from an annular hot gas flow path into an internal cooled engine cavity, and to recirculate the ingested hot gas to the hot gas flow path. The engine includes rows of stator vanes and rotor blades mounted in an axially alternating sequence along the hot gas flow path, wherein the rotor blades are peripherally supported by rotor disks disposed within the cooled engine cavity and coupled to a main engine shaft. The recirculation pocket is defined by a contoured shroud mounted within the cooled engine cavity to form a radially outwardly open toroidal-shaped pocket for capturing and recirculating any hot gas ingested through the space between adjacent rows of stator vanes and rotor blades.

Abstract: A face seal includes an annular carbon stator having a flat surface in rubbing contact with the flat surface of a composite annular rotor. The annular rotor has a head portion and a base portion. Embedded in the head portion are high thermal conductivity graphite fibers that are oriented to maximize heat dissipation. Incorporation of graphite fibers makes the rotor resistant to time-dependent creep deformation, thus preserving sealing integrity.

Abstract: A turbine or compressor blade holding fixture and machining method contemplates the subassembly of all the blades upon the rotor of the compressor or turbine. Fixture rings along with radial biasing members in the form of annular o-rings are intersecured to opposite sides of the blades so as to radially position the latter in their normal "running position" while so mounted on the rotor of the wheel. In such condition all of the blades may be simultaneously machined such that the outer tips thereof lie on a true uniform, desired outer diameter to provide subsequently uniform tip clearance to the surrounding shroud when mounted in a gas turbine engine for operation.

Abstract: An improved oil seal is provided for sealing passage of rotatable shaft through an end wall of a bearing housing in a turbomachine or the like, wherein the shaft is rotatably supported within the bearing housing by oil-lubricated bearings. The improved oil seal comprises a slinger rotor mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith. The slinger rotor includes a radially outwardly extending slinger ring with radially open slinger ports formed therein, in combination with an axially projecting centrifuge sleeve defining an internal tapered centrifuge surface disposed in close running clearance with an axially projecting cylindrical wall segment on the end wall. During shaft rotation, the centrifuge surface pumps oil in a direction away from the end wall to the slinger ring for discharge through the slinger ports to the interior of the bearing housing.

Abstract: A floating speed electrically driven suction system for sucking boundary layer air flow off the external surface of an aircraft. A variable speed electrical generator drives a variable speed electrical motor which in turn drives a variable speed pneumatic compressor. Inlet guide vanes are automatically adjustable to compensate for variations in pressure. A surge control valve is operable to port in additional inlet flow as needed to avoid low volumetric surge in the suction compressor.

Abstract: A turbopump which operates at cryogenic temperatures to pump cryogenic liquid fuels to high pressure which includes a rotating group including a shaft mounted turbine to directly drive a multistage pump with the rotating group being supported on process fluid foil journal bearings and a hydrostatic and hydrodynamic hybrid thrust bearing.

Abstract: An integral structure comprised of inner and outer coaxial shells mutually supported so as to define an annular passageway between the shells. The integral structure may be an air inlet housing for a gas turbine engine and the inner shell may be a hub member having a generally cylindrical passage extending therethrough for rotatably receiving a drive shaft. The inner shell has an outer surface of revolution. A plurality of duct preforms each include an inner duct surface shaped to congruently mate with said outer surface of said inner member, an outer duct surface spaced from said inner duct surface, and first and second lateral walls having opposed lateral surfaces. The duct member preforms are mounted onto the outer surface of the inner member in side-by-side relationship such that the first and second lateral walls on adjacent pairs of duct member preforms are coextensive and engaged. A coaxial outer shell preform is spaced from the inner member.

Abstract: An underwater vehicle has a generally longitudinally extending housing terminating in at least one blunt end. Adjacent to and inboard of the blunt end of the longitudinally extended housing there is provided a compartment, and disposed in the compartment there is provided a folded, flexible bladder secured to a portion of the housing adjacent the blunt end and having a tapering configuration when pressurized or inflated. At or after launch of the underwater vehicle, or selectively at any other time in which it is desired to do so, an inboard mounted water pump which communicates with the interior of the bladder is operated to pressurize the bladder with regard to the surrounding ambient water, causing the tapered bladder to unfold and be extended outboard of the housing blunt end, thus streamlining the underwater vehicle.

Abstract: A metallic thermocouple probe is capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 1650.degree. C. in oxidizing environments. First and second electrically conductive leads of dissimilar metals are joined at an extreme sensing end and extend to a distant readout device. Metal oxide insulation such as beryllium oxide, magnesium oxide, and aluminum oxide, electrically isolates the conductive leads and thermally isolates them from the environment. The extreme sensing end of the thermocouple probe is encapsulated to render it impermeable to the formation of oxides thereon. This encapsulation includes a protective coating composed of a non-porous ceramic material, preferably a cementation applied disilicide. Additionally, a high temperature structural sheath overlies the insulation adjacent the extreme sensing end and a low temperature sheath overlies the insulation adjacent the first sheath distant from the extreme sensing end.

Abstract: An improvement in a thermal barrier coating for superalloy turbine engine components subjected to high operating temperatures, such as turbine airfoils, e.g., vanes and blades, is disclosed which eliminates the expensive MCrAlY oxidation resistant bond coating underlayer for a columnar grained ceramic thermal barrier coating. In accordance with my present invention, a relatively low cost thermal barrier coating system for superalloy turbine components is provided which utilizes a diffusion aluminide coating layer as the oxidation resistant bonding surface for the columnar grained ceramic insulating coating.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating for superalloy turbine engine vanes and blades that are exposed to high temperature gas is disclosed. The coating includes a ceramic layer applied to an Aluminide or MCrAlY bond coat by electron beam physical vapor deposition. The ceramic layer has a first portion having unstabilized porosity, a second portion, overlying the first portion, with stabilized porosity, and an outer portion wherein the pores are coated with a noble metal. The stabilized porosity portion along with the noble metal coating reduce the thermal conductivity of the ceramic layer. Stabilizing the porosity renders it more resistant to sintering densification at high temperatures.

Abstract: A turbofan engine fan stator assembly includes stator vanes readily insertable through the outer shroud into the stator assembly hub. Elastomeric grommets seal between the vanes, shroud and hub, and an outer band radially inwardly compresses the assembly. The vanes are radially secured to the hub only through frictional engagement with the hub grommet.

Abstract: An aircraft subsystem provides the aircraft with all its electrical and conditioned air requirements without requiring the extraction of either shaft power and/or pressurized air from the aircraft's main engines. At the core of this subsystem are two rotating assemblies journaled on non-oil lubricated bearings to a housing. One assembly includes a cooling turbine, a starter/generator, a core compressor, and a high pressure stage of a two stage axial turbine, all mounted on a single shaft. A combustor is disposed between the core compressor and the turbine. The other assembly is comprised of the low pressure stage of the axial turbine coupled to a load compressor via a second shaft. The high pressure turbine stage and cooling turbine are sized to drive the core compressor and starter/generator which provides all the aircraft's electrical needs both on the ground and inflight.

Abstract: An oil scavenge assembly for small gas turbine engine. The assembly includes a rolling element bearing, for supporting a rotating shaft, slip fit within a bearing liner. The bearing liner has a plurality of helical grooves along its surface. A plurality of circumferentially spaced scoops extend inward from the liner and direct the oil expelled from the bearing into the helical grooves.

Abstract: A ram air turbine is provided for use in driving electric and/or hydraulic power systems in an aircraft, wherein the ram air turbine includes primary and secondary speed control governors. The primary governor includes centrifugal flyweights for cam-actuated adjustment of the pitch angle of a turbine blade or blades, within a selected adjustment range, to achieve substantially constant turbine speed in response to varying air speed and/or load. The secondary governor preloads the turbine blade or blades to a selected midrange pitch angle in the at-rest condition, wherein the midrange pitch angle is chosen for faster turbine acceleration on deployment to the desired full-speed rotation. The secondary governor controls blade pitch angle until the turbine reaches a selected rotational speed, after which the primary governor regulates and adjusts blade pitch angle within the selected adjustment range.