Abstract: A tip turbine engine (10) provides an axial compressor (22) having a compressor case (50) from which extend radially inwardly a plurality of outer compressor airfoils (54). The compressor case (50) is directly driven by the rotation of the turbine (32) and fan (28), while at least one gear (77) couples the rotation of the turbine (32) and fan (28) to an axial compressor rotor (46) having a plurality of inner compressor airfoils (52). In this manner, the axial compressor rotor (46) is driven in a direction opposite the direction of the outer compressor airfoils (54), thereby increasing the compression provided by the compressor without increasing the number of airfoils. The outer compressor airfoils (54) are formed on a plurality of outer airfoil assemblies (56) each having an arcuate substrate (58) from which the outer compressor airfoils (54) extend. Each of the outer compressor airfoil assemblies (56) includes more than one axially-spaced stage of outer compressor airfoils (54).

Abstract: A media player is provided. The media player comprises a communications interface, a memory store containing a plurality of personalized advertisements, and a media playback component. The targeted advertisements are refreshed by receiving updates from the communications interface during some of the intervals when the media player is connected to a network. The targeted advertisements are indexed by a plurality of characteristics, the first characteristic being a creation date of the targeted advertisements. The media playback component is configured to play a media content, wherein the media content is stored separately from the targeted advertisements, and to play one of the targeted advertisements in the memory store selected based on the characteristics of the one of the targeted advertisements.

Abstract: A hybrid cooling system for a gas turbine engine includes a vapor cooling assembly and a cooling air cooling assembly. The cooling air cooling assembly is configured to remove thermal energy from cooling air used to cool a first component of the gas turbine engine. The vapor cooling assembly configured to transport thermal energy from a vaporization section to a condenser section through cyclical evaporation and condensation of a working medium sealed within the vapor cooling assembly. The vaporization section is located at least partially within a second component of the gas turbine engine, and the condenser section is located outside the second component.

Abstract: A tip turbine engine assembly includes an integral engine outer case located radially outward from a fan assembly. The integral outer case includes a rear portion and a forward portion with an arcuate portion that curves radially inwardly to form a compartment. An annular combustor is housed and mounted in the compartment. Fan inlet guide vanes are integrally formed with the arcuate portion to form the integral case portion. The rear portion, forward portion, and fan inlet guide vanes are integrally formed in a casting process.

Abstract: An engine for powering a vehicle, such as a military aircraft or a commercial aircraft, is provided. The engine broadly comprises a main core with a plurality of spools with each spool having a plurality of compressor blades and a plurality of turbine blades attached thereto. One of the spools has a first set of fan blades attached thereto. The engine further has a variable bypass turbine fan formed by a second set of fan blades. The second set of fan blades is arranged outboard of the main core. The second set of fan blades may be decoupled from the first set of fan blades.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a gear system driven by a first and second counter rotating low pressure shaft and a fan driven by the gear system.

Abstract: Method and improvements for joining wireless mesh networks are provided. In one embodiment, a controller in each network receives a message from a node in its respective network, the message indicating that the respective nodes each received a signal from a node in the other network. Each controller, in response to receiving the respective messages, validates the other network, and responsively (a) directs its respective node to enter a bridging mode and (b) provides its respective node with bridging data that includes a security key for communications between the two nodes. The two nodes then associate with each other using the security key, allowing communications to pass between the two wireless mesh networks.

Abstract: A method for distributing a digital motion picture to multiple theaters in a region via terrestrial wireless communication. The motion picture is divided into chunks, and the chunks are transmitted to particular initial seed theaters in the region. To facilitate the initial seeding, downlink bandwidth on various wireless links is dynamically increased. Once the initial seeding is complete, the downlink bandwidth is decreased and is preferably equalized substantially with uplink bandwidth. The theaters in the region are then directed to begin peer-to-peer sharing of the chunks with each other, possibly through use of BitTorrent or other cooperative downloading process from the initial seed theaters. Ultimately, all of the theaters in the region thereby obtain all of the chunks of the motion picture and can conveniently present the motion picture to audiences.

Abstract: An integrally bladed rotor for a gas turbine engine includes at least one discontinuity formed in an outer face of an outer rim. The discontinuity reduces hoop stress in the outer rim.

Abstract: A cooling system for a gas turbine engine includes a non-rotating component extending into an engine flowpath, a vapor cooling assembly configured to transport thermal energy from a vaporization section to a condenser section through cyclical evaporation and condensation of a working medium sealed within the vapor cooling assembly, wherein the vaporization section is located at least partially within the non-rotating component, and wherein the condenser section is located outside the non-rotating component and away from the engine flowpath.

Abstract: A turbine engine includes a plurality of variable fan inlet guide vanes. Where the turbine engine is a tip turbine engine, the variable fan inlet guide vanes permit the ability to control engine stability even though the fan-turbine rotor assembly is directly coupled to the axial compressor at a fixed rate. The fan inlet guide vanes may be actuated from an inner diameter of the fan inlet guide vanes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger system includes a first fluid layer defining a first flowpath for a gas, a second fluid layer defining a second flowpath for a liquid, a first vapor cycle layer located between the first fluid layer and the second fluid layer for enabling heat transfer between the first and second fluid layers, a first boundary wall defining a shared boundary between the first fluid layer and the first vapor cycle layer, and a second boundary wall defining a shared boundary between the second fluid layer and the first vapor cycle layer. The first vapor cycle layer includes a working medium configured to transfer heat through an evaporation and condensation cycle, and the working medium of the first vapor cycle layer is sealed between the first and second boundary walls.

Abstract: A fan-turbine rotor assembly (24) for a tip turbine engine (10 )includes a fan hub (64) with an outer periphery (112) scalloped by a multitude of elongated openings (114) which extend into a fan hub web (115). Each elongated opening defines an inducer receipt section (117) to receive an inducer section (66)and a hollow fan blade section (72). An inducer exhaust from each inducer section is located adjacent a core airflow passage (80) within each fan blade section to provide communication therebetween.

Abstract: A tip turbine engine (40) provides a peripheral combustor (30) with a more efficient combustion path through the combustor and through the tip turbine blades (34). In the combustor, the core airflow is received generally axially from compressor chambers in hollow fan blades (28) and then turned radially outwardly into a combustion chamber (112), where it is then mixed with the fuel and ignited. The combustor has a combustion path extending axially from a forward end of its combustion chamber through a combustion chamber outlet (122) and through a turbine (32) mounted to the fan. Thus, when the core airflow begins to expand in a high-energy gas stream, it has a substantially axial path from the combustion chamber through the turbine.

Abstract: A tip turbine engine has a more efficient core airflow path from the hollow fan blades, through the combustor and to the combustion chamber of a combustor. The turbine engine includes a rotatable fan having a plurality of radially-extending fan blades each defining compressor chambers extending radially therein. A turbine is mounted to the outer periphery of the fan. A diffuser at a radially outer end of each compressor chamber turns core airflow through the compressor chamber toward the combustor. The high velocity, high pressure core airflow from the compressor chambers in the hollow fan blades is diffused before the compressed core airflow enters the combustor, thereby improving the efficiency of the tip turbine engine. Further, the overall diameter of the tip turbine engine is reduced by the arrangement of the diffuser case in a position not directly radially outward of the fan blades.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan drive gear system, a low spool connected to the fan drive gear system, and a high spool disposed aft of the low spool. The low spool comprises a rearward-flow low pressure compressor disposed aft of the fan drive gear system, and a forward-flow low pressure turbine disposed aft of the low pressure compressor. The high spool comprises a forward-flow high pressure turbine disposed aft of the low pressure turbine, a combustor disposed aft of the high pressure turbine, and a forward-flow high pressure compressor disposed aft of the combustor.

Abstract: A fan-turbine rotor assembly for a tip turbine engine includes an outer periphery scalloped by a multitude of elongated openings which define an inducer receipt section to receive an inducer section and a hollow fan blade section. Each fan blade section includes a turbine section which extends from a diffuser section.

Abstract: A seal assembly (116) mounted within a rotationally fixed static outer support structure (14) for engagement with an annular seal face surface (172) located upon a fan-turbine rotor assembly. The seal assembly provides minimal leakage of core airflow when the airflow is turned and diffused by the diffuser section (74) to increase the engine operating efficiency.

Abstract: A turbine engine includes a plurality of variable fan inlet guide vanes. Where the turbine engine is a tip turbine engine, the variable fan inlet guide vanes permit the ability to control engine stability even though the fan-turbine rotor assembly is directly coupled to the axial compressor at a fixed rate. The fan inlet guide vanes may be actuated from an inner diameter of the fan inlet guide vanes.

Abstract: A seal assembly (118) mounted within a nonrotatable static inner support structure (16) for engagement with an axial seal face surface (114) and a radial seal face surface (116). The radial seal (120) engages the axial seal face surface and the axial seal (122) engages the radial seal face surface. The seal assembly provides minimal leakage of core airflow to increase the tip turbine engine operating efficiency.