Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises turbine and compressor elements on a rotary shaft. The shaft is rotably mounted on preloaded axial thrust bearings. As it rotates in use the turbine and compressor elements create an axial thrust load on the bearings. According to the invention that axial thrust load is opposed by an electromagnetic coil which is energised to exert an axial force on the shaft in opposition to the axial thrust load and preferably completely balancing the axial thrust load. Bearing life is much extended.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine driven auxiliary electric power unit which includes a turbine (9), an air compressor (7) for supplying compressed air to the turbine and driven by the turbine, fuel supplying means (2) for supplying gaseous fuel to the turbine, a generator (10) driven by the turbine for generating electrical output power which is fed to a main electric user supply (14), first detecting means (15) for monitoring turbine shaft speed, second detecting means (19) for monitoring the output power of the generator, first modulating means (16,18,13) for modulating the turbine shaft speed to cause it to coincide with a predetermined shaft speed (17) by means of controlling current flow from the generator to the main electric user supply, and second modulating means (20,22,23) for modulating the flow of gaseous fuel which is supplied from the fuel supplying means to the turbine so as to cause the monitored output power to coincide with a predetermined output power (21).

Abstract: A gaseous fuel compression and control system for gas turbine engine (30) comprises a screw compressor (10) driven by an electric motor (11) for feeding gaseous fuel to the gas turbine engine, and a modulating device (12) for modulating the rotational speed of the motor by controlling the frequency of electric power to the motor in response to sensed output power of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: An epicyclic gear comprises housing, pinion forming on an input shaft supported in the housing, at least three planetary gears supported in the housing via shafts and geared with the pinion, an internal gear supported in the housing via an output shaft and surrounding and geared with the planetary gears, a passage for lubricating oil through the housing into the shafts of the planetary gears, a conduit supported on at least one shaft and for conveying oil from the shafts towards the center of the housing via outlet jets, and a bridge supported between at least two shafts and supporting the outlet jets, wherein at least one planetary gear overlaps the remaining adjacent planetary gears in an axial direction of the pinion without mutual interfering with each other.

Abstract: A high speed rotating electromagnetic motor/generator includes a rotor having a core of magnetic material, a layer of permanent magnet, a retainer ring and side walls of non-magnetic material. A stator is provided by magnetic steel laminations and winding slots. A case includes a cylindrical inner casing, a cylindrical outer casing and end caps which carry the machine bearings. The permanent magnets within the rotating part may be made of neodymium-boron-iron and produce a high flux density pole rotor. The motor/generator can be operated as a brushless direct current or synchronous alternating current machine. Efficient means of cooling is provided by helical channels, which carry a liquid coolant, and are formed in the casing.

Abstract: An apparatus for the domestic cogeneration of heat and electrical energy utilizing an inverted Brayton cycle gas turbine, a combustion chamber, an electrical generator and a compressor. Combustion air is preheated in a heat exchanger by gaseous combustion gases or exhaust gases exiting from the turbine. The combustion air is supplied at substantially atmospheric pressure to the combustion chamber where fuel is burned. The cooled gaseous combustion gases exiting from the heat exchanger are then fed to the compressor where they are recompressed to atmospheric pressure, and are finally used to heat the working fluid of a domestic heating system before being exhausted to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A compact, air cycle air conditioning system including compressor, turbine, heat exchanger and high speed electric motor is thermostatically controlled to supply either hot or cold conditioned air to a load air space. In a second arrangement, compact, exhaust gas driven air cycle air conditioning system including a compressor, turbine, two heat exchangers and an exhaust turbine is controlled by means of an exhaust gas bypass arrangement and supplies either hot or cold conditioned air to a load air space. In a third arrangement compact, exhasut gas driven air cycle air conditioning system includes an expansion turbine, two compressors, two heat exchangers and an exhaust turbine which is preferably controlled by means of an exhaust gas bypass arrangement and supplies either hot or cold conditioning air to a load air space.