Abstract: Liquid fuel from a rotary fluid trap is atomized by a sharp edge on an inside surface of an aft cavity of a bladed rotor of a gas turbine engine and directed into each of a plurality of associated hollow blades through corresponding blade inlet ducts that are in fluid communication with corresponding aft hollow interior portions of each blade. A radially-extending central rib within each blade partitions the hollow interior thereof into aft and forward hollow interior portions that are in fluid communication through an associated opening in the central rib and through a radially-extending gap between the central rib and the interior surface of the blade. A blade outlet duct provides for fluid communication between the forward hollow interior portion and a forward cavity of the bladed rotor, and a rotor outlet duct provides for discharging the fuel from a radially-inboard portion of the forward cavity.

Abstract: A single page multi-tier catalog browser interface page is presented in a view formatted in response to a selection of a primary filter. The view displays a graduated element for selecting a primary filter value, and a matrix of secondary filter Yes or No indicators, each associated with the graduated element primary filter values, the Yes indicators aligned with the primary and secondary filter values that match within at least one record in a catalog. Selection of a graduated element value causes aligned Yes matrix indicators to be presented as selectable first-click icons in the interface page. Selection of a first-click icon expands it into a tertiary sub-window within the interface page, wherein selection thereof effects a layered primary-secondary-tertiary value searching of the catalog. Each of the above is achieved without navigating the user away from the single interface page.

Abstract: A control schedule incorporating a relationship between corrected torque and inlet pressure is selected or determined responsive to a power-level command representative of a level of power to be transmitted to a controllable load by a single-spool turboshaft engine. At least a substantial portion of the control schedule provides for a flat-rated power level by the single-spool turboshaft engine substantially independent of associated inlet air pressure and inlet air temperature, and for at least one selectable mode of operation, the control schedule provides for minimizing or nearly minimizing a measure of fuel consumption, and for at least one other selectable mode of operation, the control schedule provides for operation at a substantially fixed level of rotational speed.

Abstract: A control schedule incorporating a relationship between corrected torque and inlet pressure is selected or determined responsive to a power-level command representative of a level of power to be transmitted to a controllable load by a single-spool turboshaft engine. At least a substantial portion of the control schedule provides for a flat-rated power level by the single-spool turboshaft engine substantially independent of associated inlet air pressure and inlet air temperature, and for at least one selectable mode of operation, the control schedule provides for minimizing or nearly minimizing a measure of fuel consumption, and for at least one other selectable mode of operation, the control schedule provides for operation at a substantially fixed level of rotational speed.

Abstract: One of a controllable load and a fuel flow to a single-spool turboshaft engine is controlled so that a rotational speed of a single-spool turboshaft engine is substantially regulated to a level corresponding to a corrected rotational speed command, and the other of the fuel flow and the controllable load is controlled so that a torque transmitted from the single-spool turboshaft engine to the controllable load is substantially regulated to a level corresponding to a corrected torque command. Under at least one operating condition, the corrected rotational speed command is determined so as to minimize or nearly minimize a measure of fuel consumption by the single-spool turboshaft engine when operated so that the torque transmitted to the controllable load corresponds to the corrected torque command.

Abstract: Fuel (12) is supplied to a rotatable portion (118) of a gas turbine engine (10) comprising a rotor (24) and at least one blade (26, 26.1) operatively coupled thereto, so as to provide for cooling at least one of the rotor (24) or the at least one blade (26, 26.1) by transforming the fuel (12) to a vapor or gaseous state. The fuel (12) is discharged in a vapor or gaseous state from the rotatable portion (118) directly into a combustion chamber (16) of the gas turbine engine (10).

Abstract: Liquid fuel from a rotary fluid trap is atomized by a sharp edge on an inside surface of an aft cavity of a bladed rotor of a gas turbine engine and directed into each of a plurality of associated hollow blades through corresponding blade inlet ducts that are in fluid communication with corresponding aft hollow interior portions of each blade. A radially-extending central rib within each blade partitions the hollow interior thereof into aft and forward hollow interior portions that are in fluid communication through an associated opening in the central rib and through a radially-extending gap between the central rib and the interior surface of the blade. A blade outlet duct provides for fluid communication between the forward hollow interior portion and a forward cavity of the bladed rotor, and a rotor outlet duct provides for discharging the fuel from a radially-inboard portion of the forward cavity.

Abstract: A single page multi-tier catalog browser interface page is presented in a view formatted in response to a selection of a primary filter. The view displays a graduated element for selecting a primary filter value, and a matrix of secondary filter Yes or No indicators, each associated with the graduated element primary filter values, the Yes indicators aligned with the primary and secondary filter values that match within at least one record in a catalog. Selection of a graduated element value causes aligned Yes matrix indicators to be presented as selectable first-click icons in the interface page. Selection of a first-click icon expands it into a tertiary sub-window within the interface page, wherein selection thereof effects a layered primary-secondary-tertiary value searching of the catalog. Each of the above is achieved without navigating the user away from the single interface page.

Abstract: One of a controllable load and a fuel flow to a single-spool turboshaft engine is controlled so that a rotational speed of a single-spool turboshaft engine is substantially regulated to a level corresponding to a corrected rotational speed command, and the other of the fuel flow and the controllable load is controlled so that a torque transmitted from the single-spool turboshaft engine to the controllable load is substantially regulated to a level corresponding to a corrected torque command. Under at least one operating condition, the corrected rotational speed command is determined so as to minimize or nearly minimize a measure of fuel consumption by the single-spool turboshaft engine when operated so that the torque transmitted to the controllable load corresponds to the corrected torque command.

Abstract: A single page multi-tier catalog browser interface page is presented in a view formatted in response to a selection of a primary filter. The view displays a graduated element for selecting a primary filter value, and a matrix of secondary filter Yes or No indicators, each associated with the graduated element primary filter values, the Yes indicators aligned with the primary and secondary filter values that match within at least one record in a catalog. Selection of a graduated element value causes aligned Yes matrix indicators to be presented as selectable first-click icons in the interface page. Selection of a first-click icon expands it into a tertiary sub-window within the interface page, wherein selection thereof effects a layered primary-secondary-tertiary value searching of the catalog. Each of the above is achieved without navigating the user away from the single interface page.

Abstract: A controller receives a power-level command representative of a level of power to be transmitted by a single-spool turboshaft engine to a controllable load. A torque command determined responsive to a measure of inlet pressure, from a control schedule responsive to the power-level command, is representative of a level of torque to be transmitted by an element to drive the controllable load. Under some operating conditions, a rotational speed command provides for at least nearly minimizing a measure of associated fuel consumption when the transmitted torque is regulated to the level corresponding to the torque command by controlling one of the controllable load and a fuel flow to the engine, and the other of the controllable load and the fuel flow to the engine is controlled so as to regulate an associated rotational speed to a level corresponding to the rotational speed command.

Abstract: Lubrication fluid is discharged through an axial gap between a outer bearing race and a bearing housing from a cavity bounded in part by a forward surface of the outer bearing race that is axially slideable within the bearing housing so as to provide for changing the axial gap. The pressure in the cavity is automatically controlled responsive to an axial force on outer bearing race by an axial position of the outer bearing race that determines a size of the axial gap, so as to provide for increasing the pressure responsive to increasing axial force over at least a portion of an operating range. The lubrication fluid in the axial gap provides for isolating axial vibrations of the outer bearing race relative to the bearing housing.

Abstract: A load applied to a low pressure spool of a two-spool turboshaft engine is controlled responsive to inlet pressure and temperature so as to regulate a relationship between the rotational speeds of the low and high pressure spools of the two-spool turboshaft engine so as to provide for operating the low pressure compressor attached to the low pressure spool with sufficient surge margin.

Abstract: A single page multi-tier catalog browser interface page is presented in a view formatted in response to a selection of a primary filter. The view displays a graduated element for selecting a primary filter value, and a matrix of secondary filter Yes or No indicators, each associated with the graduated element primary filter values, the Yes indicators aligned with the primary and secondary filter values that match within at least one record in a catalog. Selection of a graduated element value causes aligned Yes matrix indicators to be presented as selectable first-click icons in the interface page. Selection of a first-click icon expands it into a tertiary sub-window within the interface page, wherein selection thereof effects a layered primary-secondary-tertiary value searching of the catalog. Each of the above is achieved without navigating the user away from the single interface page.

Abstract: Fuel (12) supplied to a rotary fluid trap (42) is centrifugally accelerated within a first cavity (46) adjacent a first side (48) of a rotor (24), and is then directed though a plurality of first passages (66) extending through the rotor (24) between and proximate to the blades (26), and shaped so as to at least partially conform to the shape of the blades (26). Second passages (100) extend within the blades (26) from the first passages (66) and terminate within associated cavities (110) proximate to the tips (112) of the blades (26). Relatively cooler fuel (12.2) in the first passages (66) is thermosiphon exchanged for relatively hotter fuel (12.3) in the second passages (100) so as to cool the blades (26). The heated fuel (12.3) flows into a second cavity (74) adjacent to a second side (72) of the rotor (24) and is discharged from the rotating frame of reference directly into the combustion chamber (16) through a second rotary fluid trap (96).

Abstract: A controller receives a power-level command representative of a level of power to be transmitted by a single-spool turboshaft engine to a controllable load. A torque command determined responsive to a measure of inlet pressure, from a control schedule responsive to the power-level command, is representative of a level of torque to be transmitted by an element to drive the controllable load. Under some operating conditions, a rotational speed command provides for at least nearly minimizing a measure of associated fuel consumption when the transmitted torque is regulated to the level corresponding to the torque command by controlling one of the controllable load and a fuel flow to the engine, and the other of the controllable load and the fuel flow to the engine is controlled so as to regulate an associated rotational speed to a level corresponding to the rotational speed command.

Abstract: Fuel (12) is supplied to a rotatable portion (118) of a gas turbine engine (10) comprising a rotor (24) and at least one blade (26, 26.1) operatively coupled thereto, so as to provide for cooling at least one of the rotor (24) and the at least one blade (26, 26.1) by transforming the fuel (12) to a vapor or gaseous state. The fuel (12) is discharged is a vapor or gaseous state from the rotatable portion (118) directly into a combustion chamber (16) of the gas turbine engine (10).

Abstract: Lubrication fluid is discharged through an axial gap between a outer bearing race and a bearing housing from an enclosed volume bounded in part by a forward surface of the outer bearing race that is axially slideable within the bearing housing so as to provide for changing the axial gap. The pressure in the enclosed volume is automatically controlled responsive to an axial force on outer bearing race by an axial position of the outer bearing race that determines a size of the axial gap, so as to provide for increasing the pressure responsive to increasing axial force over at least a portion of an operating range. The lubrication fluid in the axial gap provides for isolating axial vibrations of the outer bearing race relative to the bearing housing.

Abstract: Fuel (12) supplied to a rotary fluid trap (42) is centrifugally accelerated within a first cavity (46) adjacent a first side (48) of a rotor (24), and is then directed though a plurality of first passages (66) extending through the rotor (24) between and proximate to the blades (26), and shaped so as to at least partially conform to the shape of the blades (26). Second passages (100) extend within the blades (26) from the first passages (66) and terminate within associated cavities (110) proximate to the tips (112) of the blades (26). Relatively cooler fuel (12.2) in the first passages (66) is thermosiphon exchanged for relatively hotter fuel (12.3) in the second passages (100) so as to cool the blades (26). The heated fuel (12.3) flows into a second cavity (74) adjacent to a second side (72) of the rotor (24) and is discharged from the rotating frame of reference directly into the combustion chamber (16) through a second rotary fluid trap (96).

Abstract: Fuel supplied to a rotary fluid trap is centrifugally accelerated within a first cavity adjacent a first side of a rotor, and is then directed though a plurality of first passages extending through the rotor between and proximate to the blades, and shaped so as to at least partially conform to the shape of the blades. Second passages extend within the blades from the first passages and terminate within associated cavities proximate to the tips of the blades. Relatively cooler fuel in the first passages is thermosiphon exchanged for relatively hotter fuel in the second passages so as to cool the blades. The heated fuel flows into a second cavity adjacent to a second side of the rotor and is discharged from the rotating frame of reference directly into the combustion chamber through a second rotary fluid trap. A separate fuel distribution circuit is used for starting and warm-up.