Abstract: A system and method of safely discharging hydraulic fluid from a compressed gas cylinder, comprises filling first and second compressed gas cylinders with compressed gas. A compressed gas dispensing system has a pump that pumps hydraulic oil into the compressed gas cylinders to maintain a desired pressure while gas is dispensed. Gas is dispensed from the first cylinder while hydraulic fluid is pumped into the cylinder to maintain the desired pressure. Once the first cylinder is depleted, the hydraulic oil is discharged from the first cylinder. The process is repeated for the second cylinder. However, the hydraulic oil must be discharged from the second cylinder before the substantial depletion of the gas. To safely discharge the hydraulic oil, compressed gas from the second cylinder is distributed into the first cylinder. Once the second cylinder has reached a safe discharge pressure or volume, the hydraulic fluid is discharged.

Abstract: A fixed and/or stationary modular unit consists of a hydraulic fluid tank, a variable frequency drive consisting of a variable frequency controller, a variable frequency motor, and a pressurization pump. A compressed gas transportation system consists of a cylinder or set of cylinders. Each cylinder has a charging port and a dispensing port. A pair of valves are located at each charging port of each cylinder, with one valve connected to an incoming hydraulic fluid line and the other valve connected to a hydraulic fluid return line. A valve is connected at the dispensing port of each cylinder. As gas is dispensed from cylinders, hydraulic fluid is pumped from the tank by the variable frequency drive into the cylinder at a rate substantially equal to the dispensing rate of the compressed gas to maintain a constant pressure within the cylinder.

Abstract: A power control system for a turbogenerator which provides electrical power to one or more pump-jack oil wells. When the induction motor of a pump-jack oil well is powered by three-phase utility power, the speed of the pump-jack shaft varies only slightly over the pumping cycle but the utility power requirements can vary by four times the average pumping power. This power variation makes it impractical to power a pump-jack oil well with a stand-alone turbogenerator controlled by a conventional power control system. This power control system comprises a turbogenerator inverter, a load inverter, and a central processing unit which controls the frequency and voltage/current of each inverter.

Abstract: A helical flow compressor used to supply gaseous fuel to a turbogenerator is equipped with an inlet throttling valve. The inlet throttling valve maintains the outlet pressure of the compressor at a preselected value.

Abstract: A power control system for a turbogenerator which provides electrical power to one or more pump-jack oil wells. When the induction motor of a pump-jack oil well is powered by three-phase utility power, the speed of the pump-jack shaft varies only slighty over the pumping cycle but the utility power requirements can vary by four times the average pumping power. This power variation makes it impractical to power a pump-jack oil well with a stand-alone turbogenerator controlled by a conventional power control system. This power control system comprises a turbogenerator inverter, a load inverter, and a central process unit which controls the frequency and voltage/current of each inverter.

Abstract: A helical flow compressor/turbine permanent magnet motor/generator in which a pair of journal bearings are disposed on either side of the multiple impellers of the helical flow compressor/turbine of the helical flow compressor/turbine permanent magnet motor/generator.

Abstract: A power control system for a turbogenerator which provides electrical power to pump-jack oil well. When the induction motor of a pump-jack is powered by three-phase utility power, the speed of the shaft varies only slightly over the pumping cycle but the utility power requirements can vary by four times the average pumping power. This variation makes it impractical to power a pump-jack oil well with a stand-alone turbogenerator controlled by a conventional power control system. This control system comprises a turbogenerator inverter, a load inverter, and a central processing unit which controls the frequency and voltage/current of each inverter. Throughout the pumping cycle, the processing unit increases or decreases the frequency of the load inverter in order to axially accelerate and decelerate the masses of the down hole pump rods and oil, and to rotationally accelerate and decelerate the motor rotors and counter balance weights.

Abstract: A reciprocating engine generator set and a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor integrated into a single power generation package. Control means are provided to: (a) select between a load control mode of operation, a load following mode of operation, or a peak shaving mode of operation for the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor when utility grid power is available to the load; (b) to start the reciprocating engine electric generator when utility grid power is unavailable; and (c) to start the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor with power from the reciprocating engine electric generator when utility grid power is unavailable.

Abstract: A liquid fuel pressurization and control system is disclosed which utilizes either a helical flow pump, or a helical flow pump followed by a gear pump, to pressurize liquid fuel to precisely the pressure level required by a turbogenerator's combustor injectors. This eliminates the need to overpressurize the fuel then regulate the fuel pressure down using a flow control valve or a pressure control valve. The shaft torque and shaft speed of the pump are controlled by the turbogenerator's power controller so as to assure that the turbogenerator's speed is precisely controlled (e.g. within ten (10) rpm out of one hundred thousand (100,000) rpm), and that its turbine exhaust temperature is precisely controlled (e.g. within two (2) degrees Fahrenheit out of twelve hundred (1200) degrees Fahrenheit) over the full range of turbogenerator electrical output power.

Abstract: A liquid fuel pressurization and control system is disclosed which utilizes either a helical flow pump, or a helical flow pump followed by a gear pump, to pressurize liquid fuel to precisely the pressure level required by a turbogenerator's combustor injectors. This eliminates the need to overpressurize the fuel then regulate the fuel pressure down using a flow control valve or a pressure control valve. The shaft torque and shaft speed of the pump are controlled by the turbogenerator's power controller so as to assure that the turbogenerator's speed is precisely controlled (e.g. within ten (10) rpm out of one hundred thousand (100,000) rpm), and that its turbine exhaust temperature is precisely controlled (e.g. within two (2) degrees Fahrenheit out of twelve hundred (1200) degrees Fahrenheit) over the full range of turbogenerator electrical output power.

Abstract: A hydraulic start system is provided having separate, sequentially started hydraulic motors for the controller PMG and for the gas turbine engine starter. Fluid pressure is provided by a hydraulic accumulator to both motors through separating valves. The PMG motor is supplied with fluid first and that drives the PMG to power up and initialize the controller before the starter motor is utilized. The engine itself is coupled to both the starter motor and the PMG through overrunning clutches such that starting the PMG does not start the engine. Once the controller is initialized, fluid is provided to the starter motor and the engine is accelerated through the light-off window and up to a self sustaining speed. As the engine accelerates, it couples with and drives the PMG, decoupling the PMG from its hydraulic motor and shutting off the fluid flow to that motor.

Abstract: A power generating unit in accordance with the present invention comprises a pressurized gas source (44) providing pressurized gas containing oxygen to be used in combustion of a fuel; a combustor (42) for providing pressurized gas produced by combustion of a mixture of the pressurized gas provided to the combustor by the pressurized gas source and fuel provided to the combustor by a fuel supply (48); a first turbine (68) driven by pressurized gas produced by the combustor; a gear box (70) driven by the turbine having an output shaft (72); a fuel pump (46) disposed within the fuel supply having a pair of input shafts (64 and 76) for providing pressurized fuel to the combustor in response to rotation of either of the input shafts; a motor (58) coupled to the pressurized gas source having a drive shaft (60) which rotates in response to the pressurized gas applied from the gas source; and a coupling mechanism (62 and 74), coupled to the shafts, for applying driving torque to the fuel pump during rotation of the

Abstract: An aircraft auxiliary power system using a turbine to provide rotational power to a gearbox having coupled to it electric generators and pumps. Between the gearbox and turbine a clutch is provided. The clutch is disengaged when the turbine is started, thus reducing drag on the turbine shaft during starting, and the clutch is engaged after the turbine is started to provide rotational power to the coupled electric generators and pumps.

Abstract: In order to control engine operation by exhaust gas measurement, while avoiding operating conditions that exceed the safe maximum temperature limit, a gas turbine engine (10) includes a thermocouple temperature probe (28). The gas turbine engine (10) has a rotary compressor (12), a turbine wheel (14) coupled to the compressor (12) for driven movement thereof, and an annular nozzle (16) proximate the turbine wheel (14) for directing gases of combustion at the turbine wheel (14). It also includes an annular combustor (18) defining an annular combustion space (20) disposed about the turbine wheel (14) and in fluid communication with both the compressor (12) and the nozzle (16). The combustor (18) receives fuel from a source and air from the compressor (12) and it combusts fuel and air in the combustion space (20) to generate the gases of combustion.

Abstract: A fuel and air control system (10, 100) for a power unit which produces output power from a turbine which rotates in response to pressurized gas provided by a combustor (12) which combusts fuel which is injected into the combustor by a primary fuel injector (14) to produce the pressurized gas cooled by fuel injected into the combustor by a secondary fuel injector (16) in accordance with the invention includes a fuel control valve (30) coupled to a source of fuel which controls a combined fuel flow through a fuel flow path (32) from the control valve to the injectors in response to a fuel flow control signal; an air control valve (44) coupled to an air source which controls a mass flow of air through an airflow path to the combustor in response to an airflow control signal; and a controller (34), providing the control signals, for causing the valves to produce flows resulting in a constant air/fuel ratio in the combustor during combustion when the fuel flow and air flow are varied under control of the controll

Abstract: An airframe power unit for producing a power output in accordance with the invention includes a combustor (16) having a fuel injector (58) which injects fuel into the combustor which is combusted to form a gas stream (18); a turbine (12) driven by the gas stream from the combustor for producing the power output; an air supply (20) for providing pressurized gas containing oxygen blown down from a storage vessel (22) to the combustor which is used in the combusting of the fuel; a valve (24) disposed in the gas supply which controls a rate of supply of gas to the combustor in response to the control signal applied to the valve to cause the turbine to operate with a constant operational characteristic; a control for providing at least one control value (P.sub.S and S.sub.

Abstract: A fuel control system (10) for a power unit used for generating power used for operating an airframe in accordance with the invention includes an air supply (18) for supplying pressurized air blown down from a storage vessel (14) to a combustor (16) which generates a gas stream by burning fuel supplied by a fuel supply (32) driving a turbine (50) to produce the power; a pressure sensor (26) coupled to the air supply for producing an analog signal proportional to pressure upstream in the air supply from the combustor; a digital to analog converter (54) having an offset input coupled to a signal proportional to the sensed pressure, a digital input for receiving a digital input signal, and an analog output which varies in proportion to the sum of the signal applied to the offset input and the digital input signal; a fuel control valve (38) contained with the fuel supply which is controlled as a function of the analog output signal of the digital to analog converter; an analog to digital converter (56) having at

Abstract: A temperature compensated control system (100) for a hydraulically controlled clutch (18) for controlling a source of rotary power to a load (101) for accelerating the load from a first velocity to a second velocity within a time interval measured from a beginning of the acceleration and ending between first and second times measured from the beginning of the acceleration with the load being variable during the acceleration of the load from the first velocity to the second velocity is disclosed. Gain compensation is provided as a function of temperature of hydraulic fluid within a servo system (110) controlling the clutch.