Abstract: A turbine blade and platform assembly in which the platform is a separate piece that is secured to the blade through shear pins that extend along slots formed between opposed abutting parts of the blade and the platform. Because the platform is detached from the blade, the blade can be made of a single crystal superalloy with a reduction in casting defects. The platform has one or more airfoil shaped openings or slots on the outer surface in which a blade is inserted. The shear pins are inserted to secure the platform to the blade. In another embodiment, the blade root is inserted into an opening formed in the rotor disk, and shear pins are inserted into slots formed in the root and the disk opening in order to secure the blade to the rotor disk. With this embodiment, the blade can be made of a ceramic material because only compressive forces are formed to hold the blade in place.

Abstract: A small single use gas turbine engine with a twin spool rotor shaft and a bypass fan, the rotor shafts being supported for rotation by bearings in the front and rear compartments of the engine. A portion of the bypass fan air is diverted to flow through the bearings in order to provide for cooling of the high speed bearings. Because a large amount of cooling air is required to cool the bearings, an air in tube is positioned in each of the guide vanes in the turbine section to provide for a cooling air passage leading into the rear bearings. In the front bearings, cooling air from the bypass fan is bled off from a location just upstream from the entrance to the centrifugal compressor. A fuel mist tube supplies fuel mist to the cooling air before passing through the bearings to provide extra cooling for the bearings and to provide lubrication to improve the service life of the engine.

Abstract: A small gas turbine engine for use in an UAV such as a cruise missile, the gas turbine having a combustor forming a primary burn zone and a secondary burn zone, and in which fuel is injected into both the primary and the secondary burn zones by either a rotary cup injector or a plurality of fuel injector nozzles. The secondary burn zone with separate fuel injection allows for the diameter of the engine to be reduced in size but still allow for adequate power and efficiency to be reached for powering the vehicle. Air flow from the compressor is used to cool the combustor walls before being injected into the combustor, and to pass through and cool the guide nozzles and a main bearing located near the hot section of the combustor prior to being introduced into the combustor.

Abstract: A blade for a rotor of a gas turbine engine is constructed with a spar and shell configuration. The spar is constructed in an integral unit or multi-portions and includes a first wall adjacent to the pressure side and a second wall adjacent to the suction side, a tip portion extending in the spanwise direction and extending beyond the first wall and the second wall and a root portion extending longitudinally, an attachment portion having a central opening for receiving the root portion and a platform portion. The root portion fits into the central opening and is secured therein by a pin extending transversely through the attachment and the root portion. The shell fits over the spar and is supported thereto by a plurality of complementary hooks extending from the spar and shell. The ends of the shell fit into grooves formed on the tip portion and the platform.

Abstract: A blade for a rotor of a gas turbine engine is constructed with a spar and shell configuration. The spar is constructed in an integral unit or multi-portions and includes a first wall adjacent to the pressure side and a second wall adjacent to the suction side, a tip portion extending in the spanwise direction and extending beyond the first wall and the second wall and a root portion extending longitudinally, an attachment portion having a central opening for receiving the root portion and a platform portion. The root portion fits into the central opening and is secured therein by a pin extending transversely through the attachment and the root portion. The shell fits over the spar and is supported thereto by a plurality of complementary hooks extending from the spar and shell. The ends of the shell fit into grooves formed on the tip portion and the platform.

Abstract: An integrated gas turbine compressor and rotary fuel injector is provided which includes a rotary cup combustor having an atomizing element for dispersal and distribution of fuel throughout the combustor. The combustor is positioned in close proximity to the compressor impeller of a gas turbine engine having a centrifugal compressor. The rear face of the impeller, or the rear face of an attachment to the impeller, is contoured to receive the fuel supply. The contour terminates at a lip disposed at a larger radius from the centerline shaft than conventional shaft-mounted slingers. The larger radius of fuel release provides better fuel atomization due to larger rim speeds, thereby improving combustor performance.

Abstract: An integrated gas turbine compressor and rotary fuel injector is provided which includes a rotary cup combustor having an atomizing element for dispersal and distribution of fuel throughout the combustor. The combustor is positioned in close proximity to the compressor impeller of a gas turbine engine having a centrifugal compressor. The rear face of the impeller, or the rear face of an attachment to the impeller, is contoured to receive the fuel supply. The contour terminates at a lip disposed at a larger radius from the centerline shaft than conventional shaft-mounted slingers. The larger radius of fuel release provides better fuel atomization due to larger rim speeds, thereby improving combustor performance.