Abstract: A face seal assembly is provided having an annular seal body mounted in an axially moveable relationship to a seal support structure. A piston ring is disposed between the annular seal body and the seal support structure forming a secondary seal. A first locator spring, which is an annular wave spring, is disposed between said seal support structure and the piston ring to urge the piston ring in an axial direction. Optionally, a second locator spring, also a wave spring, may be disposed between the piston ring and the seal support structure for urging the piston ring in a radial direction.

Abstract: A face seal assembly is provided having an annular seal body mounted in an axially moveable relationship to a seal support structure. A piston ring is disposed between the annular seal body and the seal support structure forming a secondary seal. A first locator spring, which is an annular wave spring, is disposed between said seal support structure and the piston ring to urge the piston ring in an axial direction. Optionally, a second locator spring, also a wave spring, may be disposed between the piston ring and the seal support structure for urging the piston ring in a radial direction.

Abstract: A hybrid-composite gas turbine exhaust nozzle compression link is formed as an elongated hollow tubular cylindrical shell having an axis of elongation. In cross section taken perpendicular to the axis of elongation, the shell has a structure of an inner rim of an inner-rim titanium-base alloy, a reinforcing layer having reinforcing fibers such as silicon carbide fibers extending parallel to the axis of elongation and embedded in a matrix titanium-base alloy, and an outer rim of an outer-rim titanium-base alloy. The titanium-base alloys are typically of the same nominal composition. Attachment fittings are present at each end of the shell.

Abstract: A support structure for a gas turbine engine includes a support arm (214, 216) extending between a low pressure shaft (202) and a rotor. The support arm includes a fuse (220) having a low failure point. A high pressure stub shaft (270) axially and radially supports the low pressure shaft (202) after fuse failure. An axial gap (A) between a portion of the low pressure shaft and the stub shaft permits movement of the low pressure shaft after fuse failure. A radial gap (B) between the stub shaft (270) and the low pressure shaft (202) allows radial deflection of the low pressure rotor system after fuse failure.

Abstract: A rotor and stator assembly having a rotor and a stator with opposing surfaces defining an air bearing and an air dam of an aspirating face seal. In a first embodiment, the air bearing and the air dam are axially offset. In a second embodiment, the rotor has an axially extending protuberance located radially between the air bearing and the air dam. The axial offset and the protuberance each act to divert the air flow (e.g., compressed gas or combustion gases in a gas turbine or steam in a steam turbine) in a direction transverse to the air flow direction through the air bearing and the air dam, thus isolating the air flows from the air bearing and the air dam which improves seal performance.

Abstract: There is provided by the present invention a brush seal including apparatus for reducing bristle vibrations, such as a damper, that engages the upstream side of the bristle pack of the brush seal so as to absorb vibrations and therefore reduce chamfering of the bristle pack.

Abstract: A brush seal is provided having a plurality of bristle layers sandwiched between a pair of circumferential plates with the upstream layers of bristles having a higher first fundamental vibration frequency than downstream seal layers. Such a seal has bristles in the upstream layer or layers that have a greater cross sectional area, a lesser lay angle, are shorter, or some combination of the foregoing.

Abstract: An improved brush seal for reducing swirl, recirculation and turbulence of an approaching gas stream to reduce irregular bristle wear and operating costs. The brush real may include a baffle of the honeycomb type or circumferentially stacked plates type, positive or negative steps in the flow path approaching a seal stage, and recirculation breakers.

Abstract: The invention concerns the mounting of propeller blades to a ring-shaped rotor. The blades are of the variable pitch type, and the shank of each blade extends through a respective hole in the rotor. Each hole contains an annular shelf which is fastened to the wall of the hole and surrounds each shank. Each shank bears a pair of bearing races which sandwich the annular shelf in order to connect the blade to the rotor. Bearing rollers are positioned between the annular shelf and the bearing races.

Abstract: An aircraft engine is mounted on an aircraft wing such that the wing wake sheds along a zone at a predetermined position on the engine disk thereby minimizing dynamic loads or resonance. For a prechosen or design set of engine conditions the strength of the dynamic load is a function of the radial location of the zone on the disk having at least one relative minima between the centerline and the perimeter of the disk. The zone is positioned on the disk such that the value of the function is essentially a relative minima.

Abstract: A clearance control apparatus has a pair of positioning mechanisms for quickly controlling the clearance between rotor blade tips and a shroud segment of a gas turbine engine casing. The positioning mechanisms are supported by axially-spaced casing bosses, coupled to the shroud segment via a shroud holder, and actuatable for moving radially between inner and outer stops. As the positioning mechanisms are moved between the inner and outer stops, the shroud segment is moved therewith toward and away from the rotor axis to respective inner and outer positions relative to the rotor at which corresponding desired minimum and maximum clearances are established between the shroud segment and rotor blade tips. A fluid cylinder on the casing has a piston coupled to the positioning mechanisms by a link.

Abstract: A clearnace control apparatus has a plurality of positioning mechanisms and an annular unison ring for controlling the clearance between the rotor blade tips and shroud segments of a gas turbine engine casing. The positioning mechanisms are supported by circumferentially-spaced casing bosses, connected to the shroud, and actuatable by the unison ring for moving radially toward and away from the rotor blade tips. As the positioning mechanisms are moved radially, the shroud segments move therewith toward and away from the rotor axis to positioned between inner and outer positions which define minimum and maximum clearances between the shroud segments and rotor blade tips. The unison ring has circumferentially spaced slots defined therethrough each extending in a transverse inclined relation to the respective directions of movement of the unison ring and positioning mechanisms and having spaced opposite ends defining first and second angularly displaced limit positions of the unison ring.

Abstract: An aircraft propeller blade is constructed by forming two shells of composite material laminates and bonding the two shells to a metallic spar with foam filler pieces interposed between the shells at desired locations. The blade is then balanced radially and chordwise.

Abstract: A propulsor blade for an aircraft engine includes an airfoil section formed in the shape of a scimitar. A metallic blade spar is interposed between opposed surfaces of the blade and is bonded to the surfaces to establish structural integrity of the blade. The metallic blade spar includes a root end allowing attachment of the blade to the engine.

Abstract: Air control means in a gas turbine engine having a variable pitch rotatable airfoil and means for varying the pitch of the airfoil are disclosed. The air control means comprises a platform fixedly attached to a radially inner end of the airfoil. The platform is generally positioned on a rotatable annular surface, which surface defines outer and inner spaces. In a first position, an edge portion of the platform substantially conforms to the annular surface. In a second position, the edge portion is displaced radially outwardly from the surface thereby allowing fluid communication between the outer and inner spaces.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a turbomachine rotor assembly having a blade mounting means comprising a rotor spool defining a flowpath surface and having at least one circumferential dovetail shaped retaining groove therein. A plurality of radially extending blade members each comprising a dovetail root are positioned in the retaining groove of the rotor spool. The root comprises a pair of axially oppositely extending asymmetric shoulders having radially outwardly facing and differentially radially spaced contact surfaces for mating with complementary surfaces of the retaining groove of the rotor spool.

Abstract: A propulsor blade for an aircraft engine includes an airfoil section formed in the shape of a scimitar. A metallic blade spar is interposed between opposed surfaces of the blade and is bonded to the surfaces to establish structural integrity of the blade. The metallic blade spar includes a root end allowing attachment of the blade to the engine.