Multi-spool Turbocompressor Patents (Class 60/792)
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Patent number: 12084190Abstract: The invention concerns an aircraft turbine engine (1), comprising a gas generator comprising at least one annular gas flow duct (2), the duct (2) being defined by two annular housings, respectively an external housing (3b) and an internal housing (3a), extending one around the other and connected together by at least one tubular arm (5) for the passage of a lubricating oil line (7). According to the invention, the line (7) comprises a first fixed section (14) secured to the external housing (3b), a second fixed section (16) secured to a piece of equipment (4) of the turbomachine capable of moving or vibrating during operation relative to the housings (3a, 3b), and an intermediate section (18) connecting the first and second sections (14, 16), this intermediate section (18) having a generally elongate shape and comprising longitudinal ends engaged and capable of swiveling and/or sliding in ends of the first and second sections (14, 16).Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINESInventors: Regis Eugene Henri Servant, Didier Gabriel Bertrand Desombre, Christophe Paul Jacquemard
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Patent number: 11994088Abstract: A dual entry turbine of a compression device includes a housing having a first inlet and a second inlet, and a first outlet and a second outlet. A turbine impeller is arranged within the housing. The turbine impeller has a first gas path and a second gas path. A first flow path extends from the first inlet to the first outlet via the first gas path and a second flow path extends from the second inlet to the second outlet via the second gas path. The first flow path and the second flow path being fluidly separate from one another.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2021Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Louis J. Bruno, Darryl A. Colson, Tony Ho, Donald E. Army
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Patent number: 11873767Abstract: A gear assembly for use with a turbomachine comprises a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, and a ring gear. The gear assembly is connected to an input shaft and an output shaft. The sun gear is configured to rotate about a longitudinal centerline of the gear assembly, and is driven by the input shaft. A component of the gear assembly drives the output shaft. The gear assembly further comprises an output shaft reversal mechanism configured to reverse the rotational direction of the output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2021Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignees: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrea Piazza, Darek Zatorski, Juraj Hrubec, David M. Ostdiek
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Patent number: 11619178Abstract: A gas turbine includes a compressor configured to compress air; a combustor configured to mix and combust fuel and compressed air compressed by the compressor; a turbine configured to obtain rotational power using combustion gas generated by the combustor; an inlet guide vane disposed at an intake of the compressor to adjust a flow rate of air flowing into the compressor; a bleed line configured to return a part of the compressed air pressurized in the compressor to the intake of the compressor; and an on-off valve disposed in the bleed line. When the output of the gas turbine increases, a preset maximum value limit of the inlet guide vane is corrected based on a valve opening degree command value of the on-off valve and a compressor intake temperature such that the gas turbine achieves a predetermined performance.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Erina Otsuka, Makoto Kishi, Atsushi Kakiuchi
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Patent number: 11608784Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a low speed input shaft drives a first plurality of accessories. A high speed input shaft drives a second plurality of accessories. The first plurality of accessories rotating about a first set of rotational axes perpendicular to a first plane. The second plurality of accessories rotating about a second set rotational axes perpendicular to a second plane. The first and second planes extending in opposed directions away from a drive input axis. Compressed air is tapped and passes through a heat exchanger, then to a boost compressor, and then to at least one rotatable components in a main compressor section and a main turbine section. The boost compressor driven on a boost axis, which is non-parallel to the first set of rotational axes and the second set of rotational axes.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Hung Duong, Marc J. Muldoon, Gabriel L. Suciu
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Patent number: 11591967Abstract: An example system for providing mechanical power to an aircraft accessory with a turbine engine, where the turbine engine includes a low-speed spool and a high-speed spool, includes an accessory gearbox disposed between the low-speed spool and the high-speed spool and a clutch disposed within or external to the accessory gearbox. The accessory gearbox is configured to drive the aircraft accessory, and the clutch is configured to enable either the high-speed spool or the low-speed spool to provide mechanical power to the aircraft accessory via the accessory gearbox.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: David W. Foutch, Joseph M. Dirusso
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Patent number: 11448164Abstract: An engine core including a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor, the turbine being the lowest pressure turbine of the engine and the compressor being the lowest pressure compressor of the engine; a fan located upstream of the engine core; and a gearbox that receives an input from the core shaft and outputs drive to the fan. The engine core further includes three bearings arranged to support the core shaft, the three bearings including a forward bearing and two rearward bearings, and wherein the forwardmost rearward bearing has a bearing stiffness in the range of 30 kN/mm to 100 kN/mm, the bearing stiffness being defined by the radial displacement caused by the application of a radial force at the axial centrepoint of the bearing.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Jillian C Gaskell, Chathura K Kannangara, Punitha Kamesh
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Patent number: 11359540Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel gas turbine system having applications, for example, in thermal power generation in an environmentally friendly manner. The multiloop gas turbine system may have multiple functional units each comprising a compressor, a regenerator, a combustion unit, and a turbine. Typically, exhaust flow of a turbine of a preceding loop may be routed to the combustion unit of the next loop, allowing mixing of exhaust flow with hot compressed air of the next loop, and the expanded exhaust from the turbine of the ultimate loop is fed back into the regenerators of each loop to recover exhaust heat.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2021Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Nostrum Energy PTE. LTD.Inventor: Shrikrishna Kashinath Sane
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Patent number: 11346427Abstract: An auxiliary gearbox has a low speed input shaft driving a first plurality of accessories. A high speed input shaft drives a second plurality of accessories. The first plurality of accessories rotating about a first set of rotational axes, which are parallel to each other and perpendicular to a first plane. The second plurality of accessories rotating about a second set of rotational axes, which are parallel to each other and perpendicular to a second plane. The first and second planes extending in opposed directions away from a drive input axis of the high speed input shaft and the low speed input shaft. The low speed input shaft drives a variable speed transmission. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Hung Duong, Marc J. Muldoon, Gabriel L. Suciu
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Patent number: 11319837Abstract: An engine includes a spool including a turbine, a second spool including a second turbine, a fan, and a fan drive gear system. A tower shaft is engaged to the spool. A second tower shaft is engaged to the second spool. A superposition gear system includes a plurality of intermediate gears engaged to the sun gear and supported in a carrier and a ring gear circumscribing the intermediate gears. The tower shaft drives the sun gear. An oil pump is driven by the carrier and supplies oil to the fan drive gear system from an oil tank through a first pickup at a first end of the oil tank and a second pickup at a second, opposite end of the oil tank. A shuttle valve at a suction side of the oil pump selectively allows oil to be supplied by one of the first and second pickup.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Nicholas D. Leque, Joseph H. Polly
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Patent number: 11231043Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine including a compressor rotor. The compressor rotor includes a first stage compressor airfoil defined at an upstream-most stage of the compressor rotor. The first stage compressor airfoil defines a first stage pressure ratio of at least approximately 1.7 during operation of the gas turbine engine at a tip speed of at least approximately 472 meters per second.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Veeraraju Vanapalli, Bhaskar Nanda Mondal, Jagata Laxmi Narasimharao, Tsuguji Nakano, Subramanian Narayanan
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Patent number: 11193424Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly for a turbomachine (1) comprising: a compressor (30), an isochoric combustion chamber (7), an isobaric combustion chamber (40), and a turbine (50).Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINESInventor: Jean Charles Olivier Roda
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Patent number: 11168617Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a first spool including a first turbine, and a first tower shaft engaged to the first spool. A second spool includes a second turbine, and a second tower shaft is engaged to the second spool. A superposition gearbox includes a sun gear, a plurality of intermediate gears engaged to the sun gear, and is supported in a carrier and a ring gear circumscribing the intermediate gears. The first tower shaft or the second tower shaft drives one of the intermediate gears. A drive motor is engaged to drive the sun gear, an inner electric motor, a stator disposed radially outside of the inner electric motor, and an outer electric motor disposed radially outside the stator. A first load on the first spool and a second load on the second spool is adjusted by operation of at least one of the inner electric motor and the outer electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Coy Bruce Wood
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Patent number: 11149552Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine is provided. The fan includes a rotor including at least one rotor stage having a rotatable disk defining a flowpath surface and an array of rotor airfoils extending outward from the flowpath surface; an array of splitter airfoils extending outward from the flowpath surface, wherein the splitter airfoils and the rotor airfoils are disposed in a sequential arrangement; and a shroud extending between the rotor airfoils and the splitter airfoils.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Anthony Louis DiPietro, Jr., Tyler James Alexander, Joseph Capozzi, Aspi Rustom Wadia, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
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Patent number: 11149569Abstract: Flow path assemblies of gas turbine engines are provided. For example, a flow path assembly comprises an inner wall and a unitary outer wall that includes a combustor portion extending through a combustion section of the gas turbine engine and a turbine portion extending through at least a first turbine stage of a turbine section of the gas turbine engine. The combustor portion and the turbine portion are integrally formed as a single unitary structure. The flow path assembly further comprises a plurality of nozzle airfoils, each nozzle airfoil having an inner end radially opposite an outer end. The inner wall or the unitary outer wall defines a plurality of openings therethrough, and each opening is configured for receipt of one of the plurality of nozzle airfoils. Methods of assembling flow path assemblies also are provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon ALIanson Reynolds, Jonathan David Baldiga, Darrell Glenn Senile, Daniel Patrick Kerns, Michael Ray Tuertscher
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Patent number: 11143402Abstract: Gas turbine engines, as well as outer walls and flow path assemblies of gas turbine engines, are provided. For example, an outer wall of a flow path comprises a combustor portion extending through a combustion section, and a turbine portion extending through at least a first turbine stage of a turbine section. The combustor and turbine portions are integrally formed as a single unitary structure that defines an outer boundary of the flow path. As another example, a flow path assembly comprises a combustor dome positioned a forward end of a combustor; an outer wall extending from the combustor dome through at least a first turbine stage; and an inner wall extending from the combustor dome through at least a combustion section. The combustor dome extends radially from the outer wall to the inner wall and is integrally formed with the outer and inner walls as a single unitary structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark Eugene Noe, Shawn Michael Pearson, Joshua Tyler Mook, Brandon ALlanson Reynolds, Jonathan David Baldiga
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Patent number: 11136922Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core including a first, lower pressure, turbine, a first compressor, and a first core shaft connecting the first turbine to the first compressor; and a second, higher pressure, turbine, a second compressor, and a second core shaft connecting the second turbine to the second compressor, and a fan located upstream of the engine core and including a plurality of fan blades extending from a hub. A low pressure turbine temperature change is defined as: the ? ? first ? ? turbine ? ? entrance ? ? temperature the ? ? first ? ? turbine ? ? exit ? ? temperature . A fan tip temperature rise is defined as: the ? ? fan ? ? tip ? ? rotor ? ? exit ? ? temperature the ? ? fan ? ? rotor ? ? entry ? ? temperature .Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Craig W Bemment, Pascal Dunning
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Patent number: 11112119Abstract: A turbo machine including an annular liner assembly defining a reverse flow combustion chamber is generally provided. The liner assembly includes a first piece defining an inner diameter (ID) combustor inlet portion, an outer diameter (OD) combustor outlet portion, and an outer diameter turbine shroud portion, in which the first piece defines a substantially solid volume between the inner diameter combustor inlet portion and the outer diameter combustor outlet portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2018Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Mackenzie Christopher Hock
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Patent number: 11078838Abstract: A method of operating a gas turbine engine compressor. The engine comprises a compressor having an environmental control system bleed port having an outlet in fluid communication with an aircraft environmental control system air duct, and an air turbine starter configured to rotate a compressor shaft of the gas turbine engine. The air turbine starter has an inlet in fluid communication with the environmental control system air duct via an air turbine valve. The method comprises determining a surge margin of the compressor, and where the surge margin of the compressor is determined to be below a predetermined minimum surge margin, opening the air turbine valve to supply air to the air turbine.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Inventors: Craig W. Bemment, David P. Scothern
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Patent number: 11022042Abstract: A system platform includes a gas turbine engine coupled to a generator. The generator, driven by the gas turbine engine, supplies power to subsystems of the platform.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2016Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventor: Erik A. Munevar
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Patent number: 10858999Abstract: The invention relates to a removable reactivation pack for a turboshaft engine of a helicopter, comprising a gas generator equipped with a drive shaft, said turboshaft engine (6) being capable of operating in at least one standby mode during a stable flight of the helicopter, said removable pack comprising: a removable gearbox comprising a gearbox output shaft; controlled means for rotating said gearbox output shaft, referred to as reactivation means of said turboshaft engine; mechanical means for reversibly coupling said gearbox output shaft to said drive shaft of said gas generator.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2015Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINESInventors: Patrick Marconi, Romain Thiriet, Camel Serghine, Caroline Seve, Pierre Darfeuil
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Patent number: 10830144Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes devices, systems, and methods for providing bleed air from the compressor impeller to the turbine for cooling and/or other use. The bleed air may include compressor cooling air that is routed through the diffuser and external to an outer bypass duct and/or internally to a forward wheel cavity of the turbine.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2016Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Tony A. Lambert, Behram V. Kapadia, Ron Hall
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Patent number: 10794467Abstract: A planetary gear mechanism has a rotatable planet carrier, a device for conducting oil, and a housing-fixed oil collecting duct. The oil collecting duct surrounds an area of the planet carrier in the circumferential direction. Oil centrifuged off by the planet carrier is collected in the oil collecting duct. In the installation position of the oil collecting duct, the oil is conducted by a gravitational force in the direction of a lower collection area formed with an outlet through which oil can be discharged. A further outlet, through which oil can be conducted, is provided in front of the collection area with respect to the rotational direction of the planet carrier between an upper area of the oil collecting duct, as it appears in the installation position of the oil collecting duct, and the outlet. Also, an aircraft gas turbine with the planetary gear mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KGInventors: Wolfram Kurz-Hardjosoekatmo, Carsten Wolf
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Patent number: 10648368Abstract: A drive assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary embodiment includes, among other things, an epicyclic gear train having an input and an output, the input coupled to a first turbine, the output coupled to an accessory drive shaft, and at least one engagement feature on a component of the gear train. An actuator is engageable with the at least one engagement feature to cause the accessory drive shaft to rotate. A method of driving a section of a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2017Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Matthew Allen Slayter, Tyler L. Klipp
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Patent number: 10634064Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a first spool including a first turbine; a second spool including a second turbine disposed axially forward of the first turbine, a first tower shaft engaged to the first spool, a second tower shaft engaged to the second spool and an accessory gearbox supporting a plurality of accessory components and a superposition gear system disposed within the accessory gearbox. The superposition gear system includes a plurality of intermediate gears engaged to the sun gear and supported in a carrier and a ring gear circumscribing the intermediate gears. The second tower shaft is engaged to drive the sun gear; a starter selectively coupled to the sun gear through a starter clutch; a first clutch for selectively coupling the first tower shaft to the ring gear; a second clutch for selectively coupling the ring gear to a static structure of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Joseph H. Polly, Nicholas D. Leque
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Patent number: 10605173Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a low speed spool and a high speed spool, with each of the spools including a turbine to drive a respective one of the spools. The high speed spool rotates at a higher speed than the low speed spool. A high speed power takeoff is driven to rotate by the high speed spool, and a low speed power takeoff is driven to rotate by the low speed spool. The high speed power takeoff drives a starter generator and a permanent magnet alternator. The low speed power takeoff drives a variable frequency generator.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Hung Duong, Jonathan F. Zimmitti, William G. Sheridan, Michael E. McCune, Brian Merry
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Patent number: 10502232Abstract: A centrifugal compressor for a turbocharger includes an inlet-adjustment mechanism operable to move between an open position and a closed position. The inlet-adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of blades disposed about the compressor air inlet and located within an annular space within the air inlet wall. The blades are pivotable about respective pivot points such that the blades extend radially inward from the annular space into the air inlet when the blades are in the closed position so as to form an orifice of reduced diameter relative to a nominal diameter of the inlet. Upstream surfaces of the blades include swirl inducers that are structured and arranged to impart either pre-swirl or counter-swirl to the air passing through the orifice into the compressor wheel.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2018Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc.Inventors: Hani Mohtar, Stephane Pees, Alain Lombard
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Patent number: 10480519Abstract: A compressor for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The compressor includes a first compression stage mounted for rotation about a central axis that includes a plurality of first-stage blades. The compressor also includes a second compression stage mounted along the central axis aft of the first compression stage to receive air compressed by the first compression stage. The second compression stage includes a plurality of second-stage blades.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventor: William B. Bryan
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Patent number: 10330016Abstract: According to an aspect, a system for a gas turbine engine includes a reduction gear train operable to drive rotation of a starter gear train that interfaces to an accessory gearbox of the gas turbine engine. The reduction gear train includes a starter interface gear that engages the starter gear train, a core-turning clutch operably connected to the starter interface gear, and a plurality of stacked planetary gear systems operably connected to the core-turning clutch and a core-turning input. The system also includes a mounting pad including an interface to couple a core-turning motor to the core-turning input of the reduction gear train.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin T. Harder, Matthew Allen Slayter, Brian McMasters, James Vandung Nguyen, Dwayne Leon Wilson, Paul F. Fox, Richard Alan Davis, Richard R. Hergert, Jeffrey Todd Roberts, Jeff A. Brown, Daniel Richard Walker
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Patent number: 10227928Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan, a compressor, a turbine having first stage blades and second stage blades, the first stage blades rotates in a first direction and the second stage blades rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first stage blades are directly adjacent to one another, a drive in operable input connection with the fan and in operable output connection with the first stage blades and the second stage blades, the first stage blades and the second stage blades driving the fan through the drive.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2014Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Craig Miller Kuhne, Christopher Charles Glynn, Randy M. Vondrell, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Kurt David Murrow, Darek T. Zatorski, Donald Scott Yeager, Nicholas Rowe Dinsmore, Samuel Jacob Martin, Donald Albert Bradley
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Patent number: 9482156Abstract: An engine may have a recuperator that may be powered by an electrical generator driven by the engine. The recuperator may be disposed within or incorporated into a compressor discharge of the engine, such as in the form of a vane or tube. The engine may be configured to operate in a variety of modes at least some of which may use thermal energy from the recuperator to heat a fluid flow stream of the engine. An energy storage device may be used with an electrical generator to provide power to a load.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Carl D. Nordstrom, Rigoberto J. Rodriguez
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Patent number: 9359956Abstract: The method and apparatus for in-flight relighting of a turbofan engine involve in one aspect selectively controlling an accessory drag load on one or more windmilling rotors to permit control of the windmill speed to an optimum value for relight conditions.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2014Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
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Patent number: 9347367Abstract: A turbocharger is disclosed for use with an engine system. The turbocharger may have a housing at least partially defining a compressor shroud and a turbine shroud. The turbine shroud may form a first volute and a second volute, each having an inlet configured to receive exhaust from an exhaust manifold of the engine in a tangential direction, and an axial channel disposed downstream of the inlet. The turbocharger may also have a turbine wheel disposed within the turbine shroud and configured to receive exhaust from the axial channels of the first and second volutes, a compressor wheel disposed within the compressor shroud, and a shaft connecting the turbine wheel to the compressor wheel. The turbocharger may further have a nozzle ring in fluid communication with the axial channels of the first and second volutes at a location upstream of the turbine wheel.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.Inventors: Shakeel Nasir, Joshua David Schueler
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Patent number: 9297304Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine with a bleed air powered auxiliary engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for bleed air powered auxiliary engines. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Carl David Nordstrom, Ray F. Bowman
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Patent number: 9080578Abstract: A compressor has an impeller and an inlet delivering air to the impeller. A variable diffuser is positioned downstream of the impeller and includes a plurality of pivoting vanes. A drive arrangement pivots the vanes, and includes an electric motor causing a pinion gear to rotate. The pinion gear has gear teeth engaging gear teeth on a rack section. Rotation of the rack section causes the vanes to pivot.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2008Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Craig M. Beers, John M. Beck
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Patent number: 9068506Abstract: A gas turbine engine recuperator system includes a heat recuperator positioned in a gas turbine exhaust gas duct for recovering heat from turbine exhaust gases to preheat a compressor flow being supplied to the combustor. A continuous bleed flow of the turbine exhaust gases is provided to bypass the heat recuperator. The continuous bleed flow of the turbine exhaust gases is adjustable to reduce turbine exhaust gas pressure loss at a high engine operation level and to provide efficient heat recovery at low and/or medium engine operation levels.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Andreas Eleftheriou, Daniel Alecu, David Menheere
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Patent number: 9062607Abstract: A method of operating a gas turbine power plant with a first gas turbine group, including a first turbine assembly, and a second gas turbine group, including a compressor assembly and a second turbine assembly which are mechanically coupled to one another, and useful work is extracted by a device being included in the plant, where a flue gas stream is produced by a combustion device, which is placed in a gas flow stream upstream of the second turbine assembly, where the second turbine assembly and compressor assembly are balanced to each other such that work produced by the second turbine assembly is consumed by the compressor assembly, and where the first turbine assembly is balanced to the device for the extraction of useful work such that work produced by the first turbine assembly is consumed by the device for the extraction of useful work.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: EURO-TURBINE ABInventor: Hans-Erik Hansson
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Publication number: 20150143794Abstract: A three-spool turbofan engine (20) has a variable fan nozzle (35). The fan blades have a peak tip radius RT and an inboard leading edge radius RH at an inboard boundary of the flowpath. A ratio of RH to RT is less than about 0.40.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2014Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, William G. Sheridan
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Patent number: 9038362Abstract: A turbofan engine (10) employs a flow control device (41) that changes an effective exit nozzle area (40) associated with a bypass flow path (B) of the turbofan engine. A spool (14) couples a fan (20) to a generator (52). The turbofan emergency power system includes a controller (50) that communicates with the flow control device (41). Upon sensing an emergency condition, the controller manipulates the flow control device to reduce the effective nozzle exit area (40) of the bypass flow path, which chokes the flow through the bypass flow path thereby increasing the rotational speed of the fan. In this manner, the generator is driven at a higher rotational speed than if the flow through the bypass flow path was not choked, which enables a smaller generator to be utilized.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2006Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Michael Winter, Charles E. Lents
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Publication number: 20150121893Abstract: A turbine engine includes a first fan including a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis and a reverse flow core engine section including a core turbine axially forward of a combustor and compressor. The core turbine drives the compressor about the axis and a transmission system. A geared architecture is driven by the transmission system to drive the first fan at a speed less than that of the core turbine. A second fan is disposed axially aft of the first fan and forwarded of the core engine and a second turbine is disposed between the second fan and the core engine for driving the second fan when not coupled to the transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Daniel Bernard Kupratis
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Publication number: 20150121844Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section and a compressor section. The compressor section includes both a first compressor section and a second compressor section. A turbine section includes at least one turbine and driving the second compressor section and a fan drive turbine driving at least a gear arrangement to drive the fan section. A power ratio is provided by the combination of the first compressor section and the second compressor section, with the power ratio being provided by a first power input to the first compressor section and a second power input to the second compressor section, the power ratio being equal to, or greater than, about 1.0 and less than, or equal to, about 1.4.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
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Publication number: 20150113943Abstract: A gas turbine engine turbine has a high pressure turbine configured to rotate with a high pressure compressor as a high pressure spool in a first direction about a central axis and a low pressure turbine configured to rotate with a low pressure compressor as a low pressure spool in the first direction about the central axis. A power density is greater than or equal to about 1.5 and less than or equal to about 5.5 lbf/cubic inches. A fan is connected to the low pressure spool via a speed changing mechanism and rotates in a second direction opposed to the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2015Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis
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Publication number: 20150114002Abstract: A gas turbine engine turbine has a high pressure turbine configured to rotate with a high pressure compressor as a high pressure spool in a first direction about a central axis and a low pressure turbine configured to rotate with a low pressure compressor as a low pressure spool in the first direction about the central axis. A power density is greater than or equal to about 1.5 and less than or equal to about 5.5 lbf/cubic inches. A fan is connected to the low pressure spool via a speed changing mechanism and rotates in the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2015Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis
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Patent number: 9003808Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises an outer engine case, a combustor, a high pressure spool and a low pressure spool. The combustor is disposed within the outer engine case. The high pressure spool is configured for rotation coaxially with the combustor. The low pressure spool is configured for rotation coaxially with the high pressure spool. The low pressure spool is configured to rotate at speeds faster than that of the high pressure spool during operation of the gas turbine engine. In one embodiment, the low pressure spool includes a gear system configured to rotate a low pressure compressor faster than a low pressure turbine. In another embodiment, the high pressure spool rotates outward of the combustor within the outer engine case. In another embodiment, the high pressure spool includes a drum having radially inward projecting blades and vanes and radially outward projecting fan blades.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2011Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Daniel B. Kupratis
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Publication number: 20150096303Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a very high speed low pressure turbine such that a quantity defined by the exit area of the low pressure turbine multiplied by the square of the low pressure turbine rotational speed compared to the same parameters for the high pressure turbine is at a ratio between about 0.5 and about 1.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Gabriel L. Suciu, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, William K. Ackermann
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Patent number: 8935913Abstract: A gas turbine engine typically includes a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. A speed reduction device such as an epicyclical gear assembly may be utilized to drive the fan section such that the fan section may rotate at a speed different than the turbine section so as to increase the overall propulsive efficiency of the engine. In such engine architectures, a shaft driven by one of the turbine sections provides an input to the epicyclical gear assembly that drives the fan section at a speed different than the turbine section such that both the turbine section and the fan section can rotate at closer to optimal speeds providing increased performance attributes and performance by desirable combinations of the disclosed features of the various components of the described and disclosed gas turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2012Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
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Patent number: 8931285Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a gas turbine engine includes a fan, a speed reduction device driving the fan, and a lubrication system for lubricating components across a rotation gap. The lubrication system includes a lubricant input. A stationary first bearing receives lubricant from the lubricant input and has a first race in which lubricant flows. A second bearing for rotation is within the first bearing. The second bearing has a first opening in registration with said first race such that lubricant may flow from the first race through the first opening into a first conduit. The first bearing also has a second race into which lubricant flows. The second bearing has a second opening in registration with the second race such that lubricant may flow from the second race through the second opening into a second conduit. The first and second conduits deliver lubricant to distinct locations.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Michael E. McCune, William G. Sheridan, Lawrence E. Portlock
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Publication number: 20150000304Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a nosecone assembly attached to a gas turbine engine. The nosecone assembly includes a support structure and a nosecone attached to the support structure. The nosecone includes at least a first tool hole extending through the nosecone. The first tool hole is structurally reinforced.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2013Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: Anthony T. Lindsey, Arun Kumar Jayasingh, Herbert L. Walker
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Patent number: 8919133Abstract: A double-body gas turbine engine, including a low-pressure body LP and a high-pressure body HP, rotatably mounted about a single shaft in a stationary casing, the low-pressure body LP including a compressor and a turbine connected by a low-pressure shaft LP. The low-pressure shaft LP is supported by an upstream LP bearing, a first downstream LP bearing, and an additional downstream LP bearing by the stationary casing, the high-pressure body being supported by an upstream HP bearing and a downstream HP bearing which is an inter-shaft bearing including an inner track rigidly connected to the HP turbine rotor and an outer track rigidly connected to the LP shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2010Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: SnecmaInventors: Jacques René Bart, Didler René André Escure, Ornella Gastineau
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Publication number: 20140360205Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a unique machine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and electrical systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2013Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mat French, John T. Alt, Mark J. Blackwelder