Variable torque transmitting mechanism for a re-expansion gas turbine

Claim 1

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A GAS TURBINE ENGINE HAVING A COMBUSTION CHAMBER, AN AIR COMPRESSOR FOR SUPPLYING PRESSURIZED AIR TO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, AN OUTPUT TORQUE PRODUCING SHAFT, A PAIR OF INDEPENDENTLY ROTATING TURBINES OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE AIR COMPRESSOR AND OUTPUT SHAFT, RESPECTIVELY, FOR DRIVING THE SAME, AND A CONTROL LEVER FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THE ENGINE, SAID CONTROL APPARATUS COMPRISING: A FUEL CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SUPPLY PRESSURIZED FUEL TO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER; MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE SPEED OF THECOMPRESSOR; FIRST VALVE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FUEL CONDUIT, SAID COMPRESSOR SPEED RESPONSIVE MEANS AND THE CONTROL LEVER FOR CONTROLLING FUEL FLOW THROUGH SAID CONDUIT TO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AS A FUNCTION OF THE POSITION OF THE CONTROL LEVER AND COMPRESSOR SPEED; FIRST VARIABLE STROKE FLUID PUMP-MOTORS MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE COMPRESSOR TURBINE AND COMMUNICATING WITH A SOURCE OF FLUID; SECOND VARIABLE STROKE FLUID PUMP-MOTOR MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE OUTPUT TORQUE PRODUCING SHIFT AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SOURCE OF FLUID; MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A CONDITION OF ENGINE OPERATION WHICH VARIES WITH ENGINE POWER OUTPUT OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND FLUID PUMP-MOTOR MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE STROKE OF EACH OF THE SAME IN RESPONSE TO CERTAIN PREDETERMINED VARIATIONS IN SAID CONDITION OF ENGINE OPERATION; SAID FIRST FLUID PUMP-MOTOR MEANS BEING OPERATIVE TO PRESSURIZE THE FLUID AT SAID SOURCE WHICH, IN TURN, DRIVES SAID SECOND FLUID PUMP-MOTOR MEANS TO THEREBY EFFECT A CONTROLLED TRANSFER OF ENERGY FROM SAID COMPRESSOR DRIVING TURBINE TO SAID OUTPUT TORQUE PRODUCING SHAFT UNDER SUBSTANTIALLY STEADY STATE OPERATION OF THE COMPRESSOR AS INDICATED BY SAID CONDITION OF ENGINE OPERATION; SAID SECOND FLUID PUMP-MOTOR MEANS BEING OPERATIVE TO PRESSURIZE THE FLUID AT SAID SOURCE WHICH, IN TURN, DRIVES SAID FIRST FLUID PUMP-MOTOR MEANS TO THEREBY EFFECT A CONTROLLED TRANSFER OF ENERGY FROM THE TORQUE PRODUCING SHAFT TO THE COMPRESSOR TURBINE UNDER A DECELERATING CONDITION OF THE COMPRESSOR AS INDICATED BY SAID CONDITION OF ENGINE OPERATION; AND SAID FIRST FLUID PUMP-MOTOR MEANS BEING RENDERED INOPERATIVE AS A PUMP TO THEREBY UNLOAD THE COMPRESSORE DRIVING TURBINE UNDER A ACCELERATING CONDITION OF SAID COMPRESSOR AS INDICATED BY SAID CONDITION OF ENGINE OPERATION.