Turbine-testing apparatus

Claim 2

In combination, a speed-governed turbine, a rotary device capable of operation as a variable-speed motor or as a mechanical power translation machine for translating mechanical power delivered by the turbine into a second form of power, a source of power in said second form, a load, power-switching means having two operative positions which in the first position is adapted to supply power in the second form from said source to the rotary device whereby to cause the rotary device to act as a motor to drive the turbine and, in the second position, connects the rotary device to said load, and speed indicator means for the turbine capable of indicating at least in the said first position of the power-switching means whether the turbine speed is within its governed range, the power-switching means being capable of changes from the first to the second position in such manner that the kinetic energy acquired by the turbine with the said means in the first position will cause operation of the rotary device to convert the kinetic energy into the second form of power with said means in the second position.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 having a sensing device, responsive to operation of said rotary device, an indicator and means connecting said sensing device and said indicator, such that said indicator can indicate whether or not the rotary device is correctly operative when driven by turbine kinetic energy in the second position of the power-switching means.

Claim 4

In combination, a ram-air turbine installed in an aircraft and operable by the slipstream of that aircraft when in flight, a governor adapted to govern the speed of the turbine by varying the pitch of the turbine blades between their low-pitch position and their high-pitch position, a rotary device mechanical connecting means, by which said rotary device is connectable to rotate the hub of the turbine and thereby the blades for testing the turbine, speed indicator means, and transmission means connected between said device and said indicator means for conveying speed signals from the device to the indicator means, said rotary device being normally driven by the turbine when so operated by the slipstream to translate the mechanical power delivered by the turbine into a second form of power, and said rotary device, when the turbine is not operated by the slipstream, being operable to drive the turbine whereupon when the power delivered by the device is increased beyond that which the turbine can absorb with the blades in the low-pitch position, the governor is operative to effect increase in the pitch of the blades whereby the turbine can rotate at a predetermined governed speed and the speed indicator means can indicate the attainment of that governed speed.

Claim 5

In combination, a ram-air turbine installed in an aircraft and operable by the slipstream of that aircraft when in flight, a governor adapted to govern the speed of the turbine by varying the pitch of the turbine blades between their low-pitch position and their high-pitch position, a rotary device mechanical connecting means, by which said rotary device is connectable to rotate the hub of the turbine and thereby the blades for testing the turbine, speed indicator means, and transmission means connected between said device and said indicator means for conveying speed signals from the device to the indicator means, said rotary device being normally driven by the turbine when so operated by the slipstream to translate the mechanical power delivered by the turbine into a second form of power, and said rotary device, when the turbine is not operated by the slipstream, being operable to drive the turbine whereupon when the power delivered by the device is increased beyond that which the turbine can absorb with the blades in the low-pitch position, the governor is operative to effect increase in the pitch of the blades whereby the turbine can rotate at a predetermined governed speed and the speed indicator means can indicate the attainment of that governed speed.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 3 in which the rotary device is a hydraulic machine, said combination also including a hydraulic circuit having a source of hydraulic liquid under pressure, and a two-poSition valve, the machine being connected to the hydraulic circuit by said valve, and said device, when said valve is in its first position, being operable from said source as a motor to drive the hub, and the device, when said valve is in its second position, being operable as a pump driven by the turbine to supply said hydraulic circuit with hydraulic liquid under pressure upon failure of said source.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 4 further including ducting between said machine and said circuit, a pressure-sensing device provided in said ducting, an indicator, and means connecting said pressure-sensing device and said indicator, so that when the valve is switched from its first position to its second position and the machine then in consequence runs down, the kinetic energy stored in the turbine drives said machine as a pump, and the pressure-sensing device is operable to activate the indicator to verify pump operation.

Claim 10

A method of testing a speed-governed turbine as claimed in claim 6, said rotary device being a hydraulic machine and having further indicator means associated therewith, said method comprising, a. operating the hydraulic machine in one mode as a motor so that it drives the turbine for testing it when the turbine is not powered by its normal source of motive fluid, b. operating the hydraulic machine in another mode as a pump when the turbine is being powered by its normal source of motive fluid, c. causing the said machine, in said one mode of operation when it has caused the turbine to attain said predetermined rotational speed, to be inoperative as a motor driving the turbine, kinetic energy remaining in the turbine being caused to effect operation of the hydraulic machine in its other mode as a pump, and, d. said further indicator means then verifying pump operation.

Claim 11

In combination, a ram-air turbine installed in an aircraft and operable by the slipstream of that aircraft when in flight, a governor adapted to govern the speed of the turbine by varying the pitch of the turbine blades between their low-pitch position and their high-pitch position, a rotary device, mechanical connecting means, by which said rotary device is connectable to rotate the hub of the turbine and thereby the blades for testing the turbine, so installed, when said aircraft is inoperative, speed indicator means, and transmission means connectable between said rotary device and said indicator means for conveying speed signals from that device to the indicator means, wherein when said rotary device so rotates the turbine for testing and the power delivered by the rotary device is increased beyond that which the turbine can absorb with the blades in the low-pitch position, the governor is operative to effect increase in pitch of the blades whereby the turbine can rotate at a predetermined governed speed and the speed indicator means can indicate the attainment of that governed speed.

Claim 12

In combination, a ram-air turbine installed in an aircraft and operable by the slipstream of that aircraft when in flight, a governor adapted to govern the speed of the turbine by varying the pitch of the turbine blades between their low-pitch position and their high-pitch position, a rotary device, mechanical connecting means, by which said rotary device is connectable to rotate the hub of the turbine and thereby the blades for testing the turbine, so installed, when said aircraft is inoperative, speed indicator means, and transmission means connectable between said rotary device and said indicator means for conveying speed signals from that device to the indicator means, wherein when said rotary device so rotates the turbine for testing and the power delivered by the rotary device is increased beyond that which the turbine can absorb with the blades in the low-pitch position, the governor is operative to effect increase in pitch of the blades whereby the turbine can rotate at a predetermined governed speed and the speed indicator means can indicate the attainment of that governed speed.

Claim 13

In combination, a ram-air turbine installed in an aircraft and operable by the slipstream of that aircraft when in flight, a governor adapted to govern the speed of the turbine by varying the pitch of the turbine blades between their low-piTch position and their high-pitch position, a first rotary device, clutch means, by which said first rotary device is connectable to rotate the hub of the turbine and thereby the blades for testing the turbine, so installed, when said aircraft is inoperative, speed indicator means, transmission means connectable between said first rotary device and said indicator means for conveying speed signals from that device to the indicator means, a second rotary device, and mechanical coupling means by which said second rotary device is connected to said turbine for rotation therewith, whereby when the turbine is operated by the slipstream the second rotary device, driven thereby, is operable to translate the mechanical power delivered by the turbine into a second form of power, but when, with the aircraft inoperative, the turbine is not operated by the slipstream, said first rotary device is operable to drive the turbine and said second rotary device for testing through said clutch means, whereupon when the power delivered by said first rotary device is increased beyond that which the turbine can absorb with the blades in the low-pitch position, the governor is operative to effect increase in the pitch of the blades whereby the turbine can rotate at a predetermined governed speed and the speed indicator means can indicate the attainment of that governed speed.

Claim 14

In combination, a ram-air turbine installed in an aircraft and operable by the slipstream of that aircraft when in flight, a governor adapted to govern the speed of the turbine by varying the pitch of the turbine blades between their low-piTch position and their high-pitch position, a first rotary device, clutch means, by which said first rotary device is connectable to rotate the hub of the turbine and thereby the blades for testing the turbine, so installed, when said aircraft is inoperative, speed indicator means, transmission means connectable between said first rotary device and said indicator means for conveying speed signals from that device to the indicator means, a second rotary device, and mechanical coupling means by which said second rotary device is connected to said turbine for rotation therewith, whereby when the turbine is operated by the slipstream the second rotary device, driven thereby, is operable to translate the mechanical power delivered by the turbine into a second form of power, but when, with the aircraft inoperative, the turbine is not operated by the slipstream, said first rotary device is operable to drive the turbine and said second rotary device for testing through said clutch means, whereupon when the power delivered by said first rotary device is increased beyond that which the turbine can absorb with the blades in the low-pitch position, the governor is operative to effect increase in the pitch of the blades whereby the turbine can rotate at a predetermined governed speed and the speed indicator means can indicate the attainment of that governed speed.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 9 having further indicating means operative to indicate speeds below the governed speed and to indicate speeds above the governed speed.

Claim 16

In combination, a ram-air turbine installed in an aircraft and operable by the slipstream of that aircraft when in flight, a governor adapted to govern the speed of the turbine by varying the pitch of the turbine blades between their low-pitch position and their high-pitch position, a first rotary device, mechanical connecting means, by which said first rotary device is connectable to rotate the hub of the turbine and thereby the blades for testing the turbine, so installed, when said aircraft is inoperative, speed indicator means, transmission means connected between said device and said indicator means for conveying speed signals from that device to the indicator means, clamp means, whereby said first rotary device is readily attachable to and detachable from the turbine, a powerpack, flexible coupling means connectable between said first rotary device and said powerpack, a second rotary device, and mechanical coupling means by which said second rotary device is connected to said turbine for rotation therewith, whereby when the turbine is operated by the slipstream the second rotary device, driven thereby, is operable to translate the mechanical power delivered by the turbine into a second form of power, but when, with the aircraft inoperative, the turbine is not operated by the slipstream, said first rotary device is movable by virtue of said flexible coupling means towards said turbine and connectable thereto by said mechanical connecting means, being clamped with respect thereto by said clamp means, whereby upon operation of said powerpack operation of said first rotary device is effected and said turbine and said second rotary device are driven thereby for testing, whereupon when the power delivered by said first rotary device is increased beyond that which the turbine can absorb with the blades in their low-pitch position, the governor is operative to effect increase in the pitch of the blades whereby the turbine can rotate at a predetermined governed speed and the speed indicator means can indicate the attainment of that governed speed.

Claim 17

In combination, a ram-air turbine installed in an aircraft and operable by the slipstream of that aircraft when in flight, a governor adapted to govern the speed of the turbine by varying the pitch of the turbine blades between their low-pitch position and their high-pitch position, a first rotary device, mechanical connecting means, by which said first rotary device is connectable to rotate the hub of the turbine and thereby the blades for testing the turbine, so installed, when said aircraft is inoperative, speed indicator means, transmission means connected between said device and said indicator means for conveying speed signals from that device to the indicator means, clamp means, whereby said first rotary device is readily attachable to and detachable from the turbine, a powerpack, flexible coupling means connectable between said first rotary device and said powerpack, a second rotary device, and mechanical coupling means by which said second rotary device is connected to said turbine for rotation therewith, whereby when the turbine is operated by the slipstream the second rotary device, driven thereby, is operable to translate the mechanical power delivered by the turbine into a second form of power, but when, with the aircraft inoperative, the turbine is not operated by the slipstream, said first rotary device is movable by virtue of said flexible coupling means towards said turbine and connectable thereto by said mechanical connecting means, being clamped with respect thereto by said clamp means, whereby upon operation of said powerpack operation of said first rotary device is effected and said turbine and said second rotary device are driven thereby for testing, whereupon when the power delivered by said first rotary device is increased beyond that which the turbine can absorb with the blades in their low-pitch position, the governor is operative to effect increase in the pitch of the blades whereby the turbine can rotate at a predetermined governed speed and the speed indicator means can indicate the attainment of that governed speed.