Twin shaft gas turbine engine

Claim 2

A twin-shaft gas turbine engine, which includes a gas generator with a compressor and an associated turbine, an independently rotating power turbine for driving a power output means and a transmission, characterized by an intermediate shaft and associated engageable means, said intermediate shaft extending from the rotor of said gas generator substantially coaxially through a hollow power turbine shaft to said transmission to enable a braking operation of said power output means on engagement of said engageable means, wherein said gas generator, said power turbine and said transmission form subassembled structural units which are connected to each other at large diameter centering flange means and wherein said intermediate shaft is operatively connected with said gas generator rotor by flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 3

A twin-shaft gas turbine engine, which includes a gas generator with a compressor and an associated turbine, an independently rotating power turbine for driving a power output means and a transmission, characterized by an intermediate shaft and associated engageable means, said intermediate shaft extending from the rotor of said gas generator substantially coaxially through a hollow power turbine shaft to said transmission to enable a braking operation of said power output means on engagement of said engageable means, wherein said gas generator, said power turbine and said transmission form subassembled structural units which are connected to each other at large diameter centering flange means and wherein said intermediate shaft is operatively connected with said gas generator rotor by flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 4

A twin-shaft gas turbine engine, which includes a gas generator with a compressor and an associated turbine, an independently rotating power turbine for driving a power output means and a transmission, characterized by an intermediate shaft and associated engageable means, said intermediate shaft extending from the rotor of said gas generator substantially coaxially through a hollow power turbine shaft to said transmission to enable a braking operation of said power output means on engagement of said engageable means, wherein said gas generator, said power turbine and said transmission form subassembled structural units which are connected to each other at large diameter centering flange means and wherein said intermediate shaft is operatively connected with said gas generator rotor by flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 5

A gas turbine engine according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate shaft is operatively connected with said transmission by flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 6

A gas turbine engine according to claim 2, wherein said gas generator, said power turbine and said transmission are arranged coaxially one behind the other.

Claim 7

A gas turbine according to claim 3, wherein said transmission is the main gearbox.

Claim 8

A gas turbine according to claim 2, wherein said engageable means includes a clutch.

Claim 9

A gas turbine according to claim 2, wherein said engageable means includes gear means with an intermediate clutch.

Claim 10

A twin-shaft gas turbine engine, which includes a gas generator with a compressor and an associated turbine, an independently rotating power turbine for driving a power output means and a transmission, characterized by an intermediate shaft and associated engageable means, said intermediate shaft extending from the rotor of said gas generator substantially coaxially through a hollow power turbine shaft to said transmission to enable a braking operation of said power output means on engagement of said engageable means, wherein said intermediate shaft is operatively connected with said gas generator rotor by flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 11

A twin-shaft gas turbine engine, which includes a gas generator with a compressor and an associated turbine, an independently rotating power turbine for driving a power output means and a transmission, characterized by an intermediate shaft and associated engageable means, said intermediate shaft extending from the rotor of said gas generator substantially coaxially through a hollow power turbine shaft to said transmission to enable a braking operation of said power output means on engagement of said engageable means, wherein said intermediate shaft is operatively connected with said gas generator rotor by flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 12

A gas turbine engine according to claim 7, wherein said intermediate shaft is operatively connected with said transmission by flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 13

A twin-shaft gas turbine engine comprising a gas generator with a generator turbine, a rotating power turbine arranged coaxially behind the generator turbine, a hollow power turbine shaft having a first forward end fixedly connected to said power turbine and a second rearward end connected to power driving means, said power driving means being operable to drive an engine output shaft upon rotation of the power turbine, and a generator turbine shaft extending completely through the hollow power turbine shaft and being freely rotatable with respect to said hollow turbine shaft, said generator turbine shaft having a first forward end connected to said generator turbine and a second rearward end connected to a selectively engageable coupling means for selectively operatively connecting said generator turbine shaft to said engine output shaft for applying braking forces from the generator turbine shaft to the engine output shaft, wherein said coupling means operatively engages said output shaft at a position separate from the engagement between said power driving means and said output shaft, and wherein said Generator turbine shaft is operatively connected at its first end with said generator turbine and at its second end with said coupling means with respective first and second flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 14

A twin-shaft gas turbine engine comprising a gas generator with a generator turbine, a rotating power turbine arranged coaxially behind the generator turbine, a hollow power turbine shaft having a first forward end fixedly connected to said power turbine and a second rearward end connected to power driving means, said power driving means being operable to drive an engine output shaft upon rotation of the power turbine, and a generator turbine shaft extending completely through the hollow power turbine shaft and being freely rotatable with respect to said hollow turbine shaft, said generator turbine shaft having a first forward end connected to said generator turbine and a second rearward end connected to a selectively engageable coupling means for selectively operatively connecting said generator turbine shaft to said engine output shaft for applying braking forces from the generator turbine shaft to the engine output shaft, wherein said coupling means operatively engages said output shaft at a position separate from the engagement between said power driving means and said output shaft, and wherein said Generator turbine shaft is operatively connected at its first end with said generator turbine and at its second end with said coupling means with respective first and second flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 15

A twin-shaft gas turbine engine comprising a gas generator with a generator turbine, a rotating power turbine arranged coaxially behind the generator turbine, a hollow power turbine shaft having a first forward end fixedly connected to said power turbine and a second rearward end connected to power driving means, said power driving means being operable to drive an engine output shaft upon rotation of the power turbine, and a generator turbine shaft extending completely through the hollow power turbine shaft and being freely rotatable with respect to said hollow turbine shaft, said generator turbine shaft having a first forward end connected to said generator turbine and a second rearward end connected to a selectively engageable coupling means for selectively operatively connecting said generator turbine shaft to said engine output shaft for applying braking forces from the generator turbine shaft to the engine output shaft, wherein said coupling means operatively engages said output shaft at a position separate from the engagement between said power driving means and said output shaft, wherein said selectively engageable coupling means includes a first pinion fixed to the circumference of an axially extending extension of said turbine generator shaft, a first gear operatively engaged with said pinion, and a clutch for selectively operatively connecting said first gear to said output shaft, and wherein said axially extending extension is disposed rearwardly of a flexible diaphragm means connecting said extension to said generator turbine shaft, and wherein bearing means are provided for rotatably supporting said extension such that said generator turbine shaft is out of contact with the hollow interior surface of said hollow shaft at all times.

Claim 16

A twin-shaft gas turbine engine comprising a gas generator with a generator turbine, a rotating power turbine arranged coaxially behind the generator turbine, a hollow power turbine shaft having a first forward end fixedly connected to said power turbine and a second rearward end connected to power driving means, said power driving means being operable to drive an engine output shaft upon rotation of the power turbine, and a generator turbine shaft extending completely through the hollow power turbine shaft and being freely rotatable with respect to said hollow turbine shaft, said generator turbine shaft having a first forward end connected to said generator turbine and a second rearward end connected to a selectively engageable coupling means for selectively operatively connecting said generator turbine shaft to said engine output shaft for applying braking forces from the generator turbine shaft to the engine output shaft, wherein said coupling means operatively engages said output shaft at a position separate from the engagement between said power driving means and said output shaft, wherein said selectively engageable coupling means includes a first pinion fixed to the circumference of an axially extending extension of said turbine generator shaft, a first gear operatively engaged with said pinion, and a clutch for selectively operatively connecting said first gear to said output shaft, and wherein said axially extending extension is disposed rearwardly of a flexible diaphragm means connecting said extension to said generator turbine shaft, and wherein bearing means are provided for rotatably supporting said extension such that said generator turbine shaft is out of contact with the hollow interior surface of said hollow shaft at all times.

Claim 17

A gas turbine engine according to claim 9, wherein each of said diaphragm means has a diameter substantially larger than the hollow opening in said hollow shaft, said first diaphragm being spaced forwardly from the first end of said hollow shaft and said second diaphragm being spaced rearwardly from the second end of said hollow shaft.

Claim 18

A gas turbine engine according to claim 9, wherein each of said diaphragm means comprises two radially rigid disc connected at their respective peripheries to one another, shaft means being connected to center portions of said disc.

Claim 19

A gas turbine engine according to claim 7, wherein said gas generator, said power turbine, and said transmission are arranged coaxially one behind the other.

Claim 20

A gas turbine engine according to claim 7, wherein said transmission is the main gear box.

Claim 21

A gas turbine engine according to claim 7, wherein said engageable means includes a clutch.

Claim 22

A gas turbine engine according to claim 7, wherein said engageable means includes gear means with an interconnected clutch.

Claim 23

A gas turbine engine according to claim 7, wherein said power output means includes an engine output shaft drivingly engageable with said power turbine shaft, wherein said engageable means includes selectively operative coupling means for selectively operatively connecting said intermediate shaft to said output shaft, and wherein said coupling means operatively engages said output shaft at a position separate from the engagement between said power driving means and said output shaft.

Claim 24

A gas turbine engine according to claim 17, wherein said power output means includes a pinion fixedly attached to the circumference of said hollow power turbine shaft in engagement with a gear fixed to said output shaft.

Claim 25

A gas turbine engine according to claim 17, wherein said selectively engageable coupling means includes a first pinion fixed to the circumference of an axially extending extension of said intermediate shaft, a first gear operatively engaged with said pinion, and a Clutch for selectively operatively connecting said first gear to said output shaft.

Claim 26

A gas turbine engine according to claim 19, wherein said output means includes a second pinion fixed to the circumference of said hollow power turbine shaft in engagement with a second gear fixed to said output shaft.