Patent US3795104A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3795104A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas turbine control system
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1972-11-03
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Granted: 1974-03-05
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Expires: 1992-11-03
Abstract
Abstract A simple, low cost control system for a single shaft gas turbine engine in which steady state operation is controlled by movement of the stator vanes of a torque converter fixed to the compressor shaft, to load or unload the shaft; accelerations are controlled by controlling fuel flow as a function of engine temperatures and speeds; and engine starting and idle speed operations, as well as overtemperature operations are controlled by opening or closing a nozzle constituted by variable angle compressor inlet guide vanes.
Inventors
- 👤 Lean A Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:11
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02C; F02C9/00; F02C9/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
325 words
A control system for a single shaft gas turbine engine having a compressor, a turbine and a hydraulic torque converter all fixedly mounted thereon for rotation together, the compressor having variable angle inlet guide vanes to control the airflow therethrough, the converter including variable angle stator vanes to load and unload the shaft as a function of stator vane angle, engine operating temperature sensing means and speed responsive means connected to the shaft, operator controlled speed selection means, and a fuel pump driven by the engine and delivering fuel to the combustion chamber thereof, the control system including, a steady state operating means including an engine speed responsive signal generator developing a force signal schedule that is indicative of the desired engine operating temperature changes for each change in the speed level of the engine so as to not exceed compressor surge and metallurgical temperature limits, and first means sensitive to the difference between desired and actual engine operating temperatures to actuate the stator vanes to proportionately change the load on the shaft to thereby vary the actual operating temperature to the desired level, an acceleration fuel control including, an operator positioned desired speed signal generator, a desired acceleration temperature schedule means, and second means sensitive to the higher of the differences between desired and actual speed signals on the one hand and the desired acceleration and actual engine operating temperatures on the other hand, to vary fuel flow to the engine, and, an engine idling and starting control including regulating means for modulating the angle of the compressor inlet guide vanes as a function of movement of the operator controlled speed selection means, to move the vanes to a closed position at engiNe idle speed and to an open position at part throttle operation to vary airflow through the engine, and third means to override the regulating means during engine starting to open the guide vanes to permit a greater airflow into the engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
325 words
A control system for a single shaft gas turbine engine having a compressor, a turbine and a hydraulic torque converter all fixedly mounted thereon for rotation together, the compressor having variable angle inlet guide vanes to control the airflow therethrough, the converter including variable angle stator vanes to load and unload the shaft as a function of stator vane angle, engine operating temperature sensing means and speed responsive means connected to the shaft, operator controlled speed selection means, and a fuel pump driven by the engine and delivering fuel to the combustion chamber thereof, the control system including, a steady state operating means including an engine speed responsive signal generator developing a force signal schedule that is indicative of the desired engine operating temperature changes for each change in the speed level of the engine so as to not exceed compressor surge and metallurgical temperature limits, and first means sensitive to the difference between desired and actual engine operating temperatures to actuate the stator vanes to proportionately change the load on the shaft to thereby vary the actual operating temperature to the desired level, an acceleration fuel control including, an operator positioned desired speed signal generator, a desired acceleration temperature schedule means, and second means sensitive to the higher of the differences between desired and actual speed signals on the one hand and the desired acceleration and actual engine operating temperatures on the other hand, to vary fuel flow to the engine, and, an engine idling and starting control including regulating means for modulating the angle of the compressor inlet guide vanes as a function of movement of the operator controlled speed selection means, to move the vanes to a closed position at engiNe idle speed and to an open position at part throttle operation to vary airflow through the engine, and third means to override the regulating means during engine starting to open the guide vanes to permit a greater airflow into the engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
A control system as in claim 1, the acceleration control including a compressor discharge pressure responsive first valve proportioning flow of fuel between the combustion chamber and a return line to the pump to increase flow to the combustion chamber as a function of the increased application of compressor discharge pressure thereto, and means to regulate the flow of compressor discharge pressure to the first valve as a function of the differences of signals to the second means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A control system as in claim 2, the second means including a signal comparator providing a differential output signal to a valve actuator connected to a valve modulating compressor discharge pressure to the first valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A control system as in claim 2, the first valve comprising a fluidic metering device having a normal path directing fuel from the pump to the return line, and a second switching path directing fuel to the combustion chamber, and means connecting the compressor discharge pressure to a control port of the metering device to deflect the fuel flow from the return line to the combustion chamber in proportion to the compressor discharge pressure level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
163 words
A control system as in claim 1, the second means comprising a comparator having an output signal changing as a function of the change in the highest of its input signals, a valve actuator energized by the comparator output signal, a fluidic metering device receiving fuel from the fuel pump and having a first normal flow path and a second flow path leading respectively to a return line to the pump and to the combustion chamber, and a control port for switching fuel flow from the first path to the second path, means connecting a modulated compressor discharge pressure to the control port to proportion fuel flow between the paths as a function of the level of the latter pressure, and a modulating valve connected to the actuator and modulating the flow of compressor discharge pressure level to the control port as a function of the second means output signal level to limit fuel flow as a function of compressor discharge pressure level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A control system as in claim 5, including means connecting modulated compressor discharge pressure to act on the modulating valve in opposition to the actuator in a feedback manner to return the valve toward a neutral position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A control system as in claim 1, the override means including ratchet means normally bidirectionally connecting the speed selection means and the compressor inlet guide vanes to move the guide vanes to open and closed positions, and other means rendered operable in response to conditioning of the engine for starting operation to render the ratchet means uni-directional to permit only opening movement of the guide vanes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A control system as in claim 7, including engine pressure sensing means operable upon the attainment of a predetermined engine pressure level indicative of near engine idling speed to render the other means inoperable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
A control system as in claim 1, the regulating means including normally inoperable ratchet means normally bidirectionally connecting the operator controlled speed selector means to the compressor inlet guide vanes, dog means normally disengaged from the ratchet means and engaged therewith in response to closure of the engine ignition switch to render the ratchet means operable and lock the ratchet means against rotation in a guide vane closing position direction whereby subsequent movement of the speed selector means moves the guide vanes to an open position, and means responsive to the attainment of approximately an engine idling speed to disable the dog means and again render the ratchet means inoperable and bidirectional in movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A control system as in claim 9, tHe last mentioned means comprising a pressure switch normally closing an electrical circuit between the ignition switch and the dog means and openable upon the attainment of a pressure level indicative of near engine idling speed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A control system as in claim 1, including means to override the speed selection means in a guide vane closing direction in response to the attainment of a predetermined engine temperature to move the vanes towards an open position to thereby lower the temperature to the desired level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control system as in claim 11, including a variable position stop movable in response to the predetermined temperature to move the guide vanes in an opening direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-04 | 1977-09-03 | 1978-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-04 | 1981-09-03 | 1982-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-04 | 1985-09-03 | 1986-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |