US3797230A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control method and apparatus for a single shaft turbine with prewhirl of air entering the compressor
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1972-08-09
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1992-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle turbine propels the vehicle through a change-speed transmission. To reduce vehicle acceleration time with an acceptable penalty with respect to fuel consumption, the compressor of the engine has variable inlet guide vanes which are shifted into a positive prewhirl angle at idling speeds when the transmission is shifted into a drive condition. Thus the engine has a low speed idle, with axially oriented guide vanes and normal air entrance, when the transmission is in neutral or park, and a high speed idle with positive prewhirl when the transmission is in a drive condition. Also, the vanes are shifted at full speed of the engine to provide negative prewhirl and thus reduce the engine speed corresponding to maximum power output. Because of the higher idle and lower maximum speeds, the acceleration time of the turbine is reduced.
Inventors
- 👤 C Amann
- 👤 E Rucins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:13
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02C; F02C9/00; F02C9/48; F02C9/50; F02C9/54; F02C9/16; F02C9/20; F02C9/56; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S74/00; Y10S74/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of operating a single-shaft gas turbine engine including a dynamic compressor having means for varying compressor inlet prewhirl, combustion apparatus supplied by the compressor, a turbine supplied with motive fluid by the combustion apparatus, the turbine having a rotor connected to drive the compressor, and including a power transmission having neutral and power-transmitting conditions connecting the turbine rotor to a load, so as to reduce idling fuel consumption of the engine and reduce acceleration time of the engine from idling to full power operating condition, comprising operating the engine with minimal compressor inlet prewhirl at a low idle speed when the transmission is in a neutral condition, operating the engine at a ready idle speed higher than the low idle speed when the transmission is in a power-transmitting condition with substantial positive compressor inlet prewhirl to provide minimal power output from the engine, operating the engine with minimal positive compressor inlet prewhirl over a range of speed from ready idle to near full rated speed to provide a range of power output from the engine, and operating the engine with substantial negative compressor inlet prewhirl during operation at substantially full rated speed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of operating a single-shaft gas turbine engine including a dynamic compressor having means for varying compressor inlet prewhirl, combustion apparatus supplied by the compressor, a turbine supplied with motive fluid by the combustion apparatus, the turbine having a rotor connected to drive the compressor, and including a power transmission having neutral and power-transmitting conditions connecting the turbine rotor to a load, so as to reduce idling fuel consumption of the engine and reduce acceleration time of the engine from idling to full power operating condition, comprising operating the engine with minimal compressor inlet prewhirl at a low idle speed when the transmission is in a neutral condition, operating the engine at a ready idle speed higher than the low idle speed when the transmission is in a power-transmitting condition with substantial positive compressor inlet prewhirl to provide minimal power output from the engine, operating the engine with minimal positive compressor inlet prewhirl over a range of speed from ready idle to near full rated speed to provide a range of power output from the engine, and operating the engine with substantial negative compressor inlet prewhirl during operation at substantially full rated speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
153 words
A single-shaft gas turbine vehicle propulsion power plant comprising, in combination, a gas turbine engine including a dynamic compressor having variable inlet means for imparting variable prewhirl to air entering the compressor, combustion apparatus supplied by the compressor, and a turbine supplied by the combustion apparatus including a rotor coupled to drive the compressor; power transmission means coupling the said turbine rotor to a load, the power transmission means including means for setting it into a neutral condition and into at least one drive condition; means responsive to the transmission setting means and to turbine rotor speed effective to set the inlet means to impart substantial positive prewhirl when the transmission setting is other than neutral and gas generator speed is below a high idle limit; and means responsive to gas generator speed effective to set the inlet means to impart substantial negative prewhirl when gas generator speed is near maximum rated speed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
153 words
A single-shaft gas turbine vehicle propulsion power plant comprising, in combination, a gas turbine engine including a dynamic compressor having variable inlet means for imparting variable prewhirl to air entering the compressor, combustion apparatus supplied by the compressor, and a turbine supplied by the combustion apparatus including a rotor coupled to drive the compressor; power transmission means coupling the said turbine rotor to a load, the power transmission means including means for setting it into a neutral condition and into at least one drive condition; means responsive to the transmission setting means and to turbine rotor speed effective to set the inlet means to impart substantial positive prewhirl when the transmission setting is other than neutral and gas generator speed is below a high idle limit; and means responsive to gas generator speed effective to set the inlet means to impart substantial negative prewhirl when gas generator speed is near maximum rated speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
160 words
A single-shaft gas turbine vehicle propulsion power plant comprising, in combination, a gas turbine engine including a dynamic compressor having variable setting inlet guide vanes for imparting prewhirl to air entering the compressor, combustion apparatus supplied by the compressor, and a turbine supplied by the combustion apparatus including a rotor coupled to drive the compressor; power transmission means coupling the said turbine rotor to a load, the power transmission means including means for setting it into a neutral condition and into at least one drive condition; means responsive to the transmission setting means and to turbine rotor speed effective to set the inlet guide vanes to a position to impart substantial positive prewhirl when the transmission setting is other than neutral and gas generator speed is below a high idle limit; and means responsive to turbine rotor speed effective to adjust the inlet guide vanes to a position to impart substantial negative prewhirl when the speed is near maximum rated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
160 words
A single-shaft gas turbine vehicle propulsion power plant comprising, in combination, a gas turbine engine including a dynamic compressor having variable setting inlet guide vanes for imparting prewhirl to air entering the compressor, combustion apparatus supplied by the compressor, and a turbine supplied by the combustion apparatus including a rotor coupled to drive the compressor; power transmission means coupling the said turbine rotor to a load, the power transmission means including means for setting it into a neutral condition and into at least one drive condition; means responsive to the transmission setting means and to turbine rotor speed effective to set the inlet guide vanes to a position to impart substantial positive prewhirl when the transmission setting is other than neutral and gas generator speed is below a high idle limit; and means responsive to turbine rotor speed effective to adjust the inlet guide vanes to a position to impart substantial negative prewhirl when the speed is near maximum rated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
176 words
A single-shaft gas turbine vehicle propulsion power plant comprising, in combination, a gas turbine engine including a dynamic compressor having variable setting inlet guide vanes for imparting prewhirl to air entering the compressor, combustion apparatus supplied by the compressor, and a turbine supplied by the combustion apparatus including a rotor coupled to drive the compressor; power transmission means coupling the said turbine rotor to a load, the power transmission means including means for setting it into a neutral condition and into at least one drive condition; means responsive to the transmission setting means and to turbine rotor speed effEctive to set the inlet guide vanes to a position to impart substantial positive prewhirl when the transmission setting is other than neutral and gas generator speed is below a high idle limit; means responsive to turbine rotor speed effective to adjust the inlet guide vanes to a position to impart substantial negative prewhirl when the speed is near maximum rated; and means effective otherwise to set the inlet guide vanes to a position to impart minimal prewhirl.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
A single-shaft gas turbine vehicle propulsion power plant comprising, in combination, a gas turbine engine including a dynamic compressor having variable setting inlet guide vanes for imparting prewhirl to air entering the compressor, combustion apparatus supplied by the compressor, and a turbine supplied by the combustion apparatus including a rotor coupled to drive the compressor; power transmission means coupling the said turbine rotor to a load, the power transmission means including means for setting it into a neutral condition and into at least one drive condition; means responsive to the transmission setting means and to turbine rotor speed effEctive to set the inlet guide vanes to a position to impart substantial positive prewhirl when the transmission setting is other than neutral and gas generator speed is below a high idle limit; means responsive to turbine rotor speed effective to adjust the inlet guide vanes to a position to impart substantial negative prewhirl when the speed is near maximum rated; and means effective otherwise to set the inlet guide vanes to a position to impart minimal prewhirl.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3657881A
Cited
US3688605A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |