Fans

Claim 2

A fan assembly, for attachment to the front of a main gas turbine engine assembly to provide an engine of the ducted-fan by-pass type, constructed as a unitary assembly which can be fitted and removed as such and comprising a non-rotative subassembly, which includes a non-rotative main body and a nonrotative by-pass duct supported by the main body, and a rotative sub-assembly which is supported in bearings by the non-rotative sub-assembly and which includes a hub, carrying variable-pitch fan blading, positioned and rotatably supported within the bypass duct, said hub including, disposed wholly therein so as to be rotatable all as one therewith, (a) a liquid reservoir, (b) at least one pump operable upon rotation of the rotative subassembly to draw liquid from said reservoir, (c) a liquidpressure-operable actuator connected to said fan blading for effecting adjustment thereof, and (d) control valve means by way of which liquid discharged under pressure by said pump is directed to operate the actuator, and said main body being adapted to provide for said attachment of the fan assembly to the engine assembly.

Claim 3

A fan assembly, for attachment to the front of a main gas turbine engine assembly to provide an engine of the ducted-fan by-pass type, constructed as a unitary assembly which can be fitted and removed as such and comprising a non-rotative sub-assembly, which includes a non-rotative main body and a non-rotative by-pass duct supported by the main body, and a rotative sub-assembly which is supported in bearings by the non-rotative sub-assembly and which includes a hub, carrying variable-pitch fan blading, positioned and rotatably supported within the by-pass duct, said hub including, disposed wholly therein so as to be rotatable all as one therewith, (a) a liquid reservoir, (b) at least one pump operable upon rotation of the rotative sub-assembly to draw liquid from said reservoir, (c) a liquid-pressure-operable actuator connected to said fan blading for effecting adjustment thereof, and (d) control valve means by way of which liquid discharged under pressure by said pump is directed to operate the actuator, and said main body being adapted to provide for said attachment of the fan assembly to the engine assembly and to provide for said rotative sub-assembly to pick up a drive therefor from the output shaft of the engine assembly.

Claim 4

A fan assembly, for attachment to the front of a main gas turbine engine assembly to provide an engine of the ducted-fan by-pass type, constructed as a unitary assembly which can be fitted and removed as such and comprising a non-rotative sub-assembly, which includes a non-rotative main body and a non-rotative by-pass duct supported by the main body, and a rotative sub-assembly which is supported in bearings by the non-rotative sub-assembly and which includes a hub, carrying variable-pitch fan blading, positioned and rotatably supported within the by-pass duct, said hub including, disposed wholly therein so as to be rotatable all as one therewith, (a) a liquid reservoir, (b) at least one pump operable upon rotation of the rotative sub-assembly to draw liquid from said reservoir, (c) a liquid-pressure-operable actuator connected to said fan blading for effecting adjustment thereof, and (d) control valve means by way of which liquid discharged under pressure by said pump is directed to operate the actuator, and said main body being adapted to provide for said attachment of the fan assembly to the engine assembly and to provide for said rotative sub-assembly to pick up a drive therefor from the output shaft of the engine assembly.

Claim 5

An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein mechanical means connect said pump with non-rotative structure external of the hub to afford its operation upon rotation of the rotative sub-assembly.

Claim 6

An assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said mechanical means include gearing, also carried by the hub, and shafting co-axial with the hub and extending from the gearing to said non-rotative structure.

Claim 7

An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pump is of gear type.

Claim 8

An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reservoir is of annular form and in part defined by an outer wall of the hub.

Claim 9

An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said actuator is of vane-type.

Claim 10

An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fan blading is arranged in a single stage.

Claim 11

An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said by-pass duct is supported by said main body of the non-rotative sub-assembly through a ring of stator blading positioned downstream of the fan blading, said main body being adapted for bolting to the front of the main engine assembly and supporting said rotative sub-assembly.

Claim 12

An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fan blading is reversible in pitch.

Claim 13

A fan assembly, for attachment to the front of a main gas turbine engine assembly to provide an engine of the ducted-fan by-pass type, constructed as a unitary assembly which can be fitted and removed as such and comprising a non-rotative sub-assembly, which includes a non-rotative main body, a non-rotative by-pass duct and a single ring of stator blading by way of which the by-pass duct is supported from said main body, and a rotative sub-assembly which is supported in bearings by the non-rotative sub-assembly and which includes a hub, carrying variable-pitch fan blading, positioned and rotatably supported within the by-pass duct ahead of said stator blading, said hub including, disposed wholly therein so as to be rotatable all as one therewith, (a) a liquid reservoir, (b) at least one pump operable upon rotation of the rotative sub-assembly to draw liquid from said reservoir, (c) a liquid-pressure-operable actuator connected to said fan blading for effecting adjustment thereof, and (d) control valve means by way of which liquid discharged under pressure by said pump is directed to operate the actuator, and said main body being adapted to provide for said attachment of the fan assembly to the engine assembly and to provide for said rotative sub-assembly to pick up a drive therefor directly from the output shaft of the engine assembly.

Claim 14

A fan assembly, for attachment to the front of a main gas turbine engine assembly to provide an engine of the ducted-fan by-pass type, constructed as a unitary assembly which can be fitted and removed as such and comprising a non-rotative sub-assembly, which includes a non-rotative main body, a non-rotative by-pass duct and a single ring of stator blading by way of which the by-pass duct is supported from said main body, and a rotative sub-assembly which is supported in bearings by the non-rotative sub-assembly and which includes a hub, carrying variable-pitch fan blading, positioned and rotatably supported within the by-pass duct ahead of said stator blading, said hub including, disposed wholly therein so as to be rotatable all as one therewith, (a) a liquid reservoir, (b) at least one pump operable upon rotation of the rotative sub-assembly to draw liquid from said reservoir, (c) a liquid-pressure-operable actuator connected to said fan blading for effecting adjustment thereof, and (d) control valve means by way of which liquid discharged under pressure by said pump is directed to operate the actuator, and said main body being adapted to provide for said attachment of the fan assembly to the engine assembly and to provide for said rotative sub-assembly to pick up a drive therefor directly from the output shaft of the engine assembly.

Claim 15

A gas turbine engine of the ducted-fan by-pass type having a front-mounted fan assembly which can be fitted and removed as a complete unitary assembly and which comprises a non-rotative sub-assembly, which includes a non-rotative main body and a non-rotative by-pass duct supported by said main body, and a rotative sub-assembly which is supported in bearings by the non-rotative sub-assembly and which includes a hub, carrying variable-pitch fan blading, positioned and rotatably supported within the by-pass duct, said hub including, disposed wholly therein so as to be rotatable all as one thereWith, (a) a liquid reservoir, (b) at least one pump operable upon rotation of the rotative sub-assembly to draw liquid from said reservoir, (c) a liquid-pressure-operable actuator connected to said fan blading for effecting adjustment thereof, and (d) control valve means by way of which liquid discharged under pressure by said pump is directed to operate the actuator, and said main body being adapted for fitting of the fan assembly to the main part of the engine, and for removal therefrom, as a unit.

Claim 16

A gas turbine engine of the ducted-fan by-pass type having a front-mounted fan assembly which can be fitted and removed as a complete unitary assembly and which comprises a non-rotative sub-assembly, which includes a non-rotative main body and a non-rotative by-pass duct supported by said main body, and a rotative sub-assembly which is supported in bearings by the non-rotative sub-assembly and which includes a hub, carrying variable-pitch fan blading, positioned and rotatably supported within the by-pass duct, said hub including, disposed wholly therein so as to be rotatable all as one thereWith, (a) a liquid reservoir, (b) at least one pump operable upon rotation of the rotative sub-assembly to draw liquid from said reservoir, (c) a liquid-pressure-operable actuator connected to said fan blading for effecting adjustment thereof, and (d) control valve means by way of which liquid discharged under pressure by said pump is directed to operate the actuator, and said main body being adapted for fitting of the fan assembly to the main part of the engine, and for removal therefrom, as a unit.

Claim 17

A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 12, wherein said main body is adapted for bolting up to the main part of the engine and to provide for said rotative sub-assembly to pick up a drive therefor directly from the output shaft of said main part of the engine.