Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
In a gas turbine engine having a turbine rotor axially spaced from a compressor rotor by an annular combustion chamber, said rotors and combustion chamber being in fluid communication, and a housing encircling said rotors and said combustion chamber and being spaced from said combustion chamber, said housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, a drain plug located in said lower portion and comprising: a body portion transversing said space between said housing and said combustion chamber, said body portion including 1. a reservoir, 2. a first passage communicating with said reservoir and said combustion chamber, 3. a second passage communicating with said reservoir and said space between said housing and said combustion chamber, and 4. a third passage communicating with said reservoir and the exterior of said housing; and valve means normally spaced from and restricting said third passage and movable in response to a flow of gas through said third passage caused by an increase in pressure in said space between said housing and said combustion chamber above ambient pressure at the exterior of said housing to seal said third passage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
In a gas turbine engine having a turbine rotor axially spaced from a compressor rotor by an annular combustion chamber, said rotors and combustion chamber being in fluid communication, and a housing encircling said rotors and said combustion chamber and being spaced from said combustion chamber, said housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, a drain plug located in said lower portion and comprising: a body portion transversing said space between said housing and said combustion chamber, said body portion including 1. a reservoir, 2. a first passage communicating with said reservoir and said combustion chamber, 3. a second passage communicating with said reservoir and said space between said housing and said combustion chamber, and 4. a third passage communicating with said reservoir and the exterior of said housing; and valve means normally spaced from and restricting said third passage and movable in response to a flow of gas through said third passage caused by an increase in pressure in said space between said housing and said combustion chamber above ambient pressure at the exterior of said housing to seal said third passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
355 words
A gas turbine engine comprising: A. a shaft assembly having a central axis and including 1. a compressor, and 2. a turbine discharging toward one end of the shaft assembly; B. a liner defining a combustion chamber in fluid communication with said compressor and said turbine; C. a housing including 1. a main body portion generally enclosing said shaft assembly, 2. an exhaust end structure defining a. an annular, axially extending discharge passage communicating at one end with the outlet of said turbine and diverging radially outwardly therefrom, and b. an axially extending cavity centrally within said discharge passage opening to atmosphere at the end thereof remote from said turbine outlet; D. a bearing assembly supported by said housing and positioned within the open end of said cavity, said bearing assembly including 1. an annular bearing housing positioned within the open end of said cavity and defining an inner axially extending cavity and an annular insulating air space opening to atmosphere between an inner peripheral surface of said exhaust end structure and an outer peripheral surface of said bearing housing, 2. an axially extending annular bearing support secured at one end to said bearing housing and spaced throughout its remaining axial extension from said bering housing, and 3. a bearing positioned within said inner cavity, journaling said shaft assembly, and supported by the other end of said bearing support; and E. sealing means located along said shaft assembly between said bearing and said turbine outlet providing a gas seal between said annular discharge passage and said bearing assembly; F. said inner cavity opens to atmosphere at the end outboard from said turbine outlet; G. said shaft assembly terminates within said inner cavity outboard of said bearing; H. a housing end member is positioned in the open end of said inner cavity and closes said inner cavity to define a lubricant chamber in said bearing housing surrounding said shaft assembly end; I. said one end of said bearing support is interposed between said end member and said bearing housing; and J. means are included to provide a flow of lubricant to end from said lubricant chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
355 words
A gas turbine engine comprising: A. a shaft assembly having a central axis and including 1. a compressor, and 2. a turbine discharging toward one end of the shaft assembly; B. a liner defining a combustion chamber in fluid communication with said compressor and said turbine; C. a housing including 1. a main body portion generally enclosing said shaft assembly, 2. an exhaust end structure defining a. an annular, axially extending discharge passage communicating at one end with the outlet of said turbine and diverging radially outwardly therefrom, and b. an axially extending cavity centrally within said discharge passage opening to atmosphere at the end thereof remote from said turbine outlet; D. a bearing assembly supported by said housing and positioned within the open end of said cavity, said bearing assembly including 1. an annular bearing housing positioned within the open end of said cavity and defining an inner axially extending cavity and an annular insulating air space opening to atmosphere between an inner peripheral surface of said exhaust end structure and an outer peripheral surface of said bearing housing, 2. an axially extending annular bearing support secured at one end to said bearing housing and spaced throughout its remaining axial extension from said bering housing, and 3. a bearing positioned within said inner cavity, journaling said shaft assembly, and supported by the other end of said bearing support; and E. sealing means located along said shaft assembly between said bearing and said turbine outlet providing a gas seal between said annular discharge passage and said bearing assembly; F. said inner cavity opens to atmosphere at the end outboard from said turbine outlet; G. said shaft assembly terminates within said inner cavity outboard of said bearing; H. a housing end member is positioned in the open end of said inner cavity and closes said inner cavity to define a lubricant chamber in said bearing housing surrounding said shaft assembly end; I. said one end of said bearing support is interposed between said end member and said bearing housing; and J. means are included to provide a flow of lubricant to end from said lubricant chamber.