Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A fuel control for gas turbine comprising: (a) means for controlling the fuel flow to the gas turbine engine as a function of a demanded speed signal; (b) means for generating said demanded speed signal as the time integral of a selected acceleration term; (c) means for generating a demanded acceleration term as a function of at least one operating parameter of the engine; (d) a plurality of summing means for generating difference signals between an actual parameter signal related to a stress limit and a predetermined limit value; (e) a plurality of scheduling means for determining stress limit acceleration terms as functions of the difference signals generated by said summing means; and (f) means for comparing said acceleration terms and for generating said elected acceleration term as the lowest of said acceleration terms, wherein said scheduling means provides: (i) a difference signal determined as a function having a maximum acceleration value exceeding the maximum value of said demanded acceleration for operation of the engine in a normal range, (ii) decreasing acceleration values for operation of the engine within a predetermined range of a stress limit, (iii) a zero acceleration value for operation of the engine at the stress limit, (iv) increasing deceleration values for operation of the engine beyond the stress limit, and (v) a maximum deceleration value for operation of the engine in a dangerous range.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A fuel control for gas turbine comprising: (a) means for controlling the fuel flow to the gas turbine engine as a function of a demanded speed signal; (b) means for generating said demanded speed signal as the time integral of a selected acceleration term; (c) means for generating a demanded acceleration term as a function of at least one operating parameter of the engine; (d) a plurality of summing means for generating difference signals between an actual parameter signal related to a stress limit and a predetermined limit value; (e) a plurality of scheduling means for determining stress limit acceleration terms as functions of the difference signals generated by said summing means; and (f) means for comparing said acceleration terms and for generating said elected acceleration term as the lowest of said acceleration terms, wherein said scheduling means provides: (i) a difference signal determined as a function having a maximum acceleration value exceeding the maximum value of said demanded acceleration for operation of the engine in a normal range, (ii) decreasing acceleration values for operation of the engine within a predetermined range of a stress limit, (iii) a zero acceleration value for operation of the engine at the stress limit, (iv) increasing deceleration values for operation of the engine beyond the stress limit, and (v) a maximum deceleration value for operation of the engine in a dangerous range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fuel control as defined in claim 1 wherein said stress limit acceleration term generating means includes: means for generating an actual parameter spool speed signal as a function of the actual spool speed of the gas turbine engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fuel control as defined in claim 1 wherein said stress limit acceleration term generating means includes: means for generating an actual parameter turbine temperature signal as a function of the actual turbine inlet temperature of the engine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fuel control as defined in claim 1 wherein the engine is of the free turbine type and said stress limit acceleration term generating means includes: means for generating an actual parameter free turbine speed signal as a function of the actual free turbine speed of the engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A fuel control as defined in claim 1 wherein the engine is of the free turbine type and said stress limit acceleration term generating means includes: means for generating an actual parameter free turbine torque signal as a function of the actual torque applied by the free turbine of the engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 1 wherein: said stress limit is selected as the low pressure spool overspeed limit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 6 wherein: said decreasing acceleration values are selected to initiate when the low pressure spool speed reaches a predetermined percentage of the low pressure spool overspeed limit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 7 wherein: said maximum deceleration value is selected to inititate when the low pressure spool speed reaches a predetermined limit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 8 wherein: said maximum deceleration value is the maximum deceleration value of said demanded acceleration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 1 wherein: said stress limit is selected as the free turbine overspeed limit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 10 wherein: said decreasing acceleration values are selected to initiate when the free turbine speed reaches a predetermined percentage of the free turbine overspeed limit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 11 wherein: said maximum deceleration value is selected to initiate when the free turbine speed exceeds the free turbine overspeed limit by a predetermined percentage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 12 wherein: said maximum deceleration value is the maximum deceleration value of said demanded acceleration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 1 wherein: said stress limit is selected as the turbine inlet temperature limit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 14 wherein: said decreasing acceleration values are selected to initiate when the turbine inlet temperature exceeds the turbine inlet temperature limit by a predetermined amount.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 15 wherein: said maximum deceleration value is selected to initiate when the turbine inlet temperature is within 50° C. of the turbine inlet temperature limit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 16 wherein: said maximum deceleration value is the maximum deceleration value of said demanded acceleration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 1 wherein: said stress limit is selected as the free turbine torque limit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 18 wherein: said decreasing acceleration values are selected to initiate when the free turbine torque reaches a predetermined percentage of the free turbine torque limit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 19 wherein: said maximum deceleration values are selected to initiate when the free turbine torque exceeds the free turbine torque limit by a predetermined amount.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fuel control for a gas turbine engine as defined in claim 20 wherein: said maximum deceleration value is the maximum deceleration value of said demanded acceleration.