System for detecting and accommodating gas turbine engine fan damage

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, wherein said first rotating member includes a compressor.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1, wherein: said first rotating member includes a first spool; said second rotating member includes a second spool, said second spool being coaxial with said first spool along a rotational axis.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1, further comprising a thrust modulator coupled to said controller and said engine, and wherein said controller further includes: a request speed signal, said requested speed signal corresponding to an undamaged first rotating member speed required to obtain a desired thrust from said engine; a first control error signal determined by comparing said requested speed signal to said first speed, said thrust modulator being responsive to said first control error signal to modulate thrust of said engine.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4, wherein said controller further includes: a synthesized speed signal determined from said second speed; a second control error signal generated in response to said damage detection signal by comparing said requested speed signal to said synthesized speed signal, said thrust modulator being responsive to said second control error signal to modulate thrust of said engine.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to said controller, said temperature sensor providing a temperature signal, and wherein said controller corrects said first speed signal and said second speed signal to said temperature signal.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1, wherein said controller generates a compressor variable geometry hysteresis adjustment signal and an engine bleed signal, and said damage error signal is further determined from said compressor variable geometry hysteresis adjustment signal and said engine bleed signal.

Claim 9

The system of claim 1, wherein said controller generates a deviation adjustment signal, said deviation adjustment signal establishing said second speed signal deviation from a nominal engine characteristic, and said damage detection signal is further determined from said deviation adjustment signal.

Claim 10

The system of claim 1, wherein said controller includes an operating characteristic signal, said characteristic signal corresponding to an operating relationship between speed of said first and second rotating members, and said expected speed signal is further determined from said characteristic signal.

Claim 11

The system of claim 1, further comprising a mach number sensor coupled to said controller, said mach number sensor providing a mach number signal, and wherein said expected speed signal is further determined from said mach number signal.

Claim 12

The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor providing a temperature signal and a mach number sensor providing a mach number signal, each of said temperature sensor and said mach number sensor being coupled to said controller, and wherein: said controller generates: a compressor variable geometry hysteresis adjustment signal from said second speed signal; an engine bleed signal; a deviation adjustment signal from said damage error signal, said deviation adjustment signal establishing said second speed signal deviation from a nominal engine; an operating characteristic signal, said characteristic signal corresponding to an operating relationship between speed of said first and second rotating members; said controller corrects said first speed signal and said second speed signal to said temperature signal; said expected speed signal is further determined from said mach number signal and said characteristic signal; said damage error signal is further determined from said compressor variable geometry hysteresis adjustment signal and said engine bleed signal; and said damage detection signal is further determined from said deviation adjustment signal.

Claim 13

The system of claim 11, wherein: said first rotating member includes a first spool with a first compressor linked by an inner shaft to a first turbine, said compressor having a fan stage; said second rotating member includes a second spool with a second compressor linked by an outer shaft to a second turbine, said inner shaft being coaxial with said outer shaft along a rotational axis, said second compressor and said second turbine being positioned between said first compressor and said first turbine.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of: (7) sensing a temperature; (8) correcting said first speed and said second speed for the temperature; (9) adjusting the damage error for compressor variable geometry hysteresis; (10) adjusting the damage error for engine bleed; (11) establishing a deviation of the engine from nominal; (12) adjusting the comparison of step (5) with the deviation of step (11).

Claim 17

The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of: (7) repeating steps (1) through (4) periodically; (8) establishing a deviation of the engine from nominal from step (7).

Claim 18

The method of claim 13, wherein step (6) further includes the step of switching thrust control modes.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of adjusting the comparison of step (5) for a deviation of the engine from nominal.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of repeating step (5) before step (6).

Claim 21

The method of claim 13, wherein step (3) further includes the step of using a characteristic relationship between the first speed and the second speed.

Claim 22

An operating system, comprising: a gas turbine engine defining a pathway and including a first rotating member and a second rotating member, each of said first and second rotating members being configured to rotate in response to working fluid flowing along said pathway; a first speed sensor providing a first speed signal corresponding to speed of said first rotating member; a second sensor providing a second speed signal corresponding to speed of said second rotating member; a controller coupled to said first and second speed sensors, said controller including: a requested speed signal, said requested speed signal corresponding to a desired thrust from said engine; a first control error signal determined by comparing said requested speed signal to said first speed signal; a damage detection signal generated when said first rotating member is damaged; a synthesized speed signal determined from said second speed signal, said synthesized speed signal corresponding to expected speed of an undamaged first rotating member; a second control error signal generated in response to said damage detection signal by comparing said requested speed signal to said synthesized speed signal; and a thrust modulator coupled to said controller and said engine, said modulator being responsive to said first and second control error signals to modulate thrust of said engine.

Claim 23

An operating system, comprising: a gas turbine engine defining a pathway and including a first rotating member and a second rotating member, each of said first and second rotating members being configured to rotate in response to working fluid flowing along said pathway; a first speed sensor providing a first speed signal corresponding to speed of said first rotating member; a second sensor providing a second speed signal corresponding to speed of said second rotating member; a controller coupled to said first and second speed sensors, said controller including: a requested speed signal, said requested speed signal corresponding to a desired thrust from said engine; a first control error signal determined by comparing said requested speed signal to said first speed signal; a damage detection signal generated when said first rotating member is damaged; a synthesized speed signal determined from said second speed signal, said synthesized speed signal corresponding to expected speed of an undamaged first rotating member; a second control error signal generated in response to said damage detection signal by comparing said requested speed signal to said synthesized speed signal; and a thrust modulator coupled to said controller and said engine, said modulator being responsive to said first and second control error signals to modulate thrust of said engine.

Claim 24

The system of claim 20, wherein said first rotating member includes a compressor with a fan stage.

Claim 25

The system of claim 20, wherein: said first rotating member includes a first spool; said second rotating member includes a second spool, said second spool being coaxial with said first spool along a rotational axis.

Claim 26

The system of claim 20, wherein said thrust modulator includes a fuel regulator.

Claim 27

The system of claim 20, further comprising a throttle coupled to said controller, said throttle providing a throttle signal corresponding to the desired thrust, said controller generating said requested speed signal from said throttle signal.

Claim 28

The system of claim 20, wherein said controller further includes an expected speed signal determined from said first speed signal, a damage error signal determined from comparison of said expected speed signal to said second speed signal, and said damage detection signal is determined from comparison of said damage error signal and a threshold indicative of damage to said first rotating member.

Claim 29

The system of claim 25, further comprising a temperature sensor providing a temperature signal and a mach number sensor providing a mach number signal, each of said temperature sensor and said mach number sensor being coupled to said controller, and wherein: said controller generates: a compressor variable geometry hysteresis adjustment signal from said second speed signal; an engine bleed signal; a deviation adjustment signal from said damage error signal, said deviation adjustment signal establishing said second speed signal deviation from a nominal engine; an operating characteristic signal, said characteristic signal corresponding to an operating relationship between speed of said first and second rotating members; said controller corrects said first speed signal and said second speed signal to said temperature signal; said expected speed signal is further determined from said mach number signal and said characteristic signal; said damage error signal is further determined from said compressor variable geometry hysteresis adjustment signal and said engine bleed signal; said damage detection signal is further determined from said deviation adjustment signal.

Claim 30

The system claim 20, further comprising a mach number sensor coupled to said controller and providing a mach number signal, a throttle coupled to said controller and providing a throttle signal corresponding to the desired thrust, and wherein: said requested speed signal is determined from said throttle signal; said controller generates: a deviation adjustment signal, said deviation adjustment signal establishing said second speed signal deviation from a nominal engine; a synthesized temperature signal; an operating characteristic signal, said characteristic signal corresponding to an operating relationship between speed of said first rotating member and speed of said second rotating member; said synthesized speed signal is corrected to said synthesized temperature signal; said synthesized speed signal is further determined from said mach number signal, said deviation adjustment signal, and said characteristic signal.

Claim 33

The method of claim 28, wherein step (2) includes the steps of: (2a) sensing a first speed of the first rotating member; (2b) sensing a second speed of the second rotating member; (2c) establishing an expected speed from the first speed; (2d) determining a damage error by comparing the second speed to the expected speed; (2e) detecting damage from a comparison of the damage error and a threshold indicative of damage to the gas turbine engine.

Claim 34

The method of claim 28, wherein step (3) includes the steps of: (3a) determining a requested speed for the first rotating member corresponding to a desired thrust; (3b) sensing a second rotating member speed; (3c) establishing a synthesized speed for the first rotating member from the second rotating member speed; (3d) generating a control error by comparing the requested speed to the synthesized speed; and (3e) modulating thrust of the gas turbine engine in response to the control error.

Claim 37

The system of claim 31, wherein said first rotating member includes a compressor with a fan stage.

Claim 38

The system of claim 31, wherein: said first rotating member includes a first spool; said second rotating member includes a second spool, said second spool being coaxial with said first spool along a rotational axis.

Claim 39

The system of claim 31, wherein said modulator includes a fuel regulator.

Claim 40

The system of claim 31, further comprising a throttle coupled to said controller, said throttle providing a throttle signal corresponding to the desired thrust, said controller generating said requested speed signal from said throttle signal.

Claim 41

The system of claim 31, wherein said controller generates a deviation adjustment signal, said deviation adjustment signal establishing said speed signal deviation from a nominal engine, and said synthesized speed signal is further determined from said deviation adjustment signal.

Claim 42

The system of claim 31, wherein said controller generates a synthesized temperature signal, and said synthesized speed signal is corrected to said synthesized temperature signal.

Claim 43

The system of claim 31, further comprising a mach number sensor coupled to said controller, said mach number sensor providing a mach number signal, and wherein said synthesized speed signal is further determined from said mach number signal.

Claim 44

The system of claim 31, wherein said controller includes an operating characteristic signal, said characteristic signal corresponding to an operating relationship between speed of said first and second rotating members, and said synthesized speed signal is further determined from said characteristic signal.

Claim 45

The system of claim 31, further comprising a mach number sensor coupled to said controller and providing a mach number signal, a throttle coupled to said controller and providing a throttle signal corresponding to the desired thrust, and wherein: said requested speed signal is determined from said throttle signal; said controller generates: a deviation adjustment signal, said deviation adjustment signal establishing said speed signal deviation from a nominal engine; a synthesized temperature signal; an operating characteristic signal, said characteristic signal corresponding to an operating relationship between speed of said first rotating member and speed of said second rotating member; said synthesized speed signal is corrected to said synthesized temperature signal; said synthesized speed signal is further determined from said mach number signal, said deviation adjustment signal, and said characteristic signal.

Claim 46

The system of claim 31, further comprising: a first rotating member speed sensor coupled to said controller and providing a first rotating member speed signal; a temperature sensor coupled to said controller and providing a temperature signal; and wherein said synthesized speed signal is further determined from said first rotating member speed signal and said temperature signal.

Claim 49

The system of claim 42, wherein said first rotating member includes a compressor with a fan stage.

Claim 50

The system of claim 42, wherein: said first rotating member includes a first spool; said second rotating member includes a second spool, said second spool being coaxial with said first spool along a rotational axis.

Claim 51

The system of claim 42, wherein said controller includes a synthesized temperature signal and said speed signal is corrected to said synthesized temperature signal.

Claim 52

The system of claim 42, further comprising a throttle coupled to said controller, said throttle providing a throttle signal corresponding to the desired thrust, said controller generating said requested speed signal from said throttle signal.

Claim 55

The system of claim 47, wherein said first rotating member includes a compressor with a fan stage.

Claim 56

The system of claim 47, wherein: said first rotating member includes a first spool; said second rotating member includes a second spool, said second spool being coaxial with said first spool along a rotational axis.

Claim 57

The system of claim 47, wherein said controller includes a mach number signal and said synthesized speed signal is further determined from said mach number signal.

Claim 58

The system of claim 47, further comprising a throttle coupled to said controller, said throttle providing a throttle signal corresponding to the desired thrust, said controller generating said requested speed signal from said throttle signal.

Claim 61

The system of claim 52, wherein said first rotating member includes a compressor with a fan stage.

Claim 62

The system of claim 52, wherein: said first rotating member includes a first spool; said second rotating member includes a second spool, said second spool being coaxial with said first spool along a rotational axis.

Claim 63

The system of claim 52, further comprising a throttle coupled to said controller, said throttle providing a throttle signal corresponding to the desired thrust, said controller generating said requested speed signal from said throttle signal.

Claim 64

The system of claim 52, wherein said controller includes a deviation adjustment signal, said deviation adjustment signal being configured to establish said speed signal deviation from a nominal engine, and said synthesized speed signal being further determined from said deviation adjustment signal.

Claim 65

The system of claim 31, further comprising a first member speed sensor providing a first member speed signal corresponding to rotational speed of said first rotating member, and wherein said damage signal is determined by comparing said speed signal to said first member speed signal.

Claim 66

The system of claim 31, wherein said controller generates a compressor variable geometry hysteresis adjustment signal and said damage signal is further determined from said compressor variable geometry hysteresis adjustment signal.