Patent classifications
F01D7/02
LEVERED COUNTERWEIGHT FEATHERING SYSTEM
A fan assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a fan disk, a trunnion, an actuation device, a fan blade, and a counterweight assembly. The trunnion is mounted to the fan disk. The actuation device is operably coupled to the trunnion. The fan blade is rotatably attached to the fan disk. The counterweight assembly includes a link arm, a lever arm, a hinge, and a counterweight. The link arm is connected to the trunnion, to the actuation device, or to both. The link arm is configured to drive rotation of the trunnion relative to the fan disk. The hinge is pivotably connected to the lever arm. The lever arm is connected to the link arm and is disposed to rotate about a connection point of the lever arm and the hinge. The counterweight is mounted to the lever arm at a location spaced from the hinge.
Controllable variable fan outlet guide vanes
A fan assembly includes a fan duct, an inlet fan, and an outlet guide vane assembly. The inlet fan includes blades adapted to force fan exit air toward an aft end of the fan duct. The outlet guide vane assembly is located in the fan duct downstream of the inlet fan and is configured to adjust a direction of the fan exit air received from the blades. The outlet guide vane assembly includes a first plurality of outlet guide vanes including a first outlet guide vane configured to rotate to a first angle so as to redirect the fan exit air in a first direction and a second outlet guide vane configured to rotate to a second angle so as to redirect the fan exit air in a second direction. The second outlet guide vane is located at a different circumferential position than the first outlet guide vane.
Controllable variable fan outlet guide vanes
A fan assembly includes a fan duct, an inlet fan, and an outlet guide vane assembly. The inlet fan includes blades adapted to force fan exit air toward an aft end of the fan duct. The outlet guide vane assembly is located in the fan duct downstream of the inlet fan and is configured to adjust a direction of the fan exit air received from the blades. The outlet guide vane assembly includes a first plurality of outlet guide vanes including a first outlet guide vane configured to rotate to a first angle so as to redirect the fan exit air in a first direction and a second outlet guide vane configured to rotate to a second angle so as to redirect the fan exit air in a second direction. The second outlet guide vane is located at a different circumferential position than the first outlet guide vane.
TURBOMACHINE MODULE EQUIPPED WITH A SYSTEM FOR CHANGING THE PITCH OF THE BLADES OF A PROPELLER AND WITH A DEVICE FOR FEATHERING THE BLADES
The invention relates to a module of a turbomachine of longitudinal axis X, the module comprising: ⋅—a rotary casing (31) that rotates about the longitudinal axis and bears a propeller (2; 20, 21, 22) which is provided with a plurality of blades (32); ⋅—a fixed casing (48) comprising a cylindrical wall (49) extending between an inner wall (40) and an outer wall (41) of the rotary casing (31); and, ⋅—a system (30) for changing the pitch of the blades of the propeller, mounted around the fixed casing and comprising: a control means (55) comprising a movable body (57) that is able to move axially on said fixed casing, at least one load transfer bearing (56) comprising an inner ring (65) that is connected to the movable body (57), and an outer ring (66); and a connection mechanism (61) for connecting the outer ring (66) to the blades of the propeller. According to the invention, the module further comprises a feathering device (70) for feathering the blades of the propeller, this device (70) comprising an annular row of springs (71) that are arranged around said fixed casing and extend axially, the springs (71) comprising first axial ends (72) that bear against a ferrule (51) of the fixed casing, and opposite second axial ends (73) that bear against said inner ring (65).
TURBOMACHINE MODULE EQUIPPED WITH A SYSTEM FOR CHANGING THE PITCH OF THE BLADES OF A PROPELLER AND WITH A DEVICE FOR FEATHERING THE BLADES
The invention relates to a module of a turbomachine of longitudinal axis X, the module comprising: ⋅—a rotary casing (31) that rotates about the longitudinal axis and bears a propeller (2; 20, 21, 22) which is provided with a plurality of blades (32); ⋅—a fixed casing (48) comprising a cylindrical wall (49) extending between an inner wall (40) and an outer wall (41) of the rotary casing (31); and, ⋅—a system (30) for changing the pitch of the blades of the propeller, mounted around the fixed casing and comprising: a control means (55) comprising a movable body (57) that is able to move axially on said fixed casing, at least one load transfer bearing (56) comprising an inner ring (65) that is connected to the movable body (57), and an outer ring (66); and a connection mechanism (61) for connecting the outer ring (66) to the blades of the propeller. According to the invention, the module further comprises a feathering device (70) for feathering the blades of the propeller, this device (70) comprising an annular row of springs (71) that are arranged around said fixed casing and extend axially, the springs (71) comprising first axial ends (72) that bear against a ferrule (51) of the fixed casing, and opposite second axial ends (73) that bear against said inner ring (65).
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING FAILURE OF A PROPELLER FEEDBACK DEVICE
A sensor signal produced by a sensor as a feedback device rotates with a propeller about an axis and moves along the axis with adjustment of a blade angle of the propeller is received, the sensor signal indicative of a rotational speed and of the blade angle of the propeller. From the sensor signal, it is determined whether the rotational speed is within a predetermined range of a reference speed and an expected change in the blade angle has occurred in response to a command to adjust the blade angle to maintain the rotational speed at the reference speed. In response to determining that the rotational speed is within the predetermined range of the reference speed and the expected change in the blade angle has failed to occur in response to the command, inoperable movement of the feedback device along the axis is determined and an alert is output.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING FAILURE OF A PROPELLER FEEDBACK DEVICE
A sensor signal produced by a sensor as a feedback device rotates with a propeller about an axis and moves along the axis with adjustment of a blade angle of the propeller is received, the sensor signal indicative of a rotational speed and of the blade angle of the propeller. From the sensor signal, it is determined whether the rotational speed is within a predetermined range of a reference speed and an expected change in the blade angle has occurred in response to a command to adjust the blade angle to maintain the rotational speed at the reference speed. In response to determining that the rotational speed is within the predetermined range of the reference speed and the expected change in the blade angle has failed to occur in response to the command, inoperable movement of the feedback device along the axis is determined and an alert is output.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING FAILURE OF A PROPELLER CONTROL UNIT
A failure detection method and system for a propeller control unit coupled to a propeller are provided. An actual value of a blade angle and/or a rotational speed of the propeller are obtained. A comparison between the actual value and a threshold is performed. In response to determining, based on the comparison, that the actual value exceeds the threshold, the propeller control unit is caused to adjust the blade angle to bring the blade angle and/or the rotational speed towards the threshold. A subsequent actual value of the blade angle and/or the rotational speed is obtained. From the subsequent value, it is determined whether the blade angle and/or the rotational speed has been brought towards the threshold. In response to determining that the blade angle and/or the rotational speed has failed to be brought towards the threshold, failure of the propeller control unit is detected and an alert is output.
Gas turbine engine variable pitch fan blade
A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan section including a fan rotatable about an engine axis with a plurality of fan blades rotatable about a fan blade axis. A geared architecture is in communication with the fan and driven by a turbine section. The fan rotates at a first speed and the turbine section rotates at a second speed different from the first speed and a fixed area fan nozzle in communication with the fan section.
Variable pitch fan actuator
A gas turbine engine including a core having in serial flow order a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine—the compressor, combustor, and turbine together defining a core air flowpath. The gas turbine engine additionally includes a fan section mechanically coupled to the core, the fan section including a plurality of fan blades, and each of the plurality fan blades defining a pitch axis. An actuation device is operable with the plurality fan blades for rotating the plurality fan blades about their respective pitch axes, the actuation device including an actuator located outward of the core air flowpath to, e.g., simplify the gas turbine engine.