A starter generator located within a sump region of a turbofan engine and coupled to an adapter shaft. The adapter shaft rotationally coupled to the high pressure shaft, forward of a high pressure shaft bearing, and secured by a spanner nut. The engine makes use of two pluralities of electrical conductors, the first extends through an electrical conduit defined by a forward strut extending from the sump region to the outward casing, the second extends axially away from the electric starter. Each of the first plurality of electrical conductors makes reversible contact with a respective one of the second plurality of electrical conductors via an elbow/pin connector, producing a tight turn in area of limited space.

A turboshaft engine includes a high speed spool that connects a high pressure compressor with a high pressure turbine. A low speed spool connects a low pressure compressor with a low pressure turbine. A speed change mechanism includes an input that is in communication with the low spool and a fixed gear ratio. An output turboshaft is in communication with an output of the speed change mechanism.

This invention performs the gas pressurization task of a centrifugal compressor gas turbine engine in a new way. In this invention gas compression takes place by using pinwheel-like thrusters to induce a very high velocity full forced vortex in the gas being compressed. Much higher tip velocities can be achieved because no strength-limited solid centrifugal impeller is required to spin up the gas. Due to the consequent very high vortex velocity a single stage pressure ratio of twenty five to one, or more, may be possible. Because there is no high pressure turbine, the gas pressure delivered to some downstream useful work device is much higher than is the case with conventional gas turbine engines. The invention's compressor requires no major moving parts except for the gas flow. The consequence is that the invention is predicted to have substantially better performance and general characteristics than conventional gas turbine engines.

A propulsion unit including: a gas generator including a compressor, a combustion chamber, a turbine, at least two compressed-air propulsion modules, each propulsion module including: a fan, a compressed-air turbine configured to drive the rotation of the fan, a manifold allowing the respective turbines of the compressed-air propulsion modules to be supplied with compressed air, wherein the manifold is configured to collect and mix: at least a portion of the flow that has passed through the combustion chamber of the gas generator, typically as it leaves the turbine, and at least one bypass flow, the bypass flow being a flow of air which is not passed through the combustion chamber of the gas generator.

Rotary-winged vehicle systems and devices are disclosed. In one aspect, one or more engine components are mounted within rotor blades of the rotary-winged system. In one embodiment, engines are mounted within the rotor blades, with exhaust ports positioned at the rotor blade tips. In another embodiment, the engine of a rotary-winged vehicle includes a centrifugal compressor co-axially mounted with a spindle of the rotor blades. In one aspect, the compressor of one or more engines is decoupled from the engine turbine and electrically driven. In one aspect, the rotary-winged vehicle may be operated autonomously.

A turbine engine for a helicopter, the helicopter including a main gearbox, a rotor, and a speed-reducing device housed entirely within the main gearbox of the helicopter while also being connected to the rotor, the turbine engine including a casing, a gas generator with a gas generator shaft, and a free turbine for being driven in rotation by a gas stream generated by the gas generator, the free turbine including a free turbine shaft. When the turbine engine is fastened to the gearbox of the helicopter, the free turbine shaft extends axially into the main gearbox of the helicopter to be connected directly to the speed-reducing device.

A propulsion unit including: a gas generator including a compressor, a combustion chamber, a turbine, at least two compressed-air propulsion modules, each propulsion module including: a fan, a compressed-air turbine configured to drive the rotation of the fan, a manifold allowing the respective turbines of the compressed-air propulsion modules to be supplied with compressed air, wherein the manifold is configured to collect and mix: at least a portion of the flow that has passed through the combustion chamber of the gas generator, typically as it leaves the turbine, and at least one bypass flow, the bypass flow being a flow of air which is not passed through the combustion chamber of the gas generator.

An apparatus and method for mounting a turbine engine to an aircraft can include an engine core for the turbine engine including a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section in flow arrangement. At least one strut couples to the engine core about a single mount plane. A structural wall at least partially defining a mainstream flow path couples to the at least one strut and passes through the compressor section and the turbine section.

A decoupled gas turbine engine includes a high spool assembly and a low spool assembly each having a rotational axis that are spaced from one-another. The engine further includes a combustor that may have a centerline spaced from the rotational axes of each spool assembly. Turning ducts of the engine are configured to re-direct airflow from one spool assembly to the next and/or between one spool assembly and the combustor.

A low cost, high power density, low emissions general aviation turbine engine (GATE) with improved fuel economy over current engines. Ideally suited for 50 to 500 shaft horsepower (SHP) range aircraft applications such as GA, UAS, UAS, air taxi, helicopters and commercial markets. The engine design features with centrifugal compressor and radial turbine rotors has a high-end practical limit of ?800 (SHP). The new turboprop incorporates 2 non-concentric spools aero-thermal-pressure coupled wherein staged compressor rotors lend to a simple engine design, optimized high overall engine pressure ratio (OPR) and low specific fuel consumption (SFC). An integral startergenerator system further simplifies the engine design and offers high electrical output power capability for auxiliary power requirements. A 2-stage low emissions combustor with fuel-air premix chambers is incorporated lending to stable combustion at any engine spool speed/power requirement, further fuel optimization and use of a low cost simple fixed pitch propeller. Some other highlights include: any fuel or mixture thereof, TBO greater than piston or other turbine engines, less maintenance costs, oil/filter change at ?15000 hrs. and other inherent advantages of a gas turbine engine. Of the two spools that make up this turboprop engine, one is the High Pressure (HP) spool that is part of the gas generator using combustor hot gases to power the integral HP turbine rotor, HP compressor and high-speed alternator startergenerator. The other engine spool is the Low-Pressure (LP) spool that receives the HP turbine exhaust heat energy to power the integral LP compressor rotor, LP turbine rotor, integrated gearbox with resultant output shaft horsepower. This invention represents the most advanced engine for general aviation since Charles Edward Taylor's engine powered the Wright Brothers first aircraft-controlled powered flight Dec. 17, 1903.