Patent · US Expired

Unducted, counterrotating gearless front fan engine

US4976102A · kind A · utility

84Cited by
5References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 9, 1988
Grant dateDec 11, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 9, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T50/60
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A gas turbine engine having a core for generating combustion gases, a power turbine, an unducted fan section and a booster compressor. The power turbine includes two counterrotating turbine blade rows which are interdigitized and serve to rotate counterrotating first and second drive shafts, respectively. The unducted fan section also includes counterrotating spaced apart variable pitch fan blade rows which are respectively connected to the first and second drive shafts. A booster compressor is axially positioned between the spaced apart fan blade rows. The booster compressor likewise includes first and second blade rows which are counterrotating and interdigitated and are likewise driven by the first and second drive shafts. The engine is supported by two stationary support frames to permit the nacelle to be nonstructural. The core engine is a modular unit so that it can be separable from the rest of the engine.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.