US 12,650,083 B1 · Propulsor actuation system for a turbine engine and a method of operating the propulsor actuation system

Abstract

A propulsor actuation system for a turbine engine that includes a plurality of propulsor blades each rotatable about a pitch axis. The propulsor actuation system includes one or more actuators having a yoke, and a minimum pitch lockout system. The minimum pitch lockout system includes a locking mechanism movable to a closed position to prevent the yoke from moving axially beyond the locking mechanism such that the propulsor blades are rotatable in a first pitch range, and movable to an open position to allow the yoke to move axially beyond the locking mechanism such that the propulsor blades are rotatable in a second pitch range. A method of operating the propulsor actuation system includes preventing the yoke from moving axially beyond the locking mechanism in the closed position, opening the locking mechanism to the open position, and moving the yoke axially beyond the locking mechanism in the open position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A propulsor actuation system for a turbine engine having a longitudinal centerline axis and including a propulsor having a plurality of propulsor blades each rotatable about a blade pitch axis, the propulsor actuation system comprising:

one or more actuators for rotating the plurality of propulsor blades about the blade pitch axis, the one or more actuators including a yoke coupled to the plurality of propulsor blades and configured to move axially, the yoke extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline axis;
and
a minimum pitch lockout system comprising a locking mechanism disposed radially outward of the yoke, the locking mechanism configured to extend radially inward to a closed position to prevent the yoke from moving axially beyond the locking mechanism such that the plurality of propulsor blades are rotatable in a first pitch range, and the locking mechanism configured to retract radially outward to an open position to allow the yoke to move axially beyond the locking mechanism such that the plurality of propulsor blades are rotatable in a second pitch range different from the first pitch range.

A method of operating a propulsor actuation system for a turbine engine having a longitudinal centerline axis and including a propulsor having a plurality of propulsor blades, the method comprising:

rotating the plurality of propulsor blades about a blade pitch axis with one or more actuators by moving a yoke of the one or more actuators axially, the yoke extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline axis and coupled to the plurality of propulsor blades;
preventing, with a locking mechanism disposed radially outward of the yoke and configured to extend radially inward to a closed position, the yoke from moving axially beyond the locking mechanism to rotate the plurality of propulsor blades in a first pitch range;
retracting the locking mechanism radially outwards to an open position;
and
moving, while the locking mechanism is in the open position, the yoke axially beyond the locking mechanism to rotate the plurality of propulsor blades in a second pitch range different from the first pitch range.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Propulsor actuation system for a turbine engine and a method of operating the propulsor actuation system

Life of this patent

Propulsor actuation system for a turbine engine and a method of operating the propulsor actuation system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20