Shaft shear detection for gas turbine engines
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsMichael DARBY, Reza PEDRAMI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and a method for detecting a shaft shear event in a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The system comprises a sensor configured to detect a shaft shear force exerted by a shaft on a support structure supporting the shaft where the shaft shear force is indicative of shearing of the shaft. The system also comprises a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and configured to initiate a shutdown of the gas turbine engine in response to the detection of the shaft shear force by the sensor.
Claims33
A system for detecting a shaft shear event in a gas turbine engine having a turbine supported by a shaft, the system comprising:
- a sensor configured and located to detect a shaft shear force exerted by the shaft on a support structure of the engine, the shaft shear force being indicative of shearing of the shaft;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and configured to initiate a shutdown of the gas turbine engine in response to the detection of the shaft shear force by the sensor.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a shaft having a first portion in torque-transmitting engagement with a load, and a second portion in torque-transmitting engagement with a turbine;
- and
- a sensor configured and located to detect a shaft shear force exerted by the shaft on a support structure supporting the shaft, the shaft shear force being indicative of shearing of the shaft at a location axially between the first and second portions of the shaft;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and configured to initiate a shutdown of the gas turbine engine in response to the detection of the shaft shear force by the sensor.
A method for detecting a shaft shear event in a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
- detecting a shaft shear force exerted by a shaft of the gas turbine engine on a support structure supporting the shaft, the shaft shear force being indicative of shearing of the shaft;
- and
- initiating a shutdown of the gas turbine engine in response to the detection of the shaft shear force.
A system comprising:
- a sensor configured and located to detect a force exerted by a shaft of a gas turbine engine on a support structure of the gas turbine engine supporting the shaft;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and configured to initiate a control function associated with the gas turbine engine in response to the detection of the force by the sensor.
A method comprising:
- detecting a force exerted by a shaft of the gas turbine engine on a support structure of the gas turbine engine supporting the shaft;
- and
- initiating a control function associated with the gas turbine engine in response to the detection of the force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.