Dual fan engine for VTOL pitch control
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorArthur P. Adamson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A core engine with a single shaft driving both a forward and a rear fan, with the fans discharging into separate nozzles which are variable to direct exhaust gases in either the downward or rearward direction or in any direction therebetween. Separate flow modulating means are provided with the fans to selectively vary the respective thrusts produced. By selective modulation of the nozzles and the flow-varying means, both engine angle control and position control may be obtained in all three planes. A third variable position nozzle is provided to direct the discharge flow of the core turbine between the downward and rear directions to thereby augment the thrust and control functions.
Claims29
An improved turbofan engine of the type having in serial flow relationship a first fan having intake and exhaust nozzle means, a compressor, a combustor and a turbine drivingly connected to the first fan by a drive shaft wherein the improvement comprises:
- a second fan spaced axially from the first fan and having air intake and exhaust nozzle means independent from those of the first fan said second fan being spaced axially downstream from and drivingly connected to the turbine by the drive shaft and said second fan exhaust nozzle means being substantially axially spaced from that of said first fan.
An improved turbofan engine of the type having in serial flow relationship a first fan and a core drivingly connected to the fan by way of an axial shaft wherein the improvement comprises:
- a second fan axially spaced from said first fan and drivingly connected to the axial shaft at a position axially downstream from said core, said first and second fan each having its own flow path with no fluid communication therebetween.
An improved turbofan engine of the type having a pair of axially spaced turbine driven fans for independently receiving and discharging airflow wherein the improvement comprises:
- (a) first means for receiving and directing at least a portion of the discharge flow from the first of the pair of axially spaced driven fans
- (b) second means for receiving and directing discharge flow from the second of the pair of axially spaced driven fans, said first and second receiving and directing means each being independently movable between a first position wherein the discharge flow is directed in the vertical direction and a second position wherein the discharge flow is directed in a horizontal direction, and
- (c) wherein one of said turbine driven fans is located aft of its driving turbine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.