GAS TURBINE STARTING AND AUXILIARY TURNING MECHANISM
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power transmitting mechanism for starting a gas turbine and turning its rotor at slow speed during the cooling period after fuel shut-off, said mechanism comprising a main power input shaft adapted for connection to a power source;
- main drive transmitting means comprising a hydraulic torque converter connected at its input side in driven relation with said main power input shaft, and a disconnect clutch having driving torque transmitting means connected with the output side of said torque converter and driven torque transmitting means adapted for connection with said turbine rotor, said disconnect clutch being in axial alignment with said torque converter and said transmitting means;
an auxiliary power input shaft adapted for connection with another power source; and
one-way drive establishing connecting means operatively interposed between said auxiliary power input shaft and said main drive transmitting means, said one-way drive establishing means being in axial alignment with and between said torque converter and said disconnect clutch.
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Abstract
A double input-single output power transmitting mechanism is utilized to accelerate the rotor of a gas turbine from standstill to initial operating speed, and to continue rotation of the rotor at slow speed during cooling after fuel shut-off. A friction clutch transmits both the starting torque and the slow speed turning torque to the turbine rotor.
59 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A power transmitting mechanism for starting a gas turbine and turning its rotor at slow speed during the cooling period after fuel shut-off, said mechanism comprising a main power input shaft adapted for connection to a power source;
- main drive transmitting means comprising a hydraulic torque converter connected at its input side in driven relation with said main power input shaft, and a disconnect clutch having driving torque transmitting means connected with the output side of said torque converter and driven torque transmitting means adapted for connection with said turbine rotor, said disconnect clutch being in axial alignment with said torque converter and said transmitting means;
an auxiliary power input shaft adapted for connection with another power source; and
one-way drive establishing connecting means operatively interposed between said auxiliary power input shaft and said main drive transmitting means, said one-way drive establishing means being in axial alignment with and between said torque converter and said disconnect clutch.
- main drive transmitting means comprising a hydraulic torque converter connected at its input side in driven relation with said main power input shaft, and a disconnect clutch having driving torque transmitting means connected with the output side of said torque converter and driven torque transmitting means adapted for connection with said turbine rotor, said disconnect clutch being in axial alignment with said torque converter and said transmitting means;
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2. A power transmitting mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main drive transmitting means includes an intermediate shaft connecting and in axial alignment with the output element of said torque converter with the driving element of said disconnect clutch;
- and wherein said one-way drive establishing connecting means are operatively interposed between said intermediate shaft and said auxiliary power input shaft.
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3. A power transmitting mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said disconnect clutch comprises driving and driven torque transmitting elements movable into and out of frictional engagement with each other.
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4. A power transmitting mechanism as set forth in claim 3 and further comprising releasable brake means operatively associated with said intermediate shaft for immobilizing the latter upon disengagement of said disconnect clutch.
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5. A power transmitting mechanism comprising a housing partitioned into an input gear compartment at one end, a clutch compartment at the other end, and Adjoining intermediate compartments, one adjacent said input gear compartment, and the other adjacent said clutch compartment;
- a speed changing main power input gear train enclosed within said input gear compartment and including parallel but spaced apart driving and driven shafts;
a hydraulic torque converter enclosed within the intermediate compartment next to said input gear compartment and connected in driven relation with said driven shaft of said main power input gear train;
an intermediate main drive transmitting shaft connected coaxially with said torque converter and extending through said other intermediate housing compartment;
an auxiliary power input shaft journalled in said other intermediate housing compartment on an axis spaced from but parallel to said intermediate main drive transmitting shaft;
a speed reducing gear train including an over-running clutch connecting said auxiliary power input shaft in one-way drive establishing relation with said intermediate shaft;
a power output shaft extending from said clutch compartment, and a disconnect clutch operatively interposed within said clutch compartment between said intermediate and power output shafts.
- a speed changing main power input gear train enclosed within said input gear compartment and including parallel but spaced apart driving and driven shafts;
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6. A power transmitting mechanism as set forth in claim 5 and further comprising a releasable brake mechanism within said clutch compartment and comprising stationary brake means fixedly mounted within said clutch compartment and complementary brake means connected with said intermediate shaft for rotation therewith and in axially shiftable relation thereto.
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7. A power transmitting mechanism comprising, a hydraulic torque converter, a main power input shaft rotatable on an axis parallel to but spaced from the impeller axis of said torque converter;
- a gear train connecting said main power input shaft with the impeller of said torque converter;
power output gearing comprising a drive shaft connected in driven relation with the runner of said torque converter, a driven shaft parallel to but spaced from said drive shaft, and speed reducing gearing between said drive and driven shafts;
an auxiliary power input shaft; and
one-way drive establishing connecting means operatively interposed between said auxiliary power input shaft and said driven shaft, said one-way drive establishing connecting means comprising a drive pinion on said auxiliary power input shaft;
a large diameter intermediate gear in mesh with said drive pinion and a small diameter intermediate gear fixedly connected coaxially with said large diameter intermediate gear, a large diameter driven gear rotatably supported on said driven shaft and meshing with said small diameter intermediate gear; and
an overrunning clutch operatively interposed between said large diameter driven gear and said driven shaft.
- a gear train connecting said main power input shaft with the impeller of said torque converter;
Specification