Gas turbine engine power shift transmission power train

Claim 2

A power train comprising in combination; a power plant having fuel feed means, fuel feed control means for varying power plant power, combustion apparatus, power generating means including power turbine means and power plant control means controlling the power generating means of said power plant to provide increased power for increasing output power in an output power range; a power shift transmission having an input operatively connected to said power turbine means, a load output, a plurality of fluid operated drive establishing devices for establishing and maintaining established a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output; source means providing a source of fluid under pressure driven by said power plant and connected to said power plant control means; shift control means operatively connected to said source means and said fluid operated drive establishing devices and operative to selectively control the connection of said source means to said devices for selectively maintaining the drives established and selectively providing a disconnect condition; overcontrol means operatively connected to said shift control means and said power plant control means operative in response to said shift control means maintaining a drive established controlling said power plant control means for controlling said power plant for transmitting normal power under the control of said power plant control means and in response to the establishing of said disconnect condition by said shift control means overcontrolling said power plant control means to reduce power plant power.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 and said shift control means providing said disconnect condition which includes a positive neutral condition disestablishing all drives and a shifting condition gradually establishing a drive.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 1 and a starter operatively connected to said power plant; starter control means operatively connected to said source means, said starter and said shift control means; said starter control means operative only when said shift control means is in neutral position to start said power plant and to unload said source means; said power plant control means being responsive to unloading of said source to reduce power plant and said shift control means being responsive to unloading of said source to provide positive neutral.

Claim 5

The invention defined by claim 1 and said shift control means providing a positive neutral disconnect condition overcontrolling said power plant control means and fuel feed means to reduce power of the power plant and providing a shifting disconnect condition during a shift to a drive overcontrolling said power plant control means to reduce power of said power plant.

Claim 6

A power train comprising in combination; a gas turbine power plant having a gas generator including a compressor and combustion apparatus, turbine means gas-coupled to the gas generator, power transfer means operably connected between said compressor and said turbine means, power plant control means including fuel feed means controlling the gas generator and power transfer control means controlLing said power transfer means to provide increased power transfer by said power transfer means for increasing output power in an output power range; a power shift transmission having an input operatively connected to said turbine means, a load output, a plurality of fluid operated drive establishing devices for establishing and maintaining established a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output and transmission control means including a source of fluid under pressure, shift control means operatively connected to said source and fluid operated drive establishing devices and operative to selectively connect said source to said devices for selectively establishing said drives and maintaining the drives established and overcontrol means operatively connected to said shift control means and said power transfer control means operative in response to said shift control means maintaining a drive established controlling said power transfer means for transmitting power under the control of said power plant control means and in response to the establishing of a drive controlling said power transfer control means to reduce power transmitted by said power transfer means under the control of said power plant control means to reduce power plant power during establishment of a drive.

Claim 7

A power train comprising in combination; a gas turbine power plant having a gas generator including a compressor and combustion apparatus, turbine means gas-coupled to the gas generator, power transfer means operably connected between said compressor and said turbine means, power plant control means including fuel feed means controlling the gas generator and power transfer control means controlLing said power transfer means to provide increased power transfer by said power transfer means for increasing output power in an output power range; a power shift transmission having an input operatively connected to said turbine means, a load output, a plurality of fluid operated drive establishing devices for establishing and maintaining established a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output and transmission control means including a source of fluid under pressure, shift control means operatively connected to said source and fluid operated drive establishing devices and operative to selectively connect said source to said devices for selectively establishing said drives and maintaining the drives established and overcontrol means operatively connected to said shift control means and said power transfer control means operative in response to said shift control means maintaining a drive established controlling said power transfer means for transmitting power under the control of said power plant control means and in response to the establishing of a drive controlling said power transfer control means to reduce power transmitted by said power transfer means under the control of said power plant control means to reduce power plant power during establishment of a drive.

Claim 8

The invention defined in claim 5 and said overcontrol means in response to establishing of a drive reducing the inertia of the power plant connected to said input.

Claim 9

The invention defined in claim 5 and said overcontrol means in response to establishing a drive completely disconnecting said power transfer means to reduce power plant power and inertia connected to said input.

Claim 10

The invention defined in claim 5 and said shift control means being operative in a neutral position to provide neutral in said transmission and to reduce the power transferred by said power transfer means to control said power plant to reduce engine power

Claim 11

The invention defined in claim 5 and a power plant starter, starter control means operatively connected to said starter and said transmission control system to disable said transmission control means to provide neutral in said transmission when said starter is energized for starting said power plant.

Claim 12

The invention defined in claim 9 and said starter control means being connected to said power transfer means and operative to reduce the power transferred by said power transfer means when said starter is energized for starting said power plant.

Claim 13

The invention defined in claim 5 and said source of fluid under pressure being driven by said compressor and connected to operate said power transfer means and said shift control means; a starter connected to drive said compressor and starter control means connected to said starter, and source to disable said source to relieve source load on said starter, to disable said power transfer means to reduce power plant power, to disable said shift control means to provide neutral in said transmission and to cause said starter to drive said compressor for starting.

Claim 14

The invention defined in claim 11 and said source having a suction air vent valve and said power transfer means and said operated drive devices of said transmission being fluid pressure actuated and being disabled by disabling the source by opening said suction air vent valve.

Claim 15

The invention defined in claim 5 and said shift control means being operative in neutral position to provide neutral in said transmission and to control the fuel speed means to provide a lower idle position.

Claim 16

The invention defined in claim 13 and said shift control means being operative in neutral position to reduce the power transferred by said power transfer means to reduce engine power.

Claim 17

A power train comprising in combination; a gas turbine power plant having a gas generator including a compressor providing a gas discharge pressure, fuel feed means and combustion apparatus, turbine means gas coupled to the gas generator, power transfer means operAbly connected between said compressor and said turbine means, power plant control means controlling said gas generator and power transfer means to provide increased power transfer by said power transfer means and increasing power plant output power; a power shift transmission having an input operatively connected to said turbine means, a load output, a plurality of fluid operated drive establishing devices for establishing and maintaining established a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output and a control system including a source of fluid under pressure, shift control means operatively connected to said source and fluid operated drive establishing devices and operative to selectively connect said source to supply for filling a selected operating device for selectively establishing each drive and to maintain the supply for maintaining pressure in the selected operating device for maintaining the drive flow responsive means operatively connected to said source and said shift control means operative in response to said supply for maintaining pressure to maintain the power transferred by said power transfer means under the control of said power plant control means and in response to said supply for filling reducing power being transferred by said power transfer means to reduce power plant power during the establishment of drives.

Claim 18

A power train comprising in combination; a gas turbine power plant having a gas generator including a compressor providing a gas discharge pressure, fuel feed means and combustion apparatus, turbine means gas coupled to the gas generator, power transfer means operAbly connected between said compressor and said turbine means, power plant control means controlling said gas generator and power transfer means to provide increased power transfer by said power transfer means and increasing power plant output power; a power shift transmission having an input operatively connected to said turbine means, a load output, a plurality of fluid operated drive establishing devices for establishing and maintaining established a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output and a control system including a source of fluid under pressure, shift control means operatively connected to said source and fluid operated drive establishing devices and operative to selectively connect said source to supply for filling a selected operating device for selectively establishing each drive and to maintain the supply for maintaining pressure in the selected operating device for maintaining the drive flow responsive means operatively connected to said source and said shift control means operative in response to said supply for maintaining pressure to maintain the power transferred by said power transfer means under the control of said power plant control means and in response to said supply for filling reducing power being transferred by said power transfer means to reduce power plant power during the establishment of drives.

Claim 19

A power train comprising in combination; a gas turbine power plant having a gas generator including a compressor, combustion apparatus, a starter operatively connected to said compressor, turbine means gas-coupled to the gas generator, power transfer means operably connected between said compressor and said turbine means, power plant control means including fuel control means controlling the gas generator and power transfer control means controlling said power transfer means to provide increased power transfer by said power transfer means for increasing output power in an output power range; a power shift transmission having an input operatively connected to said turbine means, a load output, a plurality of fluid operated drive establishing devices for establishing and maintaining established a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output, a source of fluid under pressure driven by said power plant connected to said power transfer control means; shift control means operatively connected to said source and fluid operated drive establishing devices and operative to selectively connect said source to said devices for selectively establishing said drives and maintaining the drives established and starter control means including a source of power operatively connected to said starter, said shift control means and said power transfer control means operative in response to supplying power to said starter to start said power plant to control said shift control means to disestablish the drive of all drive establishing devices to provide positive neutral and to control said power transfer means to substantially disengage said power transfer means to reduce the load on said starter.

Claim 20

A power train comprising in combination; a gas turbine power plant having a gas generator including a compressor, combustion apparatus, a starter operatively connected to said compressor, turbine means gas-coupled to the gas generator, power transfer means operably connected between said compressor and said turbine means, power plant control means including fuel control means controlling the gas generator and power transfer control means controlling said power transfer means to provide increased power transfer by said power transfer means for increasing output power in an output power range; a power shift transmission having an input operatively connected to said turbine means, a load output, a plurality of fluid operated drive establishing devices for establishing and maintaining established a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output, a source of fluid under pressure driven by said power plant connected to said power transfer control means; shift control means operatively connected to said source and fluid operated drive establishing devices and operative to selectively connect said source to said devices for selectively establishing said drives and maintaining the drives established and starter control means including a source of power operatively connected to said starter, said shift control means and said power transfer control means operative in response to supplying power to said starter to start said power plant to control said shift control means to disestablish the drive of all drive establishing devices to provide positive neutral and to control said power transfer means to substantially disengage said power transfer means to reduce the load on said starter.

Claim 21

The invention defined in claim 16 and said source including a primary pump and said starter control means being operatively connected to said source to unload said pump during starting to prevent power transfer by said power transfer means and drive by said drive establishing devices.

Claim 22

The invention defined in claim 16 and said starter control means being operatively connected to said fuel control means to reduce idle fuel feed during starting.

Claim 23

The invention defined in claim 16 and said shift control means operatively connected to said power transfer control means operative in the neutral position to reduce the power transferred by said power transfer means and the power plant power output.

Claim 24

The invention defined in claim 19 and said shift control means operatively connected to said power transfer control means operative on any shift to a drive to reduce the power transferred by said power transfer means and the power plant power output.

Claim 25

A power train comprising in combination; a gas turbine power plant having a gas generator including a compressor, and combustion apparatus, turbine means gas-coupled to the gas generator, power transfer means operable connected between said compressor and said turbine means, power plant control means including fuel control means controlled the gas generator and power transfer control means controlling said power transfer means to provide increased power transfer by said power transfer means for increasing output power in an output power range; a power shift transmission having an input operatively connected to said turbine means, a load output, a plurality of fluid operated drive establishing devices for establishing and maintaining established a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output and transmission control means including a source of fluid under pressure, shift control means operatively connected to said source and fluid operated drive establishing devices and operative in neutral position to provide neutral and in drive positions to selectively connect said source to said devices for selectively establishing said drives and maintaining the drives established and overcontrol means operatively connected to said shift control means and said power transfer means operative in response to said shift control means maintaining a drive established controlling said power transfer means for transmitting power under the control of said power plant control means and in response to said shift control means in neutral position controlling said power plant control means to reduce power being transmitted by said power transfer means under the control of said power plant control means to reduce power plant power during establishment of a drive.

Claim 26

A power train comprising in combination; a gas turbine power plant having a gas generator including a compressor, and combustion apparatus, turbine means gas-coupled to the gas generator, power transfer means operable connected between said compressor and said turbine means, power plant control means including fuel control means controlled the gas generator and power transfer control means controlling said power transfer means to provide increased power transfer by said power transfer means for increasing output power in an output power range; a power shift transmission having an input operatively connected to said turbine means, a load output, a plurality of fluid operated drive establishing devices for establishing and maintaining established a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output and transmission control means including a source of fluid under pressure, shift control means operatively connected to said source and fluid operated drive establishing devices and operative in neutral position to provide neutral and in drive positions to selectively connect said source to said devices for selectively establishing said drives and maintaining the drives established and overcontrol means operatively connected to said shift control means and said power transfer means operative in response to said shift control means maintaining a drive established controlling said power transfer means for transmitting power under the control of said power plant control means and in response to said shift control means in neutral position controlling said power plant control means to reduce power being transmitted by said power transfer means under the control of said power plant control means to reduce power plant power during establishment of a drive.

Claim 27

The invention defined in claim 21 and said shift control means being operative during a shift to a drive to control said power plant control means to reduce power transferred by said power transfer means and power plant output power.

Claim 28

A power train comprising in combination; a gas turbine power plant having lubrication means, a gas generator including a compressor providing a gas discharage pressure, fuel feed means and combustion apparatus, turbine means gas coupled to the gas generator, fluid operated power transfer clutch means having cooling and operably connected between said compressor and said turbine means, power plant control means including fuel control means controlling said fuel feed means providing high and low idle throttle stops and power transfer control means to provide increased power transfer by said power transfer means for increasing power plant output power; an electric starter connected to drive said compressor; a first and second pump driven by said compressor and each having an inlet and outlet; a common engine transmission sump; suction means connecting said sump to said first pump inlet and having a solenoid air vent valve normally closed for first pump operation and energized to open the suction air vent to disable the first pump; first regulator valve means having an overage line, regulating first pump outlet at an intermediate pressure connected first pump outlet to said power transfer control means and connecting overage to said overage line to said power plant lubrication means and to said power transfer clutch cooling means; a relief valve connected to said overage line to limit overage pressure to a low valve; said second pump inlet being connected to said first pump outlet; second regulator valve means connected to and regulating said second pump outlet at a high pressure and connecting overage to said transmission lubrication means; a solenoid dump valve means having a restricted passage normally closed to maintain second pump outlet pressure and energized to dump second pump outlet to said sump through said restricted passage; a one way supplemental lubrication feed line connecting said restricted passage upstream of the restriction for flow only to said Transmission lubrication means; a power shift transmission having an input operatively connected to said turbine means, a load output, lubrication means, a plurality of fluid operated drive establishing devices for establishing and maintaining established a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output and a control system including shift control means operatively connected to said fluid operated drive establishing devices and operative in neutral to block fluid flow to said devices and in drive positions to selectively connect fluid for filling a selected device for selectively establishing each drive and to maintain the supply for maintaining pressure in the selected device for maintaining the drive, flow responsive means operatively connected to said second pump outlet, said shift control means and said power transfer control means operative to supply fluid and in response to said supply for maintaining first pump outlet pressure to maintain the power transferred by said power means under the control of said power plant control means and in response to said supply flow for filling dumping said first pump outlet to reduce power transferred by said power transfer means to reduce power plant power during the establishment of drives, said shift control means including means operative in said neutral shift position energizing said dump solenoid valve to provide insufficient pressure to operate said devices to insure neutral, to actuate said flow control means to dump said first pump outlet reduce power transfer and power plant power and to control said fuel control means to provide said low idle stop and starter control means operative only in neutral shift control means position to energize said air vent solenoid valve and said starter.

Claim 29

A power train comprising in combination; a gas turbine power plant having lubrication means, a gas generator including a compressor providing a gas discharage pressure, fuel feed means and combustion apparatus, turbine means gas coupled to the gas generator, fluid operated power transfer clutch means having cooling and operably connected between said compressor and said turbine means, power plant control means including fuel control means controlling said fuel feed means providing high and low idle throttle stops and power transfer control means to provide increased power transfer by said power transfer means for increasing power plant output power; an electric starter connected to drive said compressor; a first and second pump driven by said compressor and each having an inlet and outlet; a common engine transmission sump; suction means connecting said sump to said first pump inlet and having a solenoid air vent valve normally closed for first pump operation and energized to open the suction air vent to disable the first pump; first regulator valve means having an overage line, regulating first pump outlet at an intermediate pressure connected first pump outlet to said power transfer control means and connecting overage to said overage line to said power plant lubrication means and to said power transfer clutch cooling means; a relief valve connected to said overage line to limit overage pressure to a low valve; said second pump inlet being connected to said first pump outlet; second regulator valve means connected to and regulating said second pump outlet at a high pressure and connecting overage to said transmission lubrication means; a solenoid dump valve means having a restricted passage normally closed to maintain second pump outlet pressure and energized to dump second pump outlet to said sump through said restricted passage; a one way supplemental lubrication feed line connecting said restricted passage upstream of the restriction for flow only to said Transmission lubrication means; a power shift transmission having an input operatively connected to said turbine means, a load output, lubrication means, a plurality of fluid operated drive establishing devices for establishing and maintaining established a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output and a control system including shift control means operatively connected to said fluid operated drive establishing devices and operative in neutral to block fluid flow to said devices and in drive positions to selectively connect fluid for filling a selected device for selectively establishing each drive and to maintain the supply for maintaining pressure in the selected device for maintaining the drive, flow responsive means operatively connected to said second pump outlet, said shift control means and said power transfer control means operative to supply fluid and in response to said supply for maintaining first pump outlet pressure to maintain the power transferred by said power means under the control of said power plant control means and in response to said supply flow for filling dumping said first pump outlet to reduce power transferred by said power transfer means to reduce power plant power during the establishment of drives, said shift control means including means operative in said neutral shift position energizing said dump solenoid valve to provide insufficient pressure to operate said devices to insure neutral, to actuate said flow control means to dump said first pump outlet reduce power transfer and power plant power and to control said fuel control means to provide said low idle stop and starter control means operative only in neutral shift control means position to energize said air vent solenoid valve and said starter.

Claim 30

A power train comprising in combination; a combustion power plant; a starter operatively connected to said power plant; a power shift transmission having an input driven by said power plant, a load output and fluid operated drive establishing means operative on the supply of fluid thereto for establishing a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output; a source of fluid under pressure driven by said power plant; shift control means connected to said source and selectively connected to supply fluid to said fluid operated drive establishing means for selectively establishing drive operation and starter control means connected to said starter and said source operative to operate said starter to start said power plant and to discontinue said supply of fluid from said source to said shift control means for said fluid operated drive establishing device to provide a positive neutral; said source including a pump driven by said power plant, a high pressure regulator valve connected to said pump regulating said source pressure, a low pressure transmission lubrication system normally connected to said high pressure source and bypass valve means connected to said source and said starter control means operative for venting said source regulated by said high pressure regulator valve to said low pressure lubrication system to substantially unload said pump during starting.

Claim 31

A power train comprising in combination; a combustion power plant; a starter operatively connected to said power plant; a power shift transmission having an input driven by said power plant, a load output and fluid operated drive establishing means operative on the supply of fluid thereto for establishing a plurality of ratio drives between said input and output; a source of fluid under pressure driven by said power plant; shift control means connected to said source and selectively connected to supply fluid to said fluid operated drive establishing means for selectively establishing drive operation and starter control means connected to said starter and said source operative to operate said starter to start said power plant and to discontinue said supply of fluid from said source to said shift control means for said fluid operated drive establishing device to provide a positive neutral; said source including a pump driven by said power plant, a high pressure regulator valve connected to said pump regulating said source pressure, a low pressure transmission lubrication system normally connected to said high pressure source and bypass valve means connected to said source and said starter control means operative for venting said source regulated by said high pressure regulator valve to said low pressure lubrication system to substantially unload said pump during starting.