United States Patent
US Patent 5209428: Propulsion system for a vertical and short…
US 5209428 · granted 1993-05-11
| Patent Number | 5209428 |
|---|---|
| Title | Propulsion system for a vertical and short takeoff and landing aircraft |
| Filed | 1990-05-07 |
| Granted | 1993-05-11 |
| Inventor(s) | Paul M. Bevilaqua, Paul K. Shumpert |
| Assignee | Lockheed Corp |
| CPC Classification | B64C29/0008, B64C29/0016, B64C29/00 |
| Number of Claims | 1 |
Abstract
The invention is a propulsion system for a V/STOL type aircraft. In detail, the invention comprises a turbofan engine including a fan section, compressor section, combustion section, turbine section and nozzle section. The turbine section comprises a low-pressure turbine portion coupled to and driving the fan section and a high-pressure turbine portion coupled to and driving the compressor section. A lift fan is coupled to the fan section by means of a drive shaft. A clutch is incorporated for decoupling the lift fan from the fan section. A mechanism is incorporated for extracting additional power from the low-pressure turbine portion of the turbine section to drive the lift fan that augments the basic engine thrust for V/STOL operation.
Claims Summary
1. A propulsion system for a V/STOL aircraft comprising:a turbofan engine including a fan section, a compressor section, a combustion section, turbine section and nozzle section, said turbine section having a low-pressure turbine portion coupled to and driving said fan section and a high-pressure turbine portion coupled to and driving said compressor section, said engine having a selectable operating point wherein a portion of the power generatable by said low-pressure turbine at a selected operating power setting is extracted to drive said fan section;