US2011150627A1PendingUtilityA1

Method of operating a fan system

37
Assignee: BAUGHMAN JOHN LEWISPriority: Dec 21, 2009Filed: Aug 27, 2010Published: Jun 23, 2011
Est. expiryDec 21, 2029(~3.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John Lewis Baughman
F02K 3/077F02C 3/064F02K 3/075F02C 9/20
37
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Claims

Abstract

A method of operating a fan system is described comprising the steps of pressurizing an airflow in a forward fan stage to generate a pressurized flow, directing a first portion of the pressurized airflow towards a tip-fan of an aft fan stage, and directing a second portion of the pressurized airflow towards a circumferential row of air-turbine blades of the aft fan stage to drive the aft fan stage.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of operating a fan system comprising the steps of:
 pressurizing an airflow in a forward fan stage to generate a pressurized flow;   directing a first portion of the pressurized airflow towards a tip-fan of an aft fan stage; and   directing a second portion of the pressurized airflow towards a circumferential row of air-turbine blades of the aft fan stage to drive the aft fan stage.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the tip-fan is driven by the circumferential row of air-turbine blades. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of pressurizing a flow entering the tip-fan to generate a pressurized tip flow. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of expanding a higher pressure inflow entering the aft fan stage to a lower pressure outflow. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of expanding a higher pressure inflow entering the aft fan stage such that the temperature of a core flow entering a compressor is reduced. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of modulating the flow of air entering the tip-fan with an inlet guide vane. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5  further comprising modulating the flow of air between substantially zero air flow and a maximum discharge air flow. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the aft fan stage rotates independently from the forward fan stage. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of flowing a portion of the pressurized flow in an outer bypass passage to create an outer bypass flow. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  further comprising the step of mixing the outer bypass flow with a tip-flow from the tip-fan to create a mixed bypass flow. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a gas turbine engine comprising the steps of:
 pressurizing an airflow  1  using a forward fan stage to generate a pressurized flow;   directing a first portion  3  of the pressurized airflow towards a tip-fan of an aft fan stage; and   expanding a second portion  4  of the pressurized airflow in a circumferential row of air-turbine blades of the aft fan stage such that the pressure of a core flow entering a compressor is reduced.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the aft fan stage rotates independently from the forward fan stage. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11  further comprising the step of modulating a flow of air entering the tip-fan with an inlet guide vane. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  further comprising modulating the flow of air between substantially zero air flow and a maximum discharge air flow. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11  further comprising flowing an inner bypass flow in an annular inner bypass passage and flowing an outer bypass flow in an annular outer bypass passage. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  further comprising the step of operating a blocker door to prevent a reverse flow in the outer bypass passage. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15  further comprising the step of mixing the outer bypass flow with a tip-flow from the tip-fan to create a mixed bypass flow. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising operating a forward mixer to control the mixing of the outer bypass flow and the tip-flow. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11  further comprising operating a rear mixer to control the operation of the forward fan stage and the aft fan stage. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19  further comprising operating a blocker door located near an outer bypass passage.

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