United Technologies Corporation

Other

Fred M Schwarz

Gabriel L Suciu

Clifton J Crawley, Jr

Ken Robert Lagueux

Anthony F Rauseo

Anthony Rausco

Flow of cooling air to a thermal clearance control system in a gas turbine engine is selectably scheduled between a normal power level versus clearance schedule and an increased efficiency cruising schedule. Selection of the cruising schedule is accompanied by a limitation on the rate of engine power increase during the period when the cruise schedule is selected.

Active clearance control with cruise mode

A method for preventing rubbing between a gas turbine engine rotor and surrounding annular shroud during transient changes in engine power monitors high rotor speed for determining the existence of a thermal mismatch between the rotor and shroud supporting turbine case (9). The method directs the cooling flow modulating valve (44) to substantially shut off the flow of cooling air to the case (9) for a period of time sufficient to allow the thermal mismatch to pass.

Method for protecting gas turbine engine seals

A method for enhancing the thermal response of the engine case and annular shroud during the transient response period following a step change in engine power provides for the temporary reduction or elimination of the flow of cooling air supplied to the engine case by the active clearance control system. An alternate method additionally substitutes a flow of relatively warm air to further increase the response of the case.

Thermal clearance control method for gas turbine engine

An overhead storage system utilizes a bin having handles that are engaged by fixtures, at least one of which is articulated to permit facile emplacement of the bin and ready access thereto when desired. The fixtures cooperate with the handle structure to provide lateral and longitudinal stability, as well as underlying support for the container.

Overhead storage system

A graphical display system utilizes an array of base units, which are disengageably affixed to one another so as to form a base board of variable extent, having a grid of slots in the front face thereof. Cover pieces have elements for slidably engaging them upon the front face of the base board, enabling them to be shifted in both of two mutually perpendicular directions within the grid of slots. The cover pieces are of various sizes and dimensions, and appropriate decorative or characterizing elements are applied to their surfaces to permit use for creating effective graphical display components.

Mechanical graphical display system

A method for scheduling the flow of cooling air to a gas turbine engine achieves a varying clearance between the turbine blade tips and surrounding annular shroud responsive to the current engine power level. Excess clearance is provided during operation at less than maximum normal engine power to accommodate the transient decrease in clearance following a step change in engine power level.

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Glastonbury, CT, United States of America

Fred M Schwarz