Gas turbine marine engine - with hydrodynamic brake to slow propeller shafts before reversing thrust

摘要

The gas turbines are run at optimum speeds and their output shafts are reversed by two epicyclic gears with friction brakes; one brake off and the other on. In order to reverse the thurst without slowing the turbines, and without undue heating of the friction brakes, hydrodynamic brakes are fitted to the output shafts to stop the propeller shaft rotation before the reverse drive is applied. These brakes are pref. disc units operating on a flange of the annular gear elements.