Patent ID: 9534608
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: F04D,F05D,Y10T

Claim:
1. A multi-stage axial compressor comprising: a driveshaft; a first series of rotor blade assemblies mounted on and rotating with the drive shaft, each rotor blade assembly comprising a rotating stage of the multi-stage axial compressor; a second series of rotor blade assemblies positioned along the drive shaft, each rotor blade assembly comprising a counter-rotating stage of the multi-stage axial compressor; a first planetary gear assembly mounted along the driveshaft and operatively connecting the second series of rotor blade assemblies to the drive shaft so that the second series of rotor blade assemblies are in communication with the first series of rotor blade assemblies; and a second planetary gear assembly mounted along the driveshaft at a position spaced apart from the first planetary gear assembly along a length of the driveshaft, wherein the first and second planetary gear assemblies define a dual drive transmission that enables counter-rotation between the first and second series of rotor blade assemblies.