Patent ID: 8291716

Claim:
A hybrid propulsive engine, comprising: at least one jet engine associated with a working fluid passing there through, the at least one jet engine including a turbine section, the turbine section including at least one turbine rotor and at least one independently rotatable turbine stator having a stator member that rotates with a turbine shaft to assist in starting the jet engine; at least one energy extraction mechanism configured to extract energy from the working fluid, and at least partially convert that energy to electrical power; and at least one torque conversion mechanism configured to convert at least a portion of the electrical power to torque, wherein the at least one independently rotatable turbine stator of the turbine section is rotatably driven at least partially responsively to the at least one torque conversion mechanism configured to convert the at least a portion of the electrical power to torque, wherein the at least one energy extraction mechanism and the at least one torque conversion mechanism are configured to be run selectively simultaneously.