# US 10,370,988 B2 · Nozzle guide vane passage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,988 B2 - Document ID: US10370988B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/214,240 - Filed: 2016-07-19 - Published: 2017-02-02 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-28 - Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc - Applicants: ROLLS-ROYCE plc - Inventors: Steven Hillier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370988B2 ## CPC - F01D 9/041: {using blades (F01D5/148 takes precedence)} - F01D 9/042: {fixing blades to stators (fixing stator-rings in the casing or to each other F01D25/246)} - F01D 25/005: {Selecting particular materials} - F01D 25/12: Cooling - F01D 25/246: {Fastening of diaphragms or stator-rings} - F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines - F05D 2300/6033: Ceramic matrix composites [CMC] - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract Described is a nozzle guide vane assembly may comprise: a plurality of nozzle guide vane passages arranged in an annular array, each nozzle guide passage comprising inner and outer radial platforms, a suction surface of a first vane, and a pressure surface of a second vane, wherein the nozzle guide passages are made from a plurality of layers of ceramic fibers held in a ceramic matrix, wherein a first nozzle guide passage includes at least one attachment lug attaching the nozzle guide passage to either or both of an engine casing and an adjacent second nozzle guide passage, the attachment lug being integral with the first nozzle guide passage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nozzle guide vane arrangement comprising: a plurality of nozzle guide passages arranged in an annular array, each nozzle guide passage comprising inner and outer radial platforms, a suction surface of a first vane, and a pressure surface of a second vane, wherein the nozzle guide passages are made from a plurality of layers of ceramic fibres held in a ceramic matrix, wherein a first one of the nozzle guide passages includes at least one attachment lug configured to attach the nozzle guide passage to an adjacent second one of the nozzle guide passages, the attachment lug being integral with the first nozzle guide passage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform regions extend upstream and downstream of the vanes so as to provide an annular inlet and outlet to the annular array of vanes and the attachment lugs extend radially outwards of the annular inlet or outlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein each nozzle guide passage includes a edge along which it joins the adjacent nozzle guide passage in the arrangement and wherein the attachment lugs are placed at or along the edge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein adjacent nozzle guide passages include corresponding attachment lugs, the corresponding attachment lugs being attached together so as to couple adjacent nozzle guide passages in the nozzle guide vane arrangement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each nozzle guide passage includes either or both of at least one upstream attachment lug which is local to a most upstream part of the nozzle guide passage and one downstream lug which is local to a most downstream part of the nozzle guide passage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment lug comprises a plurality of ceramic fibres running therethrough, the ceramic fibres continuing uninterrupted between the lug and a corresponding portion of one or more of the inner or outer radial platform, the suction surface, and the pressure surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each attachment lug includes a through hole for receiving a fixation device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein adjacent ones of the nozzle guide passages abut one another at a joining interface located at an upstream end and a downstream end, and the mid-portion of the nozzle guide passages are separated by an internal cavity of a vane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the internal cavity houses an internal wall, the internal wall being an integral part of either the first one or the second one of the nozzle guide passages. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the internal wall includes two internal wall portions which extend from different regions of the first one or the second one of the nozzle guide passages. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein internal wall extends from a region local to the trailing edge or leading edge of the vane in which it is located. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the internal wall extends around a longitudinal axis to provide a tubular structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein a face of the internal wall includes a rebated portion defined by a shoulder, the shoulder providing a mating surface for receiving a corresponding surface of a vane wall of a circumferentially adjacent nozzle guide vane when assembled. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The nozzle guide vane arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the internal wall is spaced from an internal face of the vane wall so as to define a channel therebetween. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A gas turbine engine having the nozzle guide vane arrangement of the claim 1. ### Claim 16 A nozzle guide vane arrangement comprising: a plurality of nozzle guide passages arranged in an annular array, each nozzle guide passage comprising inner and outer radial platforms, a suction surface of a first vane, and a pressure surface of a second vane, wherein the nozzle guide passages are made from a plurality of layers of ceramic fibres held in a ceramic matrix, wherein a first one of the nozzle guide passages includes at least one attachment lug attaching the nozzle guide passage to either or both of an engine casing and an adjacent second one of the nozzle guide passages, the attachment lug being integral with the first nozzle guide passage, wherein the platform regions extend upstream and downstream of the vanes so as to provide an annular inlet and outlet to the annular array of vanes and the attachment lugs extend radially outwards of the annular inlet or outlet, wherein each nozzle guide passage includes an edge along which it joins the adjacent nozzle guide passage in the arrangement and wherein the attachment lugs are placed at or along the edge, and wherein adjacent nozzle guide passages include corresponding attachment lugs, the corresponding attachment lugs being attached together so as to couple adjacent nozzle guide passages in the nozzle guide vane arrangement.