# US 10,370,999 B2 · Gas turbine engine rapid response clearance control system with air seal segment interface

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- Number: US 10,370,999 B2
- Document ID: US10370999B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/780,838
- Filed: 2014-02-06
- Published: 2016-02-25
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-04-12
- Assignees: United Technologies Corporation
- Applicants: United Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Ken F. Blaney; Paul M. Lutjen; Brian R. Pelletier
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370999B2

## CPC

- F01D 11/20: Actively adjusting tip-clearance
- F01D 11/22: by mechanically actuating the stator or rotor components, e.g. moving shroud sections relative to the rotor
- F04D 29/164: {of an axial flow wheel}
- F04D 29/526: {Details of the casing section radially opposing blade tips (ducts F04D29/545)}
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)

## Abstract

An active clearance control system of a gas turbine engine includes an air seal segment with a bridge hook having a lugged aperture.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An active clearance control system for a gas turbine engine comprising:
an air seal segment with a lugged aperture; and
a puller with a multiple of circumferentially spaced lugs engageable with said lugged aperture, wherein the puller moves radially and radially moves said air seal segment,
wherein said multiple of circumferentially spaced lugs each define a lug engagement surface engageable with a respective aperture engagement surface of said lugged aperture.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a bridge hook that includes said lugged aperture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system as recited in claim 2, further comprising a forward hook and an aft hook that extends from said air seal segment, said bridge hook between said forward hook and said aft hook.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said lugged aperture includes three (3) lugged apertures.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said lugged aperture includes a transverse split through said lugged aperture.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said lug engagement surface defines a semi-spherical profile.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said aperture engagement surfaces define a frustro-conical profile.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said aperture engagement surfaces define a frustro-conical profile.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a chamfer on an insertion surface of said multiple of circumferentially spaced lugs and a chamfer on said lugged aperture opposite said aperture engagement surfaces.

### Claim 10

An active clearance control system of a gas turbine engine comprising:
an air seal segment with a bridge hook having a lugged aperture; and
a puller with a multiple of circumferentially spaced lugs engageable with said lugged aperture,
wherein the puller moves radially and radially moves said air seal segment,
wherein said multiple of circumferentially spaced lugs each define a lug engagement surface engageable with a respective aperture engagement surface of said lugged aperture.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising a forward hook and an aft hook that extends from said air seal segment, said bridge hook between said forward hook and said aft hook.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said lugged aperture includes three (3) lugged apertures.

### Claim 13

A method of active blade tip clearance control for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
engaging a puller that includes a multiple of circumferentially spaced lugs with an air seal segment that includes a lugged aperture, wherein the puller moves radially and radially moves the air seal segment and said multiple of circumferentially spaced lugs each define a lug engagement surface engageable with a respective aperture engagement surface of said lugged aperture,
inserting said multiple of circumferentially spaced lugs that extend from the puller into the lugged aperture; and
rotating the puller to obtain a lugged contact interface that allows the air seal segment to move radially in response to radial movement of the puller.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the aperture engagement surfaces include a spherical interface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the aperture engagement surfaces include a frustro-conical interface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the aperture engagement surfaces include a spherical-to-conical interface.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising rotationally fixing the puller at the aperture engagement surface.