# US 11,111,810 B2 · Control assembly for a stage of variable-pitch vanes for a turbine engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,810 B2 - Document ID: US11111810B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/271,283 - Filed: 2019-02-08 - Published: 2019-08-15 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-09 - Assignees: Safran Aircraft Engines - Applicants: Safran Aircraft Engines - Inventors: Olivier Bazot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111810B2 ## CPC - F01D 17/162: {for axial flow, i.e. the vanes turning around axes which are essentially perpendicular to the rotor centre line (F01D17/167 takes precedence)} - F04D 29/563: {specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps} - F05D 2230/642: using maintaining alignment while permitting differential dilatation - F05D 2240/12: Fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes - F05D 2240/50: Bearings - F05D 2260/38: by a spring, i.e. spring loaded or biased towards a certain position - 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) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A control assembly for a stage of variable-pitch vanes for a turbine engine generally includes an actuating ring having an annular body, a vane guidance means for connecting to the cylindrical pivots of the variable pitch vanes, a rotating means for rotating the actuating ring about a casing of the turbine engine, and a centering means for cooperating with the casing to center the actuating ring. The centering means may have at least one skid bearing against the casing. At least one of the skid or the rod may be configured to cooperate by radial sliding with an inner wall of a housing. The skid may be configured to be mobile during operation by sliding between a radially internal position and a radially external position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control assembly for a stage of variable-pitch vanes for a turbine engine, each variable-pitch vane having a cylindrical pivot at a radially outer end thereof, the control assembly comprising: an actuating ring having an annular body having an axis of revolution; a vane guidance means for connecting to the cylindrical pivots of the variable pitch vanes; a rotating means for rotating the actuating ring about a casing of the turbine engine; and a centering means for cooperating with the casing to center the actuating ring, the centering means having at least one skid bearing against the casing, the skid being secured to a rod that intersects with a radial housing of the actuating ring, and the skid having an abutment element bearing against a radially external surface of the actuating ring, wherein at least one of the skid or the rod are configured to cooperate by radial sliding with an inner wall of a housing, and in that an elastically deformable bearing means are mounted between the skid and the actuating ring to urge the skid radially towards the casing, the skid being configured to be mobile during operation by sliding between a radially internal position defined by a bearing against the abutment element on the actuating ring, and a radially external position wherein the abutment element is at a distance from the actuating ring, wherein the skid and the rod are monolithic, wherein the skid comprises a first cylindrical portion with a first diameter that is smaller than a second cylindrical portion, the first cylindrical portion extending between the rod and the second cylindrical portion, the second cylindrical portion being configured to bear against the casing, wherein the first cylindrical portion is inserted by sliding in an intermediate cylindrical part of the housing which extends radially between a first cylindrical part with a second diameter that is smaller than a third diameter of the intermediate cylindrical part and a second cylindrical part which opens onto the actuation ring, wherein a first annular shoulder connects the first cylindrical part and the intermediate cylindrical part and wherein a second annular shoulder connects the second cylindrical part and the intermediate cylindrical part, and wherein the elastically deformable bearing means bear against the second annular shoulder and the first cylindrical portion is able to bear against the first annular shoulder. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rod comprises a cylindrical section and a threaded section, the cylindrical section being configured to cooperate by sliding with an internal cylindrical surface of the housing, and the abutment element being a nut that cooperates with the threaded section of the rod. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elastically deformable bearing means are annular and extend around the skid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elastically deformable bearing means bear against an internal peripheral surface of the actuating ring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A stage of variable-pitch vanes for a turbine engine, the stage comprising an annular row of variable-pitch vanes, each variable-pitch vane having a blade and a cylindrical pivot at a radially external end thereof, the stage further having an annular casing with a plurality of orifices, each orifice for mounting the cylindrical pivot of one variable-pitch vane, wherein each cylindrical pivot is connected to a control assembly according to claim 1. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An aircraft turbine engine comprising a control assembly according to claim 1. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The control assembly according to claim 1, wherein the skid and the rod are connected by a rigid connection. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The control assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rod is free to move relative to the abutment element. ### Claim 9 A control assembly for a stage of variable-pitch vanes for a turbine engine, each variable-pitch vane having a cylindrical pivot at a radially outer end thereof, the control assembly comprising: an actuating ring having an annular body having an axis of revolution; a guide configured to connect to the cylindrical pivots of the variable pitch vanes; an actuator configured to rotate the actuating ring about a casing of the turbine engine; and a centering assembly configured to cooperate with the casing to center the actuating ring, the centering assembly having a skid bearing against the casing, the skid being secured to a rod that intersects with a radial housing of the actuating ring, and the skid having an abutment element bearing against a radially external surface of the actuating ring, wherein at least one of the skid or the rod are configured to cooperate by radial sliding with an inner wall of a housing, and in that an elastically deformable bearing is mounted between the skid and the actuating ring to urge the skid radially towards the casing, the skid being configured to be mobile during operation by sliding between a radially internal position defined by a second bearing against the abutment element on the actuating ring, and a radially external position wherein the abutment element is at a distance from the actuating ring, wherein the skid comprises a first cylindrical portion with a diameter that is smaller than a second cylindrical portion, the first cylindrical portion extending between the rod and the second cylindrical portion, the second cylindrical portion being configured to bear against the casing, wherein the first cylindrical portion is inserted by sliding in an intermediate cylindrical part of the housing which extends radially between a first cylindrical part with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the intermediate cylindrical part and a second cylindrical part which opens onto the actuation ring, and wherein a first annular shoulder connects the first cylindrical part and the intermediate cylindrical part and a second annular shoulder connects the second cylindrical part and the intermediate cylindrical part, and wherein the elastically deformable bearing means bear against the second annular shoulder and the first cylindrical portion being able to bear against the first annular shoulder.