Diffuser case support structure

A diffuser case support structure for a gas turbine engine comprising:

• a fairing disposed circumferentially about a longitudinal axis, the fairing defining:
• a plurality of passages circumferentially spaced apart and forming at least a portion of a fluid path between a compressor and a combustor of the gas turbine engine, wherein a front end of the fairing defines the fluid path whereby the fairing is configured to receive a flow of gas and an aft end of the fairing defines the fluid path whereby the flow of gas is configured to exit the fairing at the aft end of the fairing;
• a space between each pair of adjacent passages of the plurality of passages, the space defining a recessed portion of the fairing extending axially from an axial end of the fairing through a portion of the fairing;
• and
• a fairing flange extending from the aft end of the fairing;
• a diffuser frame comprising a plurality of struts, each strut of the plurality of struts disposed between a pair of adjacent passages of the plurality of passages;
• and
• a sliding joint forming an interface between the fairing and the diffuser frame, the sliding joint comprising a fastener extending generally axially through an aperture disposed in the fairing flange;
• wherein the diffuser frame is configured to couple an inner diffuser case to an outer diffuser case.

A gas turbine engine comprising:

• an inner diffuser case;
• an outer diffuser case;
• and
• a diffuser case support structure coupling the inner diffuser case to the outer diffuser case, the diffuser case support structure comprising:
• a fairing disposed circumferentially about a longitudinal axis, the fairing defining a plurality of passages circumferentially spaced apart and forming at least a portion of a fluid path between a compressor and a combustor of the gas turbine engine, wherein a front end of the fairing the fluid path whereby the fairing is configured to receive a flow of gas and an aft end of the fairing defines the fluid path whereby the flow of gas is configured to exit the fairing at the aft end of the fairing;
• a fairing flange extending from the aft end of the fairing;
• a diffuser frame comprising a plurality of struts, each of the plurality of struts disposed between a pair of adjacent passages of the plurality of passages;
• and
• a sliding joint forming an interface between the fairing and the diffuser frame, the sliding joint comprising a fastener extending generally axially through an aperture disposed in the fairing flange.