HPC case clearance control thermal control ring spoke system

A case clearance control system comprising:

• a blade outer air seal support structure configured to support a blade outer air seal proximate a tip of a blade of a gas turbine high pressure compressor, said blade outer air seal support structure including a plurality of protrusions projecting radially outward from said blade outer air seal support structure opposite said blade outer air seal;
• a thermal control ring coupled to said blade outer air seal support structure at said plurality of protrusions, said thermal control ring including a plurality of receivers configured to couple with said plurality of protrusions, wherein said protrusions can be configured tapped to receive threaded fasteners inserted radially through the thermal control ring;
• a thermal break formed between said plurality of protrusions and said plurality of receivers, said thermal break configured to control heat transfer between said blade outer air seal support structure and said thermal control ring;
• and
• a plurality of flow passages formed between said blade outer air seal support structure, said thermal control ring and said plurality of protrusions, said plurality of flow passages configured to allow cooling air flow to pass through and cool said thermal control ring in order to maintain thermal control ring dimensions to control expansion and contraction of said blade outer air seal support structure.

A process for maintaining a tip clearance with a case clearance control system comprising:

• attaching a thermal control ring to a blade outer air seal support structure, said blade outer air seal support structure configured to support a blade outer air seal proximate a tip of a blade of a gas turbine high pressure compressor, wherein said blade outer air seal support structure includes a plurality of protrusions extending radially from the blade outer air seal support structure opposite said blade outer air seal wherein each of said plurality of protrusions comprise a base portion proximate said blade outer air seal support and an end portion radially distal from said base portion, said thermal control ring including a plurality of receivers configured to couple with said plurality of protrusions, coupling said plurality of receivers with said plurality of protrusions by use of a dovetail fitting with each of the end portions being shaped as a bulbous form that interlocks with each of the plurality of receivers of similar shape formed in the thermal control ring;
• forming a thermal break between said plurality of protrusions and said plurality of receivers, said thermal break configured to control heat transfer between said blade outer air seal support structure and said thermal control ring;
• and
• flowing cooling air through a plurality of flow passages formed between said blade outer air seal support structure, said thermal control ring and said plurality of protrusions, wherein said cooling air cools said thermal control ring for maintaining the thermal control ring dimensions to control expansion and contraction of said blade outer air seal support structure, controlling the tip clearance.