Piston ring assembly for a turbine engine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsNicholas John Bloom, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine engine is provided having a combustion section with a liner extending between a forward end and an aft end. A structural member is positioned in or around at least a portion of the combustion section. Additionally, a piston ring holder is provided attached to the structural member at a first end and positioned proximate to the aft end of the liner at a second end. The piston ring holder is a bimetallic member including a first portion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of a second material. A coefficient of thermal expansion of the first material is different than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the second material.
Claims19
A gas turbine engine defining an axial direction, the gas turbine engine comprising:
- a combustion section including a liner extending between a forward end and an aft end generally along the axial direction, the liner at least partially defining a combustion chamber;
- a structural member positioned in or around at least a portion of the combustion section;
- a piston ring configured to extend around the aft end of the liner;
- and
- a piston ring holder including a first end and a second end, the piston ring holder attached to the structural member at the first end and positioned proximate to the piston ring at the second end, the piston ring holder further including:
- a first portion comprised of a first metal material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, αH1, and
- a second portion comprised of a second metal material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, αH2, the first coefficient of thermal expansion, αH1, being different than the second coefficient of thermal expansion, αH2,
- wherein the piston ring holder has a unitary non-separable configuration between the first portion and the second portion, and
- wherein the piston ring holder is free of ceramic materials.
A piston ring assembly for a gas turbine engine including a structural member positioned in or around at least a portion of a combustion section, the combustion section having a liner extending between a forward end and an aft end, the piston ring assembly comprising:
- a piston ring configured to extend around the aft end of the liner;
- and
- a piston ring holder including a first end attached to the structural member and a second end positioned proximate the piston ring at the second end, the piston ring holder further including
- a first portion comprised of a first metal material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, αH1, and
- a second portion comprised of a second metal material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, αH2, the first coefficient of thermal expansion, αH1, being different than the second coefficient of thermal expansion,
- wherein the piston ring holder has a unitary non-separable configuration between the first portion and the second portion and
- wherein the piston ring holder is free of ceramic materials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.