US 12,612,864 B2 · Passive flow modulation device

Abstract

A passive flow modulation device for a machine defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the passive flow modulation device including: a first ring with a first coefficient of thermal expansion; a second ring disposed coaxially with the first ring and positioned at least partially inward of the first ring along the radial direction, spaced from the first ring along the axial direction, or both, the first ring, the second ring, or both defining at least in part one or more passages, the second ring with a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion to passively modulate a size of the one or more passages during operation.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A passive flow modulation device for a gas turbine engine defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the passive flow modulation device comprising:

a first ring with a first coefficient of thermal expansion;
a second ring disposed coaxially with the first ring and positioned at least partially inward of the first ring along the radial direction, spaced from the first ring along the axial direction, or both, the first ring, the second ring, or both defining at least in part one or more passages, the second ring with a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion to passively modulate a size of the one or more passages during operation;
and
a plurality of nozzle blades disposed between and connected to the first ring and the second ring, wherein the one or more passages are further defined at least in part by the plurality of nozzle blades.

1 more element

A method of providing an air flow in a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining an axial centerline, the method comprising:

providing the air flow to an inducer assembly, the inducer assembly comprising:
a first ring with a first coefficient of thermal expansion;
a second ring disposed coaxially with the first ring, the second ring with a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion of the first ring, wherein a flow passage is defined at least in part between the first ring and the second ring, wherein the flow passage comprises a flow area between the first ring and the second ring;
transferring thermal energy between the air flow and the first ring, between the air flow and the second ring, or both to change a size of the first ring relative to a size of the second ring and passively modulate an amount of the air flow through the flow passage;
and
directing, with the inducer assembly, the air flow through the flow passage with a plurality of nozzle blades disposed in the flow passage along the radial direction of the gas turbine engine.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Passive flow modulation device

Life of this patent

Passive flow modulation device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9