Stator retention of gas turbine engine
AssigneeRtx Corporation
InventorsSarah J. Zecha, Brian Barainca
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stator vane assembly of a gas turbine engine includes a stator shroud having a plurality of shroud openings formed therein. The stator shroud defines a flowpath surface. The assembly includes a plurality of stator vanes, one stator vane of the plurality of stator vanes installed in each shroud opening of the stator shroud. A volume of potting material is located in the plurality of shroud openings to retain the stator vanes thereat. One or more retainers are located at a back surface of the stator shroud opposite the flowpath surface to restrict circumferential movement of the plurality of stator vanes relative to the stator shroud.
Claims4
A stator vane assembly of a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a stator shroud having a plurality of shroud openings formed therein, the stator shroud defining a flowpath surface;
- a plurality of stator vanes, one stator vane of the plurality of stator vanes installed in each shroud opening of the stator shroud;
- a volume of potting material disposed in the plurality of shroud openings to retain the stator vanes thereat;
- and
- one or more retainers disposed at a back surface of the stator shroud opposite the flowpath surface to restrict circumferential movement of the plurality of stator vanes relative to the stator shroud;
- wherein a retainer of the one or more retainers contacts and exerts a circumferential force on circumferentially adjacent stator vanes of the plurality of stator vanes;
- wherein the retainer includes:
- a first clip portion disposed at and contacting a first stator vane of the plurality of stator vanes, the first clip portion including:
- a clip portion base contacting the first stator vane;
- and
- two clip portion arms extending from the clip portion base in a circumferential direction toward a second stator vane of the plurality of stator vanes;
- a second clip portion separate and distinct from the first clip portion, the second clip portion disposed at and contacting the second stator vane circumferentially adjacent to the first stator vane;
- and
- a spring connected to the clip portion base and extending between the first clip portion and the second clip portion configured to urge the first clip portion circumferentially away from the second clip portion.
A gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a combustor;
- a turbine in flow communication with the combustor;
- and
- a stator assembly, including:
- a stator shroud having a plurality of shroud openings formed therein, the stator shroud defining a flowpath surface;
- a plurality of stator vanes, one stator vane of the plurality of stator vanes installed in each shroud opening of the stator shroud;
- a volume of potting material disposed in the plurality of shroud openings to retain the stator vanes thereat;
- and
- one or more retainers disposed at a back surface of the stator shroud opposite the flowpath surface to restrict circumferential movement of the plurality of stator vanes relative to the stator shroud;
- wherein a retainer of the one or more retainers contacts and exerts a circumferential force on circumferentially adjacent stator vanes of the plurality of stator vanes;
- wherein the retainer includes:
- a first clip portion disposed at and contacting a first stator vane of the plurality of stator vanes, the first clip portion including:
- a clip portion base contacting the first stator vane;
- and
- two clip portion arms extending from the clip portion base in a circumferential direction toward a second stator vane of the plurality of stator vanes;
- a second clip portion separate and distinct from the first clip portion, the second clip portion disposed at and contacting the second stator vane circumferentially adjacent to the first stator vane;
- and
- a spring connected to the clip portion base and extending between the first clip portion and the second clip portion configured to urge the first clip portion circumferentially away from the second clip portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.