US 12,723,523 B2 · Connection assembly for a gas turbine engine

Abstract

A gas turbine engine including a connection assembly. The connection assembly includes a first component of the gas turbine engine defining a first flange. The first component has a first coefficient of thermal expansion. A second component of the gas turbine engine defines a second flange. The second component has a second coefficient of thermal expansion. An adapter includes an adapter body, a first rabbet, and a second rabbet. The adapter may be positioned between the first component and the second component. The adapter has a third coefficient of thermal expansion. The first coefficient of thermal expansion may be greater than the third coefficient of thermal expansion and the third coefficient of thermal expansion may be greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A gas turbine engine including a connection assembly, the connection assembly comprising:

a first component of the gas turbine engine defining a first flange, the first component having a first coefficient of thermal expansion;
a second component of the gas turbine engine defining a second flange, the second component having a second coefficient of thermal expansion;
an adapter comprising an adapter body, a first rabbet, and a second rabbet, the adapter positioned between the first component and the second component, the adapter having a third coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the first coefficient of thermal expansion is greater than the third coefficient of thermal expansion, and wherein the third coefficient of thermal expansion is greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion;
and
a fastener retaining the first component, the adapter, and the second component relative to one another along a connection assembly centerline.

2 more elements

A method of retaining a connection assembly, the method comprising:

providing a connection assembly within a gas turbine engine, the connection assembly operably coupling a first component, an adapter, and a second component, the first component defining a first flange and having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, the second component defining a second flange and having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, and the adapter including an adapter body, a first rabbet, and a second rabbet, the adapter having a third coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the first coefficient of thermal expansion is greater than the third coefficient of thermal expansion, and wherein the third coefficient of thermal expansion is greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion;
and
increasing a temperature of the connection assembly, thereby imparting a radially outward force through expansion of the first flange onto the adapter through the first rabbet and transferring at least a portion of the radially outward force to the second flange via the adapter and the second rabbet.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Connection assembly for a gas turbine engine

Life of this patent

Connection assembly for a gas turbine engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20