Strain tolerant bound structure for a gas turbine engine
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsDavid T. Feindel, Paul W. Palmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine engine includes bound assemblies with an inner diameter ring, struts, and an outer diameter ring. The strut is connected to the inner diameter ring and extends radially outward therefrom to connect to the outer diameter ring. A strain relief feature is disposed adjacent to or at the connection between the strut and the inner diameter ring and/or the outer diameter ring. The strain relief feature lengthens the arc segment of fillet curvature. For a constant thermal punch load, the lengthened arc segment of fillet curvature results in a decreased maximum strain in the bound assembly.
Claims20
A bound assembly for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- an inner diameter ring disposed radially around a centerline of the gas turbine engine;
- a strut connected to the inner diameter ring and extending radially outward therefrom;
- and
- an outer diameter ring connected to the strut and disposed radially outward of the inner diameter ring, wherein at least one of the inner diameter ring, strut and the outer diameter ring has a strain relief feature that is disposed adjacent to or at the connection between the strut and at least one of the inner diameter ring and the outer diameter ring.
A gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a compressor section, a combustor, a turbine section, and an exhaust section;
- and
- a bound assembly disposed within or adjacent to the compressor section, the combustor, the turbine section or the exhaust section, the bound assembly includes:
- an inner case disposed radially around a centerline of the gas turbine engine;
- a plurality of struts connected to the inner case and extending radially outward therefrom through a gas flow path that extends through the gas turbine engine;
- and
- an outer case connected to the struts and disposed radially outward of the inner case, wherein at least one of the inner case, struts, and the outer case has a strain relief feature disposed adjacent to or at the connection between the struts and at least one of the inner case and the outer case.
A turbine exhaust case of a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- an inner case disposed radially around a centerline of the gas turbine engine;
- a plurality of struts connected to the inner case and extending radially outward therefrom through a gas flow path;
- and
- an outer case connected to the struts and disposed radially outward of the inner case, wherein at least one of the inner case, struts, and the outer case has a strain relief feature disposed adjacent to or at the connection between the struts and at least one of the inner case and the outer case.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.