Resiliently mounted outlet guide vane
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJohn J. Ciokajlo, Daniel S. Vogt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An annular cast inner support member is concentrically mounted within an annual cast outer support member for mounting a plurality of radially extending outlet guide vanes within the flowpath of a gas turbine engine. The outlet guide vanes are resiliently connected to the inner and outer support members to control and limit the compressive loading of the outlet guide vanes caused by thermal stresses during engine operation. A resilient clamped interconnection which is particularly suitable for use with ceramic outlet guide vanes includes a bolted and clamped socket assembly which maintains both radial and circumferential compressive forces on the outlet guide vanes at all times, notwithstanding the differences in thermal growth rates between metal and ceramic materials.
Claims38
A mounting assembly for resiliently mounting a plurality of outlet guide vanes within the flowpath of a turbine engine, comprising:
- an inner support member for supporting inner radial end portions of said outlet guide vanes within said flowpath;
- an outer support member arranged around said inner annular support member for supporting outer radial end portions of said outlet guide vanes within said flowpath;
- and
- a plurality of resilient support means operatively associated with one of said inner and outer support members and wherein each of said resilient support means supports a corresponding one of said guide vanes and is used for controlling and limiting compressive thermal stresses applied to corresponding one of said outlet guide vanes during operation and shut down of said turbine engine.
A mounting assembly for resiliently mounting a plurality of turbine outlet guide vanes within the flowpath of a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- an inner support member for supporting inner radial end portions of said outlet guide vanes within said flowpath;
- an outer support member arranged around said inner annular support member for supporting outer radial end portions of said outlet guide vanes within said flowpath;
- and
- a plurality of resilient support means operatively associated with one of said inner and outer support members wherein each of said resilient support means supports a corresponding one of said guide vanes and is used for controlling and limiting compressive thermal stresses applied to said one of the outlet guide vanes during operation and shut down of said turbine engine.
A turbine outlet guide vane mounting assembly for resiliently mounting a plurality of ceramic turbine outlet guide vanes within the flowpath of a turbine engine, comprising:
- a plurality of outlet guide vanes formed of a ceramic material;
- an inner support member for supporting inner radial end portions of said outlet guide vanes within said flowpath;
- an outer support member arranged around said inner annular support member for supporting outer radial end portions of said outlet guide vanes within said flowpath;
- a plurality of axially extending flexible beam members mounted on one of said inner and outer support members wherein said resilient support member supports and is used for controlling and limiting compressive thermal stresses applied to said outlet guide vanes;
- one of said inner and outer support members further comprising socket means for securing said outlet guide vanes to said mounting assembly;
- a boss having a channel for receiving said vane and sloped exterior walls corresponding to sloped interior walls of said socket such that said boss is held within said socket by an interference fit;
- and
- a socket clamping means for clamping said vanes within said socket means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.