Lightweight gas turbine engine frame with free-floating heat shield
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJohn J. Ciokajlo, Daniel S. Vogt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lightweight rigid turbine engine frame incorporates a one piece annular cast outer casing formed with a circumferential polygonal reinforcing section. The outer casing is separated and spaced from an inner ring by a plurality of radially extending spacer struts. The spacer struts are clamped in compression between the inner ring and outer casing by tensioning members such as bolts. A thermally free floating heat shield is mounted to the bolts in a manner which minimizes thermal stresses by avoiding all undesirable constraint of the heat shield by the engine frame.
Claims15
A frame assembly for a turbine engine comprising:
- an outer casing serving as an outer structural support member;
- an inner ring serving as an inner structural support member;
- a plurality of spacer struts extending between said inner ring and said outer casing;
- and
- a compression means for maintaining said spacer struts in substantially constant compression between said inner ring and said outer casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.