Back to results
US 5,314,301 AGranted
Variable camber stator vane
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorMark J. Knight
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Conventionally gas turbine engine compressors have fixed inlet guide vanes to give a predetermined swirl to incoming air at an engine design speed, so that air enters the compressor at an optimum angle. At speeds much lower, for example, than the design speed the guide vane is less efficient. The guide vanes are thereby made variable in camber. Each vane comprises a number of spanwise hinged members which can be moved relative one to another to vary the vane camber.
Claims12
A variable camber stator vane for a gas turbine engine comprising:
- a plurality of vane sections including a leading edge section, at least one mid-chord section and a trailing edge section,
- said sections being sequentially mounted such that the plurality of vane sections are articulated together for pivotal movement,
- one of the plurality of vane sections being a first driven vane section and having a shaft extending radially through an engine casing to receive an actuating input,
- a coupling mechanism coupling the first driven vane section with at lease one of the remaining vane sections for coordinated movement in a predetermined relationship,
- an input lever mounted on the shaft for actuating the coupling mechanism to alter the relative disposition of the vane sections whereby to change the camber of the vane, wherein
- the leading edge vane section is fixed relative to the engine casing, and the first driven vane section comprises the mid-chord section pivotally mounted to a trailing edge of the leading edge section,
- the trailing edge vane section is pivotally mounted to a trailing edge of the mid-chord section,
- the coupling mechanism determines the angular disposition of the trailing edge vane section relative to the mid-chord section in accordance with the angular displacement of the mid-chord section relative to the leading edge vane section,
- the coupling mechanism progressively increases the displacement of the trailing edge vane section relative to the mid-chord section as the mid-chord section displacement increases relative to the leading edged vane section, and
- the coupling mechanism comprises a guide slot in the engine casing, a guide block engaged with the guide slot, and a spigot carried by the trailing edge vane section, which engages the guide block.
7 more elements
A variable camber stator vane for a gas turbine engine having a generally cylindrical engine casing comprising:
- a plurality of vane sections articulated together for pivotal movement, including a driving section having a shaft extending radially through the engine casing to receive an actuating input;
- actuation means for moving the actuating input;
- and
- a coupling mechanism coupling the driving section with at lease one of the remaining vane sections for coordinated movement in a predetermined relationship, the remaining sections comprising at least a final vane section, the coupling mechanism comprising:
- a guide slot in the engine casing;
- a movable guide means engaged with the guide slot;
- and
- a spigot carried by the final vane section, which engages the guide means, whereby movement of the driving section by the actuating means effects movement of the spigot along the guide slot by way of the movable guide means thereby altering relative dispositions of the plurality of vane sections and changing the camber of the variable camber stator vane.
5 more elements
A variable camber stator vane for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a plurality of vane sections including a leading edge section, at least one mid-chord section and a trailing edge section,
- said sections being sequentially mounted such that the plurality of vane sections are articulated together for pivotal movement,
- one of the plurality of vane sections being a first driven vane section and having a shaft extending radially through an engine casing to receive an actuating input,
- a coupling mechanism coupling the first driven vane section with at lease one of the remaining vane sections for coordinated movement in a predetermined relationship,
- an input lever mounted on said shaft for actuating the coupling mechanism to alter the relative disposition of the vane sections whereby to change the camber of the vane, wherein
- the leading edge vane section is fixed relative to the engine casing, and the first driven vane section comprises the mid-chord vane section pivotally mounted to a trailing edge of the leading edge section,
- the trailing edge section is pivotally mounted to a trailing edge of the mid-chord section,
- the coupling mechanism determines the angular disposition of the trailing edge section relative to the mid-chord section in accordance with the angular displacement of the mid-chord section relative to the leading edge section,
- the coupling mechanism progressively increases the displacement of the trailing edge section relative to the mid-chord section as the mid-chord section displacement increases relative to the leading edge section, and
- the coupling mechanism comprises meshing gears including a fixed gear segment and a rotatable gear segment mounted on the pivot axis of the mounting between the mid-chord and trailing edge vane sections.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.