Variable stator vane bushing
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsWilliam Terence Dingwell, Daniel Padraic O'Reilly, Thomas Carl Mesing
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable stator vane assembly for a gas turbine engine including a bushing that facilitates extending a useful life of the stator vane assembly is described. The stator vane assembly includes a spacer and a vane secured to an engine casing. The bushing is between the spacer and vane, and prevents the spacer and the vane from contacting the engine casing. The bushing is fabricated from several materials formed in a matrix, such that at least a portion of the bushing is electrically conductive. During engine operation, a conductive path is realized through the bushing that discharges electrical charges.
Claims20
A method for manufacturing a bushing for a gas turbine engine variable stator vane, the bushing including a substantially cylindrical portion and an annular projection extending radially outward from the cylindrical portion, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of layers from at least one material;
- and
- forming the bushing from the material layer such that an electrically conductive path is defined between a top surface and a bottom surface of the bushing annular projection.
A bushing for a gas turbine engine variable stator vane, said bushing comprising a body comprising an annular projection and a substantially cylindrical portion, said annular projection extending radially outward from said substantially cylindrical portion, at least a portion of said bushing is electrically conductive such that an electrically conductive path is defined between a top surface and a bottom surface of said bushing annular projection.
A variable stator vane for a gas turbine engine including a casing, said stator vane comprising:
- a spacer;
- a movable vane;
- and
- a bushing between said spacer and said vane, said bushing configured to prevent said spacer and said vane from contacting the gas turbine engine casing, said bushing comprising an annular projection and a substantially cylindrical portion, said annular projection extending radially outward from said substantially cylindrical portion, at least a portion of said bushing is electrically conductive such that an electrically conductive path is defined between a top surface and a bottom surface of said bushing annular projection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.