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US 7,596,954 B2Granted
Blade clearance control
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsAllan R. Penda, Joseph C. Burge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turbine engine has a circumferentially segmented shroud within a case structure. Each shroud segment is mounted for movement between an inboard position and an outboard position. One or more springs bias the shroud segments toward their inboard positions. One or more valves are positioned to vent one or more volumes so as to counter the spring bias to shift the shroud segments to their outboard positions.
Claims28
A turbine engine comprising:
- a case structure;
- a circumferentially segmented shroud within the case structure and comprising a plurality of segments, each segment having an inboard surface portion and mounted for movement between an inboard position and an outboard position;
- a stage of circumferentially arrayed blades, each blade having an airfoil having an outboard tip in facing proximity to the shroud;
- one or more springs biasing the shroud segments toward their inboard positions;
- and one or more valves positioned to vent one or more volumes so as to counter the bias of the one or more springs to shift the shroud segments to their outboard positions, the one or more volumes enclosed by the one or more springs and the shroud segments wherein the one or more springs contact the shroud at an upstream end and a downstream end.
2 more elements
A turbine engine comprising:
- a case structure;
- a circumferentially segmented shroud within the case structure and comprising a plurality of segments, each segment having an inboard surface portion and mounted for movement between an inboard position and an outboard position;
- a stage of circumferentially arrayed blades, each blade having an airfoil having an outboard tip in facing proximity to the shroud;
- a first spring contacting the shroud at an upstream end and a second spring contacting the shroud at a downstream end, the first and second springs biasing the shroud segments toward their inboard positions;
- and one or more valves positioned to vent one or more volumes so as to counter the bias of the first and second springs to shift the shroud segments to their outboard positions.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.