Thermal control of gas turbine engine rings for active clearance control

A thermal control apparatus comprising:

• a thermal air distribution manifold encircling a portion of an outer casing,
• the manifold including an annular supply tube connected in fluid supply relationship to a plurality of plenums of a plurality of header assemblies, and
• a plurality of annular spray tubes connected in fluid supply relationship to at least one of the plurality of plenums and having only spray holes oriented to impinge thermal control air onto fillets between the outer casing and at least two thermal control rings,
• the header assemblies including base panels,
• headers connected to the supply tube and attached to radially outer sides of the base panels forming the plenums therebetween,
• first panel holes disposed through the base panels forming inlets for the thermal control air to flow from the plenums to the plurality of spray tubes, and
• baffles brazed or otherwise attached to radially outwardly facing surfaces of the base panels.

A thermal control apparatus comprising:

• a thermal air distribution manifold encircling a portion of an outer casing,
• the manifold including an annular supply tube connected in fluid supply relationship to a plurality of plenums of a plurality of header assemblies, and
• a plurality of annular spray tubes connected in fluid supply relationship to at least one of the plurality of plenums and having only spray holes oriented to impinge thermal control air onto fillets between the outer casing and at least two thermal control rings,
• the header assemblies including base panels,
• the header assemblies including headers attached to radially outer sides of the base panels forming the plenums therebetween,
• the headers being connected to the supply tube,
• first panel holes disposed through the base panels forming inlets for the thermal control air to flow from the plenums to the plurality of spray tubes, and
• baffles brazed or otherwise attached to radially outwardly facing surfaces of the base panels.

A thermal control apparatus comprising:

• an annular spray tube having a generally light bulb cross-sectional shape with a circular radially outer cross-sectional portion connected to a smaller circular radially inner cross-sectional portion by a transition section,
• the circular radially outer cross-sectional portion having a cross-sectional first diameter,
• the circular radially inner cross-sectional portion having a cross-sectional second diameter,
• the transition section having a radially outer maximum cross-sectional third diameter and a radially inner minimum cross-sectional fourth diameter, and
• the cross-sectional second diameter, the cross-sectional third diameter, and the cross-sectional fourth diameter all being substantially smaller than the cross-sectional first diameter.