# US 8,540,484 B2 · Low mass diffuser vane > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,484 B2 - Document ID: US8540484B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/842,167 - Filed: 2010-07-23 - Published: 2012-01-26 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-23 - Assignees: United Technologies Corporation - Applicants: Timothy M. Hollman; Kevin K. Taft; Gordon F. Jewess - Inventors: Timothy M. Hollman; Kevin K. Taft; Gordon F. Jewess - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540484B2 ## CPC - F04D 29/441: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps} - F04D 29/444: {Bladed diffusers} - F05D 2250/52: Outlet - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A wedge-type diffuser includes a diffuser floor and a plurality of wedge-shaped vanes. The wedge-shaped vanes extend from the diffuser floor and have a top surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge. Each of the wedge-shaped vanes has a slot extending from the trailing edge toward the leading edge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly comprising: a wedge-type diffuser including: a diffuser floor; a plurality of wedge-shaped vanes extending from the diffuser floor and including a top surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein each of the wedge-shaped vanes has a slot extending from the trailing edge toward the leading edge; and a plurality of bolt holes in each of the wedge-shaped vanes extending from the top surface toward the diffuser floor; wherein each of the slots intersects one of the plurality of bolt holes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein each slot is substantially centered on the trailing edge, effectively forming two legs at the trailing edge that define the slot. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped vanes are substantially identical, arranged about a centerline axis, and tilted with respect to the centerline axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the diffuser floor includes a radially extending inner platform from which the wedge-shaped vanes extend and includes a longitudinally extending outer platform from which a plurality of straightener vanes extend. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the wedge-type diffuser further includes a plurality of straightener vanes extending from the diffuser floor radially outward from the wedge-shaped vanes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the trailing edge is wider than the leading edge, and wherein each wedge-shaped vane tapers substantially continuously from the trailing edge to the leading edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein each slot is sized so as to minimize a trailing edge aerodynamic wake created during operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein each slot extends along an entire length of the trailing edge from the top surface of each wedge-shaped vane to the diffuser floor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein an interface between each wedge-shaped vane and the diffuser floor is filleted at the trailing edge and at the slot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, and further comprising: a shroud attached to the wedge-type diffuser such that the wedge-shaped vanes are positioned between the shroud and the diffuser floor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, and further comprising: a plurality of bolts extending through the bolt holes in each of the wedge-shaped vanes for connecting the wedge-type diffuser to the shroud. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein each slot extends from the trailing edge to the bolt hole. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The assembly of claim 12, wherein a portion of each slot has a width less than a diameter of the bolt hole. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein each slot extends from the trailing edge through the bolt hole. ### Claim 15 A gas turbine engine comprising: a rotor assembly comprising: a compressor impeller; and a turbine connected to the compressor impeller by a shaft; a combustor positioned along a gas flow path between the compressor impeller and the turbine; a wedge-type diffuser positioned along the gas flow path between the compressor impeller and the combustor, the wedge-type diffuser including: a diffuser floor; and a plurality of wedge-shaped vanes extending from the diffuser floor and including a top surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein each of the wedge-shaped vanes has a slot extending from the trailing edge toward the leading edge; a shroud attached to the wedge-type diffuser such that the plurality of wedge-shaped vanes are positioned between the shroud and the diffuser floor; and a plurality of bolts extending through bolt holes in each of the wedge-shaped vanes configured to connect the wedge-type diffuser to the shroud; wherein each of the slots intersects one of the plurality of bolt holes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The gas turbine engine of claim 15, wherein the shaft includes a spline for transmitting power to drive one or more aircraft components. ### Claim 17 An assembly comprising: a wedge-type diffuser including: a diffuser floor; and a plurality of wedge-shaped vanes extending from the diffuser floor and including a top surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein each of the wedge-shaped vanes has a slot extending from the trailing edge toward the leading edge; and a plurality of bolt holes in each of the wedge-shaped vanes extending from the top surface toward the diffuser floor; wherein each of the slots intersects one of the plurality of bolt holes and has a width less than a diameter of the bolt hole.