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US 8,985,938 B2Granted
Fan blade tip clearance control via Z-bands
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorDale William Petty
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An engine has a blade, a casing surrounding the blade, an seal ring, and a passive system for connecting the seal ring to the casing and for accommodating thermal expansion of the seal ring relative to the casing so as to maintain blade tip clearance control. The passive system may include at least one, metallic Z-band extending between the casing and the seal ring.
Claims20
An engine comprising:
- a blade;
- a casing surrounding said blade;
- a seal ring;
- and
- a passive system for connecting said seal ring to said casing and for accommodating thermal expansion of said seal ring relative to said casing so as to maintain blade tip clearance control, wherein said passive system comprises at least one non-corrugated, solid Z-band extending between said casing and said seal ring;
- and
- further comprising a slip joint between a wall of said casing and leading edge and trailing edge portions of said abradable seal ring.
4 more elements
A method for maintaining blade clearance tip control in a fan section of an engine, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a fan casing formed from a composite material and a plurality of fan blades formed from an aluminum containing material;
- providing an annular seal ring;
- providing a passive system for connecting said seal ring to said casing and for accommodating thermal expansion of said seal ring relative to said casing so as to maintain said blade tip clearance control, wherein said passive system providing step comprises providing at least one non-corrugated, solid Z-band and connecting said at least one Z-band to an inner wall of said fan casing and to said seal ring;
- and
- wherein said passive system providing step comprises providing a slip joint between a wall of said fan casing and leading edge and trailing edge portions of the seal ring.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.