Retention pin and method of forming
AssigneeRolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
InventorJames C. Muskat
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retention pin assembly may include a stud having a head, a shaft, and a deformable end. The shaft may include a stepped surface having a greater diameter than the deformable end. The assembly may include a support member having an opening for receiving the deformable end. The support member may include a pocket. The stepped surface of the shaft may position the stud in relation to the support member. The deformable end of the stud may be operable to be melted to form a mechanical retainer within the pocket without forming a metallurgical joint between the stud and the pocket.
Claims17
A retention pin assembly comprising:
- a stud including a head, a shaft, and a deformable end disposed at a distal end thereof, wherein the shaft includes a stepped surface having a greater diameter than the deformable end;
- a housing wall defining a base;
- a support member extending transversely from the base, the support member having an opening extending therethrough for receiving the deformable end, the opening of the support member further including a pocket on one side of the support member;
- a nub disposed on the support member between the base and the opening, the nub extending transversely to the base along the support member towards the opening and projecting outwardly from the support member on a side opposite the pocket;
- a leaf seal pivotally mounted on the shaft;
- and
- a bias member coaxially arranged on the shaft and disposed between the head and the leaf seal, wherein the bias member exerts a force on the leaf seal;
- wherein the deformable end is deformed to occupy the pocket, and wherein the deformable end and the stepped surface provide a mechanical retainer to secure the stud to the support member;
- and
- wherein the nub is configured to position the leaf seal apart from a distal end of the support member.
A leaf seal assembly of a structure, comprising:
- a stud including a head, a shaft, and a deformable end disposed at a distal end thereof, wherein the shaft includes a stepped surface having a greater diameter than the deformable end;
- a base defined by a housing wall of the structure, the base including a transversely extended support member, the support member having an opening extending therethrough for receiving the deformable end and a pocket arranged at a mouth of the opening on one side of the support member, the support member further including a nub disposed between the base and the opening, the nub extending transversely to the housing wall along the support member towards the opening on a side opposite the pocket;
- a leaf seal pivotally mounted on the shaft;
- and
- a bias member coaxially arranged on the shaft and disposed between the head and the leaf seal, wherein the bias member exerts a force on the leaf seal;
- wherein the stepped surface of the shaft positions the stud in a predefined position with respect to the support member, and the deformable end is received in the pocket and is deformed to occupy the pocket to secure the stud to the support member;
- and
- wherein the nub projects outwardly from the support member towards the head of the stud to position the leaf seal apart from a portion of the support member distal to the base.
The assembly as claimed in claim12, wherein the housing wall is disposed in a region of a gas flow path between a combustor and a turbine such that the leaf seal is arranged to direct combustion gases onto rotor blades of the turbine.
A method of forming a joint for a machine, comprising:
- providing a stud, the stud including a head, a shaft, and a deformable end disposed at a distal end thereof, wherein the shaft includes a stepped surface having a greater diameter than the deformable end;
- providing a base defined by a housing wall of the machine and including a support member extending transversely from the base for receiving the stud via an opening extending therethrough, the support member including an upper section and a lower section proximal to the base in relation to the upper section;
- providing a leaf seal pivotally mounted on the shaft;
- and
- providing a bias member coaxially arranged on the shaft and disposed between the head and the leaf seal, wherein the bias member exerts a force on the leaf seal;
- forming a pocket at an end of the opening in the support member on one side of the support member;
- inserting the deformable end through the opening, wherein the stepped surface of the shaft stops the stud in a predefined position with respect to the support member;
- securing the stud to the support member via melting the deformable end in the pocket thereby forming a mechanical retainer within the pocket without forming a metallurgical joint between the stud and the pocket;
- wherein providing the base and the support member includes forming a nub on the lower section extending transversely from the base along the support member towards the opening, wherein the nub projects substantially orthogonally from the lower section on a side of the support member opposite the pocket;
- and
- wherein the nub is configured to position the leaf seal apart from a distal end of the support member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.