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US 9,790,860 B2Granted
Cooling passages for a mid-turbine frame
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsAnthony P. Cherolis, Joshua Daniel Winn, Alberto A. Mateo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mid-turbine frame includes an inner frame case including a fluid passage. At least one hollow spoke is attached to the inner frame case. At least one hollow spoke includes an inlet passage. A transfer tube includes a first end that forms a first connection with at least one hollow spoke and a second end forms a second connection with the inner frame case.
Claims19
A mid-turbine frame comprising:
- an inner frame case including a fluid passage;
- at least one hollow spoke attached to the inner frame case, wherein the at least one hollow spoke includes an inlet passage having a first branch extending in a radial direction and a second branch extending in an axial direction;
- and
- a transfer tube including a first end forming a first connection with the second branch in the at least one hollow spoke and a second end forming a second connection with the inner frame case, wherein the first connection includes a spherical joint.
1 more element
A mid-turbine frame, comprising:
- an inner frame case including a fluid passage;
- at least one hollow spoke attached to the inner frame case, wherein the at least one hollow spoke includes an inlet passage having a first branch extending in a radial direction and a second branch extending in an axial direction;
- and
- a transfer tube including a first end forming a first connection with the second branch in the at least one hollow spoke and a second end forming a second connection with the inner frame case, wherein the first connection includes a slip joint with one of the transfer tube and the at least one hollow spoke being received in the other of the transfer tube and the at least one hollow spoke.
1 more element
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a mid-turbine frame located axially between a first turbine and a second turbine, the mid-turbine frame comprising:
- an inner frame case including a fluid passage;
- at least one hollow spoke attached to the inner frame case, wherein the at least one hollow spoke includes an inlet passage;
- and
- a transfer tube including a first end forming a first connection with the at least one hollow spoke and a second end forming a second connection with the inner frame case, wherein the first connection is configured to allow relative movement between the at least one hollow spoke and the transfer tube and the second connection is configured to rigidly secure the transfer tube to the inner frame case.
2 more elements
A method of assembling a mid-turbine frame comprising:
- forming an inlet passage in at least one hollow spoke having a first branch extending in a radial direction and a second branch extending in an axial direction;
- forming a first connection between the second branch in the at least one hollow spoke and a transfer tube;
- forming a second connection between the transfer tube and an inner frame case, wherein one of the first connection and the second connection is rigid and the other of the first connection and the second connection is non-rigid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.