Rotor assembly with scoop
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorEnzo Macchia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotor assembly having a plurality of scoops disposed in a circumferential array, the scoops extending from an inner surface of the outer wall of the flow path along a radial distance smaller than a radial distance between the inner and outer walls of the flow path. Each of the scoops forms a closed channel from an inlet to an outlet with the inlet and outlet being axially spaced from one another, the outlet being upstream of and adjacent the annular blade path. A gas turbine engine and method of reducing tip vortices in a rotor assembly are also discussed.
Claims17
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- concentric inner and outer walls enclosing an annular flow path;
- a plurality of blades extending radially across the annular flow path, the blades defining an annular blade path upon rotation with an annular gap being radially defined between the annular blade path and the outer wall;
- and
- a plurality of scoops disposed in a circumferential array, the scoops extending from an inner surface of the outer wall along a radial distance smaller than a radial distance between the inner and outer walls, each of the scoops having an inlet and an opposed outlet axially spaced from one another, the outlet of each of the scoops being upstream of and adjacent the annular blade path and being directed toward the annular gap;
- wherein a radially innermost surface of the plurality of scoops includes wearable material wearable by the blades, and extends in interference with the annular blade path.
A rotor assembly comprising:
- concentric inner and outer walls enclosing an annular flow path;
- a plurality of rotatable blades extending radially across the annular flow path, the blades defining an annular blade path upon rotation with an annular gap being radially defined between the annular blade path and the outer wall;
- and
- a plurality of scoops disposed in a circumferential array, the scoops extending from an inner surface of the outer wall along a radial distance smaller than a radial distance between the inner and outer walls, each of the scoops forming a closed channel from an inlet to an outlet with the inlet and outlet being axially spaced from one another, the outlet of each of the scoops being upstream of and adjacent the annular blade path and being directed toward the annular gap;
- wherein a radially innermost surface of the plurality of scoops includes wearable material wearable by the blades and extending in interference with the annular blade path.
A method of reducing tip vortices in a rotor assembly having an array of blades rotatable in an annular flow path surrounded by an outer wall, the method comprising:
- separating an outer portion of a flow through the annular flow path from a central portion of the flow, the outer portion of the flow circulating along the annular outer wall through scoops;
- deflecting the outer portion of the flow circumferentially within the scoops toward an orientation of chords of the blades in a location immediately upstream of the blades;
- and
- upon rotation of the blades, sealingly engaging the blades with a radially innermost surface of the scoops through wear of the radially innermost surface by the blades.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.