Additively Manufactured Augmentor Vane Integrating Fuel Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy aerospace component designs require large racetrack orifices and seals to account for thermal growth differentials between fuel tubes and vane walls, leading to high costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An aerospace component with an additively manufactured augmentor vane that integrates a fuel line within the vane, eliminating the need for separate fuel tubes and seals by using internal passages and exit apertures to manage thermal growth and reduce assembly complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate fuel tubes and seals are used in legacy designs, then fuel can be delivered through the augmentor vane, but thermal growth differentials require large racetrack orifices and expensive seals
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel line is integrated directly into the augmentor vane structure, merging two previously separate components (fuel tube and vane) into a single monolithic structure. This eliminates the interface between fuel tube and vane wall, removing the need for seals and large orifices while maintaining fuel delivery reliability.
2Temperature
If large racetrack orifices are used to account for thermal growth, then thermal expansion is accommodated, but seal cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the fuel line into the vane structure, the patent eliminates the need for separate seals and large orifices. The unified structure naturally accommodates thermal growth without requiring expensive seal components, reducing both cost and manufacturing complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used, then fuel delivery function is achieved, but part count and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the fuel line into the augmentor vane reduces the number of discrete parts and eliminates assembly steps required for installing separate fuel tubes and seals. This monolithic structure maintains full fuel delivery functionality while significantly improving assembly efficiency.
4Reliability
If traditional fuel tube designs are used, then fuel can be supplied, but cooling air allocation increases and flow blockage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated fuel line design eliminates the need for separate cooling air pathways required by traditional fuel tube assemblies. By merging the fuel delivery function into the vane structure itself, the design reduces cooling air allocation requirements and minimizes flow blockage in the core flow path.
Data Source
AI summary
An augmentor vane assembly includes an additively manufactured augmentor vane and a fuel line additively manufactured within the augmentor vane. A method of manufacture including additively manufacturing an augmentor vane having a wall that forms an internal volume therein; and additively manufacturing a fuel line within the augmentor vane that extends through the internal volume.