Aircraft Engine Component Joint with Spring Beams Against Wobble
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft engine joints lack effective mechanisms for providing a sealed and stable engagement between components, leading to potential movement and inefficiencies during operation.
Innovation Solution
A joint assembly featuring a case, housing, and a component with cantilevered spring beams that axially engage the case, providing a sealed and stable connection through elastic deflection, allowing for reduced movement and improved sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid mechanical joints are used between engine components, then structural strength is maintained, but movement and wobbling occur during operation due to manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing rigid mechanical joints with flexible spring beams that can dynamically adjust to operational movements and vibrations. The spring beams are designed to flex and deform elastically, allowing the joint to adapt to manufacturing tolerances and maintain stable engagement without rigid constraints that cause wobbling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by utilizing the elastic properties of spring beams, where the physical state of the connecting element changes from rigid to flexible. The spring beams can change their degree of compression and extension based on operational conditions, enabling the joint to maintain reliable engagement while accommodating dimensional variations.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional joints are used between components, then assembly is simple, but sealed engagement is not achieved leading to potential leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible elements in the form of spring beams that act as compliant sealing surfaces. These flexible components can deform to conform to mating surfaces, creating effective seals without requiring complex gasket systems or precision machining, thus maintaining assembly simplicity while achieving reliable sealing.
3Stability of the object's composition
If precision manufacturing is applied to reduce tolerances, then engagement stability improves, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the joint system by introducing flexible spring beams that can accommodate dimensional variations. This allows the use of less precise manufacturing processes while maintaining stable engagement, as the elastic elements absorb the effects of manufacturing tolerances through their ability to flex and adapt.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The assembly ensures a stable and sealed engagement between engine components, reducing wobbling and enhancing operational stability while accommodating manufacturing tolerances and facilitating a mistake-proof assembly process.
Implementation Method 1
The spring beams are cantilevered from the rim, are axially spaced from the case and axially engage the housing such that the spring beams bias the rim axially towards the case to provide a sealed engagement axially between the mount and the case
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly includes a case, a housing and a component. The case includes an aperture, an exterior side and an interior side. The aperture extends axially along an axis through the case from the exterior side to the interior side. The interior side forms a peripheral boundary of an internal volume of the aircraft engine. A cavity is formed by and extends axially between the housing and the case. The component includes a projection and a mount that is disposed within the cavity. The projection projects axially out from the mount, through the aperture, and into the internal volume to a distal end of the component. The mount includes a rim and a plurality of spring beams. The spring beams bias the rim axially towards the case to provide a sealed engagement axially between the mount and the case.