Airfoil Damper Assembly for Vibration Deflection Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Airfoils in gas turbine engines experience deflection due to vibratory loads, leading to wear and potential failure, which complicates maintenance and increases repair time and costs.
Innovation Solution
A deflection reduction mechanism is implemented, comprising a plate with an aperture and a damper coupled between the airfoil and the hub, which transforms flexural deflection to radial deflection, using springs to bias the airfoil to an undeflected position and dissipate vibrational energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If airfoil is designed to be lightweight, then efficiency and fuel consumption improve, but deflection under vibratory loads increases leading to wear and failure
Solution Approach 1:
A damper assembly is pre-installed on the airfoil, comprising a damper body with a cavity and damping material positioned to contact the airfoil's leading edge. This cushioning mechanism is in place before vibratory loads occur, allowing it to absorb and dissipate vibration energy, reducing deflection and preventing wear or failure of the lightweight airfoil structure.
2Reliability
If airfoil deflection is reduced through structural reinforcement, then reliability improves, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
A damper assembly serves as an intermediary component between the airfoil structure and the vibratory loads. The damper body with its cavity and damping material acts as a mediator that absorbs and dissipates vibration energy, protecting the airfoil from excessive deflection without requiring changes to the airfoil's primary structural design, thus maintaining simplicity while improving durability.
3Reliability
If airfoil deflection is reduced through structural reinforcement, then reliability improves, but manufacturing time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration protection function is segmented from the airfoil's primary structural components. The damper assembly is implemented as a separate, modular component that can be manufactured independently and installed on the airfoil. This segmentation allows the airfoil to be manufactured using standard processes while the damper assembly provides the necessary vibration protection, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost compared to reinforcing the airfoil structure itself.
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
Reduces airfoil deflection, preventing damage and failure, thereby decreasing maintenance time and costs associated with repairs.
Implementation Method 1
the damper to transform flexural deflection of the airfoil to radial deflection of the plate
Implementation Method 2
a damper operatively coupled between the plate and a hub of the airfoil, the damper to transform flexural deflection of the airfoil to radial deflection of the plate
Implementation Method 3
using springs to bias the airfoil to an undeflected position and dissipate vibrational energy
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to reduce deflection of an airfoil are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a plate including an aperture, the airfoil disposed in the aperture, and a damper operatively coupled between the plate and a hub of the airfoil, the damper to transform flexural deflection of the airfoil to radial deflection of the plate.