Axially Rigid Curved Beam Damper for Compact Turbine Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbine engines face challenges in managing vibrations of rotating and static structures due to the significant axial space consumption and high cost of centering springs and oil dampers, as well as the inefficiency of curved beam dampers in providing effective oil film damping.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an axially rigid curved beam with a plurality of curved beam spring segments forming a ring, surrounded by inner and outer support structures, which includes a bearing with a fluid damper and a squeeze film damper to manage vibrations, allowing for compactness and tunable stiffness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If centering spring and oil damper are used to manage vibrations, then vibration management effectiveness is improved, but axial space consumption increases and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration management effectivenessVSAvoidaxial space consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the centering spring and oil damper into a single integrated assembly where the curved beam spring segments provide both mechanical support and damping functions. The curved beam structure integrates the spring elements with the damper housing, eliminating the need for separate centering spring and damper components, thereby reducing axial space while maintaining vibration management effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The curved beam spring segments serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical support, act as springs for centering, and incorporate oil dampers for vibration damping. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace multiple traditional components, reducing overall axial space consumption and manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If centering spring and oil damper are used to manage vibrations, then vibration management effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to tightly controlled surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration management effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The curved beam is divided into multiple spring segments that are positioned adjacent to each other to form a ring. Each segment can be manufactured independently with fewer tightly controlled surfaces compared to a traditional centering spring, and then assembled into the complete structure. This segmentation reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the required vibration management performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Length of moving object

If curved beam damper is used to dampen vibrations, then axial space is reduced, but effectiveness and reliability of oil film damper decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaxial spaceVSAvoidoil film damper effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The oil damper is nested within the curved beam structure, with the damper housing integrated into the curved beam segments. This nested configuration allows the oil film damper to be contained within the compact curved beam assembly, maintaining small axial space while ensuring the damper remains effective through proper integration of the oil film damping mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

This configuration effectively manages vibrations while reducing axial space and cost, providing a compact and efficient solution for vibration damping in gas turbine engines.

Implementation Method 1

a curved beam comprised of a plurality of curved beam spring segments that are positioned adjacent to each other to form a ring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a fluid damper spaced radially inward of the inner support structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscous damping: Viscous Damping

Data Source

PatentUS11466588B2Axially rigid curved beam with squeeze damper

Publication Date: 2022.10.11 RTX CORP

AI summary

A gas turbine engine component includes an inner support structure surrounding an engine center axis and fixed to an engine static structure, an outer support structure spaced radially outward of the inner support structure, and a curved beam comprised of a plurality of curved beam spring segments that are positioned adjacent to each other to form a ring. The inner and outer support structures are coupled together around the curved beam to enclose the curved beam therebetween and form an assembly. A bearing is spaced radially inward of the assembly.