Gas Turbine Bleed Valve Damping Guide Link
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bleed valve systems in gas turbine engines are prone to durability issues due to their complex and rigid linkage mechanisms, which increase the component count and vulnerability to damage during the arc motion of the valve.
Innovation Solution
A damping guide link assembly is introduced, formed from materials like steel, nickel, or titanium, which couples to the bleed valve ring and rotates about different axes, providing a flexible twisting motion to dampen vibrations without the need for additional components like spherical bearings or rubber dampers, thus reducing part count and enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If rigid links with spherical bearings are used to guide the bleed valve in an arc motion, then the valve can move through different planes, but the component count increases and durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using a flexible damping element (such as a rubber or polymer material) that can bend and twist to accommodate the arc motion of the bleed valve across different planes. This flexible element replaces the rigid link assembly with spherical bearings, providing the necessary motion adaptability while eliminating multiple rigid components and their associated failure points, thereby improving durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of guiding the valve through arc motion and damping vibrations into a single integrated flexible element. Instead of having separate rigid links for guidance and separate spherical bearings for motion accommodation, the flexible element combines these functions, reducing component count and simplifying the assembly while maintaining reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rigid links with spherical bearings are used to guide the valve, then the valve can move through different planes, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible damping element serves as a single-component solution that replaces the multi-component rigid link assembly with spherical bearings. This flexible element can bend and twist to guide the valve through arc motion across different planes, eliminating the need for multiple separate components and significantly reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible damping element performs multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the valve through arc motion, accommodates movement in different planes, and provides vibration damping. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components for each function, reducing the overall component count and simplifying the device.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional damping components like spherical bearings and rubber dampers are used, then vibrations can be dampened, but the cost and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vibration damping function with the valve guidance function into a single flexible element. The damping action is inherent to the flexible material itself as it bends and twists during the valve's arc motion, eliminating the need for separate damping components like rubber dampers or spherical bearings, thereby reducing component count while still effectively dampening vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible damping element is self-damping through its material properties and geometric configuration. As the valve moves through its arc motion, the flexible element naturally absorbs and dissipates vibrational energy through its bending and twisting actions, without requiring additional active damping components or complex mechanisms.
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 damping guide link assembly effectively reduces vibrations and stabilizes the bleed valve ring, enhancing the durability and reducing costs by eliminating the need for additional damping components, while maintaining the functionality of the bleed valve during start-up, acceleration, and deceleration.
Implementation Method 1
The damping guide link may be capable of twisting about a third axis different from the first axis and the second axis when the bleed valve ring is rotated from a first position to a second position
Data Source
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AI summary
A damping link assembly for a bleed valve (60) of a gas turbine engine (20). The damping link assembly having: a bleed valve ring (66) having a link aperture (72); a mechanical fastener (70) disposed in the link aperture; and a damping guide link (64) operatively coupled to the mechanical fastener at one end (65) for rotation about a first axis of the mechanical fastener and the damping guide link being operatively coupled to an idler bracket (74) at an opposite end (68) for rotation about a second axis, the damping guide link being capable of twisting about a third axis different from the first axis and the second axis when the bleed valve ring is rotated from a first position to a second position.