Electrographitic Carbon Bushing for Augmentor Fuel Conduit Wear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Turbine engine augmentors face challenges in efficiently delivering fuel and managing thermal expansion and vibration, leading to wear issues and reduced performance due to the interaction between fuel conduits and traditional support materials.

Innovation Solution

An electrographitic carbon bushing is used to guide and support the augmentor fuel conduit, providing preferential wear resistance and reducing wear rates through graphite deposition, while allowing for relative translation and rotation to accommodate thermal expansion and vibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional support materials are used for the fuel conduit, then structural support is provided, but wear rates increase and durability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidwear rates

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter of the bushing from traditional materials to electrographitic carbon, which fundamentally alters the wear characteristics. This material parameter change results in preferential wear resistance and lower wear rates, directly improving durability while reducing harmful wear effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs electrographitic carbon, a composite material with unique properties combining the lubricity of graphite with the structural integrity of carbon. This composite material provides both structural support and wear resistance, resolving the contradiction between durability and wear rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If the fuel conduit is rigidly fixed, then positional stability is maintained, but thermal expansion and vibration cause wear and performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositional stabilityVSAvoidperformance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a rigid fixation system to a dynamic bushing system made of electrographitic carbon. This dynamic bushing allows controlled relative translation and rotation of the fuel conduit, accommodating thermal expansion and vibration while maintaining stable fuel delivery, thus preserving performance under varying thermal and mechanical conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent explicitly accounts for thermal expansion by allowing the fuel conduit to expand and contract within the electrographitic carbon bushing. The bushing's material properties and design enable this thermal movement without causing wear or performance degradation, directly addressing the thermal expansion issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

3Adaptability or versatility

If the fuel conduit allows relative movement, then thermal expansion and vibration are accommodated, but fuel delivery efficiency may decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of thermal expansion and vibrationVSAvoidfuel delivery efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrographitic carbon bushing acts as an intermediary element between the fuel conduit and the engine structure. It mediates the relative movements caused by thermal expansion and vibration while maintaining a stable interface for fuel delivery. The bushing's unique properties allow it to accommodate movement without compromising fuel delivery efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrographitic carbon bushing provides self-lubrication through graphite deposition, which occurs automatically during operation. This self-service mechanism reduces friction and wear while maintaining smooth relative movement, ensuring that fuel delivery efficiency is preserved despite the necessary relative motion between components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 solution enhances the durability and performance of turbine engine augmentors by minimizing wear and maintaining efficient fuel delivery, even under conditions of thermal expansion and vibration.

Implementation Method 1

providing preferential wear resistance and reducing wear rates through graphite deposition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGraphite deposition: Deposition (physical)

Implementation Method 2

allowing for relative translation and rotation to accommodate thermal expansion and vibration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS7506514B2Augmentor fuel conduit bushing

Publication Date: 2009.03.24 RTX CORP

AI summary

A gas turbine engine augmentor has a centerbody within a gas flowpath from upstream to downstream. A plurality of vanes are positioned in the gas flowpath outboard of the centerbody. An augmenter fuel conduit extends through a first of the vanes to deliver fuel to the centerbody. An electrographitic carbon bushing guides and supports the augmentor fuel conduit.