Gas Turbine Carrier Interlock for Thermal Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The clearance between rotating blade tips and adjacent non-rotating structures in gas turbine engines is influenced by mechanical loading and thermal expansion, affecting engine performance, and existing technologies have not effectively addressed these issues.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a system of slanted and perpendicular surfaces on projections and receptacles, along with radial tabs and biasing members, to allow for radial movement and accommodate thermal expansion and centrifugal forces, ensuring precise alignment and stability of carriers supporting blade outer air seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If carriers are designed with fixed positions to maintain structural stability, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to accommodate thermal expansion and centrifugal forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier design incorporates radial tabs that can move radially within slots in the engine case, allowing the carrier to dynamically adjust its position in response to thermal expansion and centrifugal forces while maintaining structural stability through the interlocking projection-receptacle mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for changes in radial position parameters through the movement of radial tabs in slots, enabling the carrier to adapt to varying thermal and mechanical conditions while maintaining alignment through the interlocking mechanism
2Adaptability or versatility
If carriers are allowed to move radially to accommodate thermal expansion and centrifugal forces, then adaptability is improved, but alignment precision between adjacent carriers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic radial movement capability is combined with the interlocking mechanism where projections on one carrier engage with receptacles on adjacent carriers, ensuring that even when carriers move radially to accommodate thermal and centrifugal effects, the alignment precision is maintained through the mechanical interlock
Solution Approach 2:
The projection-receptacle interlocking mechanism acts as an intermediary that transfers and maintains alignment between adjacent carriers that are moving radially, ensuring precise relative positioning despite individual carrier movement
3Manufacturing precision
If a complex interlocking mechanism with projections and receptacles is implemented to maintain alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is segmented into discrete interlocking elements (projections and receptacles) that can be independently manufactured and assembled, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining precise alignment between carrier segments
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 design enhances the compactness and power density of gas turbine engines by maintaining alignment and stability under operational conditions, improving engine performance and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
allow for radial movement and accommodate thermal expansion and centrifugal forces
Implementation Method 2
allow for radial movement and accommodate thermal expansion and centrifugal forces
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an engine case, a rotor stage including a plurality of rotor blades, a plurality of carriers for supporting a plurality of blade outer air seals and an interlock formed between circumferential ends of a first adjacent carrier and a second adjacent carrier of the plurality of carriers.