Core Gas Path Boundary Structure With Aligned Baffle Stiffening Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Core gas path boundary structures in gas turbine engines experience wear due to extreme temperatures, necessitating frequent repairs and replacements, which reduces their useful life.
Innovation Solution
A core gas path boundary structure comprising an annular housing panel and a baffle with stiffening rings attached to its segments, which limits axial travel and contact with support rails, reducing wear and enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the baffle is engaged with the housing panel without radial alignment, then assembly is simpler, but wear increases due to contact stress and vibratory modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a radial alignment dimension between the stiffening ring and support rail that was not present in conventional designs. By aligning these elements radially, the patent transforms a simple engagement structure into a multi-dimensional precisely aligned structure that reduces contact stress and vibratory modes, thereby improving durability without significantly increasing assembly complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the baffle assembly by adding stiffening rings with specific radial alignment requirements. This parameter change transforms the engagement characteristics between the baffle and housing panel, reducing harmful contact stress and vibratory modes while maintaining structural integrity
2Reliability
If the baffle is engaged with the housing panel without stiffening rings, then manufacturing is simpler, but wear increases due to contact with support rails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the baffle structure by attaching stiffening rings to specific end segments. This segmentation allows the stiffening rings to be positioned at critical locations where contact with support rails occurs, providing localized wear protection without requiring the entire baffle to be more complex or expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffening rings act as intermediary elements between the baffle body and the support rails. These rings reduce direct contact stress and harmful vibratory modes by distributing loads and providing a buffered interface, thereby extending the useful life of the baffle while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes
Data Source
AI summary
A core gas path boundary structure is provided that includes an annular housing panel and a baffle. The annular housing panel has a first end segment and a second end segment. The first end segment of the housing panel (HPFES) has an HPFES outer radial surface and a HPFES support rail extending radially outward from the HPFES outer radial surface. The baffle has a body and a first stiffening ring. The body has a baffle first end segment and a baffle second end segment. The first stiffening ring is attached to an inner radial surface of the baffle first end segment. The first stiffening ring has an edge surface. The baffle is engaged with the annular housing panel such that the baffle first end segment is in contact with the HPFES support rail. The edge surface of the first stiffening ring is radially aligned with the HPFES support rail.