Elastic Intermediate Element for Aircraft Turbine Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air guiding elements for aircraft gas turbines are complex, costly, and heavy due to numerous individual components, leading to sealing issues and high assembly efforts, especially under thermal influences and vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A tubular intermediate element made of elastic material connects the inflow opening of the outer housing to the flow channel, providing sealing and positional adjustment, allowing for reliable air guidance without flow loss and compensating for relative movements between components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple individual components (seals, retaining elements, reinforcement elements) are used in the air guiding element, then the sealing function and structural integrity are improved, but the device complexity, manufacturing cost, and assembly effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual components (seals, retaining elements, reinforcement elements) into a single integrated intermediate element. This intermediate element is provided as one piece that incorporates all necessary sealing and structural functions, eliminating the need for separate components and their associated assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate element is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides sealing, retention, and reinforcement functions. This single element performs multiple roles that previously required separate specialized components, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple individual components with various seals and retaining elements are used, then the sealing capability is enhanced, but the weight of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple components into one intermediate element, the total weight is reduced while maintaining all necessary sealing and structural functions within a single optimized component structure.
3Reliability
If numerous individual components are used in the air guiding element, then the sealing and structural functions are improved, but the manufacturing cost and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate element is supplied as a single integrated component that can be installed in one assembly operation, eliminating the need to separately install multiple seals, retaining elements, and reinforcement elements, thereby significantly improving assembly efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If individual components are used to compensate for deformations and position changes, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and tolerance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate element is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to adapt to deformations and position changes through its inherent flexibility and elastic properties, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms and multiple individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate element utilizes material parameter changes (elasticity) to compensate for thermal deformations and vibrational position changes, providing adaptability through material properties rather than mechanical adjustment 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 solution simplifies manufacturing and assembly, reduces weight, and maintains efficient air guidance with minimal material stress, ensuring a tight seal and efficient operation despite potential positional changes.
Implementation Method 1
a tubular intermediate element (4), which is made of an elastic material, is arranged in the inflow opening (2). The intermediate element (4) connects the region of the inflow opening (2) of the outer housing (1) in a sealing and position-adjusting manner to the flow channel (3)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to an air guide element of an aircraft gas turbine with an outer housing 1, which is provided with an inlet opening 2, and with a flow channel 3 arranged in the housing 1, characterized in that a tubular intermediate element 4 made of an elastic material is arranged in the inlet opening 2, which connects the inlet opening 2 to the flow channel 3 in a sealing and position-adjusting manner.