Gas Turbine Engine Mount Seal With Spherical Misalignment Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines often face alignment issues with vehicle structures due to manufacturing tolerances, requiring costly reconfiguration and necessitating the removal of surrounding vehicle structures for mounting, which also compromises security by allowing unauthorized entry.
Innovation Solution
A mount system with an offset coupling mechanism that compensates for axial and angular misalignments, allowing quick installation and removal of the engine without altering the vehicle structure, and incorporates a seal to prevent unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If planar engine mount structures are used to couple the gas turbine engine to the vehicle, then the coupling is achieved, but tight tolerance alignment between engine structure and vehicle structure is required, increasing manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The engine mount structure incorporates a spherical interface that allows angular and axial misalignment compensation through rotational movement. The spherical bearing enables the mount to dynamically adjust to tolerance variations, eliminating the need for tight alignment tolerances during manufacturing and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the mount structure by introducing a spherical coupling interface instead of a planar rigid connection. This parameter change allows the system to accommodate a range of alignment angles and positions, effectively decoupling the manufacturing precision requirements from the coupling functionality.
2Ease of operation
If planar engine mount structures are used, then the gas turbine engine can be coupled to the vehicle, but removal of surrounding vehicle structure is required to access the mount for uncoupling
Solution Approach 1:
The engine mount is designed as a self-contained segmented assembly with the spherical interface exposed at the engine casing perimeter. This segmentation allows the mount to be independently accessed and removed without requiring disassembly of surrounding vehicle structures, simplifying maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical coupling interface acts as an intermediary element that provides external access points for tool engagement. This intermediary design enables technicians to detach the engine mount from the outside, eliminating the need to remove surrounding vehicle structures for access.
3Ease of operation
If an opening is provided in the vehicle structure for engine coupling, then the gas turbine engine can be coupled to the vehicle, but the opening provides an entry point for unauthorized items into the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The engine mount structure is merged with a sealing mechanism that closes the opening in the vehicle structure when the engine is installed. The spherical interface and mounting structure together form a sealed assembly, eliminating the security vulnerability of an open access point while maintaining engine coupling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening required for engine access is converted into a sealed protective barrier. The same structural elements needed for engine coupling are designed to also provide sealing and security functions, transforming the potential security hazard of an opening into a protective feature that prevents unauthorized entry.
Data Source
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AI summary
A seal for a wall of a vehicle includes a first plate that defines a first slot, and the first plate is configured to be coupled to the wall. The seal includes a second plate that defines a guide that extends outwardly from the second plate. The second plate is positioned adjacent to the first plate such that the guide is in communication with the first slot. The seal includes a third plate that defines a second slot that receives the guide, and the third plate is positioned adjacent to the second plate and configured to be coupled to the wall.