Fan Exit Stator Vane Retention via Elastomeric Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fan exit stator assemblies in gas turbine engines are susceptible to disconnection from the structural shroud due to bird strikes or foreign object debris, compromising the structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A vane retention configuration is implemented, where a retainer plate projects circumferentially from the vane's base portion, extending through a second slot, and an elastomeric material is applied between the vane and the shroud to enhance retention and prevent dislodgment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional fan exit stator assemblies use simple vane structures, then manufacturing is easier and device complexity is reduced, but the vanes become disconnected from the structural shroud during bird strikes or foreign object debris contact
Solution Approach 1:
The vane retention system is segmented into multiple functional components: a retainer plate with circumferential projection, a slot in the radially inward shroud, and an elastomeric material. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
An elastomeric material is introduced as an intermediary element between the retainer plate and the radially inward shroud. This intermediary provides both mechanical retention and damping characteristics, preventing vane disconnection while absorbing impact energies from foreign object debris.
2Reliability
If the retainer plate circumferential dimension is made greater than the first slot diameter, then vane retention is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer plate is designed with non-uniform geometry featuring a circumferential projection at specific locations. This local quality variation provides effective retention without requiring the entire plate to be complex, maintaining simplicity where possible while providing strength where needed.
3Reliability
If an elastomeric material is applied between the vane and shroud, then damping benefits and retention are enhanced, but manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric material is positioned and secured in advance during the assembly process, ensuring proper placement before final operation. This preliminary action simplifies the overall assembly by pre-positioning the damping element rather than requiring complex in-service adjustment or installation.
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 configuration effectively inhibits vane disconnection from the radially inward shroud during debris contact, maintaining structural integrity and providing damping benefits.
Implementation Method 1
applying an elastomeric material between the vane and the first slot
Implementation Method 2
The elastomeric material... providing damping benefits
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A fan exit stator assembly (100) of a gas turbine engine (20) may include a radially inward shroud (110) defining a first slot, a radially outward shroud (120), and a vane (150). The vane (150) may include a base portion (151) extending through the first slot and a tip portion (152) coupled to the radially outward shroud (120). The vane (150) may also include a retainer plate (160) disposed radially inward of the radially inward shroud (110) that projects in a circumferential direction from the base portion (151) of the vane (150). A circumferential plate dimension of the retainer plate (160) in the circumferential direction is greater than a first slot radius in the circumferential direction of the first slot, thus preventing radially outward movement of the vane (150) relative to the radially inward shroud (110).