Fan Exit Guide Vane Load Member With Integrated Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current gas turbine engine designs with fan exit guide vanes (FEGVs) are not optimized for structural, performance, and acoustic requirements across a wide range of operating conditions, leading to inefficiencies and vibration issues.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a load carrying member with a damper in the fan exit guide vane, which includes a leading edge, trailing edge, radially inner and outer attachment regions, and a load member cavity, allowing for customized load distribution and vibration dampening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a monolithic load carrying member is used in the fan exit guide vane, then structural strength is improved, but vibration control is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidvibration control
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The load carrying member is segmented into multiple functional zones: a monolithic portion for strength and a cavity portion containing damping elements for vibration control. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specialized function independently while working together as an integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A damping element is introduced as an intermediary component within the load carrying member cavity. This intermediary absorbs and dissipates vibrational energy, mediating between the structural strength requirements and vibration control needs of the fan exit guide vane system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the fan exit guide vane is optimized for single operating condition, then performance at that condition is improved, but adaptability across wide range of operating conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance optimizationVSAvoidadaptability across operating conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The fan exit guide vane incorporates variable geometry capability through the load carrying member structure, allowing the vane configuration to dynamically adjust across different operating conditions. This enables the system to maintain optimal performance whether operating at single-point or multi-point conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-generated harmful factors

If acoustic treatment space is added to the fan exit guide vane, then acoustic performance is improved, but structural load carrying capacity may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacoustic performanceVSAvoidstructural load carrying capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The load carrying member is divided into a load-bearing monolithic portion and a cavity portion dedicated to acoustic treatment. This segmentation allows the cavity to be filled with acoustic material for noise reduction while the monolithic portion maintains the necessary structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The acoustic treatment cavity is nested within the load carrying member structure itself. This nesting approach allows acoustic treatment to be integrated into the existing structural framework without requiring additional external space that would compromise structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enhances structural support, reduces vibration, and provides additional space for acoustic treatment, optimizing performance across varying conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the damper in operative communication with the load member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration dampening: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4703561A1Gas turbine fan exit guide vane load carrying tension member with damper
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 RTX CORP
  • EP4703561A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4703561A1 patent drawingFigure 4~4a
  • EP4703561A1 patent drawingFigure 5~5a

AI summary

A fan exit guide vane (18) load member (42) with a damper (100) including a leading edge (26) and a trailing edge (28) opposite chordwise from the leading edge; a radially inner attachment region (30) opposite spanwise from a radially outer attachment region (32); a span dimension (34) extending between the radially inner attachment region and the radially outer attachment region; a chord dimension (36) extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge; a pressure side (38) opposite a suction side (40) of the fan exit guide vane; a load member cavity (44) formed within the fan exit guide vane extending spanwise through the fan exit guide vane from the radially inner attachment region to the radially outer attachment region; and the load member extending through the load member cavity beyond each of the radially inner attachment region and the radially outer attachment region of the fan exit guide vane; and the damper in operative communication with the load member.