Gas Turbine Integrated Flex Support Bolt Pattern Offset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face difficulties in accessing and servicing the bolt pattern of the central body support due to its proximity to neighboring components, which complicates assembly and disassembly, and existing solutions like axially extending the bolt pattern lead to undesirable stress distribution in the flex support.
Innovation Solution
A unitary body comprising an integral flex support and annular walls is designed to suppress vibrations and torsional loads, with geometrically structured flex members that are integrated into the front center body support, allowing for better accessibility and serviceability without compromising structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the bolt pattern is positioned close to the center body support, then structural integrity is maintained, but accessibility for assembly and disassembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the bolt pattern at an axial location that is offset from the geared architecture, creating spatial separation in the axial dimension. This allows service access without compromising the radial structural integrity of the center body support, effectively resolving the contradiction by utilizing a different spatial dimension for serviceability.
2Ease of operation
If the bolt pattern is axially extended to improve accessibility, then serviceability improves, but multiple scallops must be formed in the flex support causing undesirable stress distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bolt pattern from the traditional location within the flex support structure and repositions it at an axial location offset from the geared architecture. This separation eliminates the need to cut scallops into the flex support, thereby maintaining its structural continuity and avoiding stress concentration while still providing service accessibility.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a separate flex support is used to connect the center body support and geared architecture, then vibration suppression is achieved, but the complexity of assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flex support functionality directly into the center body support structure by integrating the bolt pattern at an offset axial location. This combination eliminates the need for a separate, distinct flex support component while maintaining the vibration suppression capability through the integrated structural design.
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 integrated flex support facilitates easier assembly and disassembly of the gas turbine engine while maintaining structural integrity and reducing stress concentrations, enhancing the engine's operational efficiency and serviceability.
Implementation Method 1
a flex support is fastened between the front center body and the geared architecture using a plurality of bolts... geometrically structured to at least partially suppress vibrations within the gas turbine engine
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine may include a geared architecture, a central body support and a bearing package. The geared architecture may interconnect a spool and a fan rotatable about an axis. The central body support may provide an annular wall for a core flow path and an integral flex support inwardly extending therefrom. The integral flex support may couple the geared architecture to the central body support. The bearing package may include a bearing support removably coupled to the integral flex support.