Flexible Leaf Spring Hanger for Exhaust Duct Liner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine hanger assemblies face challenges in accommodating misalignment, thermal growth differentials, pressure loads, and high temperatures within a confined space, while also being difficult to assemble and costly.
Innovation Solution
A flexible leaf spring hanger assembly with a body and leg, featuring a locking member and mounting member, is used to support the liner relative to a duct, allowing for angular adjustments and minimal parts for simplified assembly and reduced costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional hanger assemblies are used to accommodate misalignment and thermal growth differentials, then the hanger can handle complex shapes and pressure loads, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible liner made of corrugated or pleated material that can bend and deform to accommodate misalignment and thermal growth differentials between the exhaust duct and turbine outlet. This flexible membrane approach replaces complex rigid hanger assemblies with multiple adjustment mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability to various installation conditions and thermal expansion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional hanger assemblies with multiple components are used, then the hanger can accommodate relative movement in several planes, but the ease of manufacture and assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a dynamic flexible liner design that can passively adapt to relative movements in multiple planes through its inherent flexibility and corrugated structure. Instead of requiring multiple rigid components and complex assembly procedures to accommodate movements in different directions, the flexible liner naturally deforms to absorb misalignment and thermal growth, significantly simplifying both manufacturing and installation processes.
3Ease of manufacture
If reduced cost hanger design is implemented, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the ability to handle harsh environment conditions may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the flexible liner, combining heat-resistant materials capable of withstanding high temperatures and corrosive exhaust gases with flexible structural properties. This composite approach allows the simplified, low-cost flexible liner design to maintain reliability in harsh engine environments by selecting materials that simultaneously provide thermal resistance, chemical resistance, and mechanical flexibility.
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 flexible leaf spring hanger assembly effectively supports the liner in harsh environments, accommodating thermal movement and pressure loads with reduced complexity and cost, while maintaining minimal leakage and no need for shimming or rigging.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible leaf spring having a body and a leg
Implementation Method 2
a locking member for attaching the leg to the first duct
Data Source
AI summary
A hanger assembly for use between a first duct and a second duct has a flexible leaf spring having a body and a leg, a locking member for attaching the leg to the first duct, and a mounting member for attaching the body to the second duct.