Internally Mounted Fuel Manifold Support Pins

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly and installation of annular fuel manifolds in gas turbine engines are time-consuming and problematic due to external obstructions, and removal for maintenance is challenging with externally mounted support pins.

Innovation Solution

The fuel manifold is equipped with attachment members and support elements that can be displaced between retracted and extended positions, allowing internal mounting and fastening within the engine casing, enabling installation and removal without external access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If externally mounted support pins are used to support the fuel manifold, then the fuel manifold can be supported within the engine casing, but the assembly and installation become time-consuming and problematic due to obstruction by surrounding engine components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport stabilityVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional external mounting approach by implementing internal mounting. The support pins are now mounted inside the fuel manifold and extend outward to engage with the engine casing, rather than extending inward from the casing. This reversal allows assembly from the interior side, avoiding obstruction by surrounding engine components and significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining support stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If externally mounted support pins are used, then the fuel manifold can be positioned adjacent the combustor dome, but removal and re-installation for maintenance becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the mounting direction to internal mounting, the support pins can be accessed and manipulated from within the engine casing. This provides direct access for maintenance personnel to remove and re-install the fuel manifold without dealing with obstructions from external components, significantly improving maintenance accessibility while preserving positioning accuracy through the same engagement mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The support pin assembly is segmented into distinct functional portions: a mounting portion inside the fuel manifold, a support portion extending outward, and an engagement portion with the casing. This segmentation allows the fuel manifold to be removed and re-installed independently for maintenance, with each segment performing its specific function, thereby facilitating easier repair operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If support pins are assembled from the outside of the engine casing, then engagement with the fuel manifold can be achieved, but the process becomes problematic due to obstruction by other engine components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengagement reliabilityVSAvoidassembly accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reverses the assembly direction by mounting support pins from the inside of the fuel manifold outward, rather than from the outside of the engine casing inward. This internal mounting approach provides unobstructed access for assembly operations, eliminating interference from surrounding engine components while maintaining reliable engagement between the support pins and the casing through the same fundamental engagement mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS7540157B2Internally mounted fuel manifold with support pins

Publication Date: 2009.06.02 PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP

AI summary

A method and apparatus for internally mounting a fuel manifold within a surrounding casing in a gas turbine engine which involves inserting the fuel manifold into the casing with support elements positioned in a retracted position, displacing the support elements into an extended position, and fastening said support elements to mount the manifold to an inner surface of said casing.