Guide Vane Ring Radial Stabilization via Platform Journals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide vane rings in turbomachines are prone to disintegration during large relative axial movements, such as those caused by pumping processes or bird impacts, and often require complex bearing mechanisms that increase weight and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A guide vane ring design featuring radially outward-mounted guide vanes with inner platform plates and journals that provide radial stabilization and sealing, where the journals are optimized for form-fitting connections during axial excursions, reducing the need for bearing bushes and allowing a compact, lightweight construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bearing journals with tight fit are used for radial inner stabilizing, then protection against disintegration during axial movements is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bearing function from the stabilizing function. The platform plate provides radial inner stabilizing through a simplified interface with the inner ring, while the bearing journals are eliminated or minimized to only provide form-fitting connection without tight-fit bearing contact. This separation removes the complex bearing mechanism while maintaining protection against disintegration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the functions of the guide vane components. The platform plate is separated from the bearing journal, with the platform plate handling stabilizing and the journal handling only form-fitting connection. This functional segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If bearing journals with tight fit are used for radial inner stabilizing, then protection against disintegration during axial movements is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heavy bearing journals and their associated tight-fit interfaces, extracting only the essential form-fitting connection function. The platform plate provides stabilizing support through a lighter, simplified interface with the inner ring, significantly reducing the weight of the moving components while maintaining protection against disintegration during axial movements.
3Reliability
If bearing bushes are used for guiding platform plates, then guiding reliability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guiding function from the bearing bush, allowing the platform plate to be guided directly by the inner ring through a simplified interface. This eliminates the intermediate bearing bush component, reducing the number of parts and assembly complexity while maintaining guiding reliability through proper geometric design of the remaining components.
4Reliability
If bearing bushes are used for guiding platform plates, then guiding reliability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bearing bush components, extracting only the essential guiding function from the inner ring geometry itself. This direct guiding approach eliminates the weight of the bearing bushes while maintaining guiding reliability through properly designed contact surfaces and geometric constraints between the platform plate and inner ring.
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 design enhances reliability against disintegration, reduces weight, and minimizes leakage and friction, ensuring a secure and efficient operation of the guide vane ring during turbomachine operation.
Implementation Method 1
by means of the cylindrical surface of the plate, the guide vanes are guided by sliding in an uptake of the inner ring
Implementation Method 2
the journals are thus optimized for the task of ensuring a form-fitting connection between the guide vanes and the inner ring
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a guide vane ring for a turbomachine, in which a vane bearing is produced in the inner ring via platform plates of the vanes and reliability against disintegration is produced via journals that extend radially inward from the platform plates, as well as a turbomachine.