Omega Stringer Panel Clamping for Leak-Tight Turbomachine Enclosures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fixing systems for turbomachine enclosures require extensive preliminary operations, such as boring and machining, leading to increased installation and maintenance time, mechanical weakness, air leakage, and a larger footprint, especially when using composite panels.
Innovation Solution
A plug-and-play fixing system utilizing an omega stringer with a flat bar and sealing gaskets, where the panel is flush with the frame, eliminating the need for bores and ensuring gastightness without compromising the integrity of composite layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fastening devices such as bolts with nuts are used to fix panels to the frame, then secure fastening is achieved, but installation and maintenance time increases due to required preliminary operations like boring and machining
Solution Approach 1:
The frame stringers are pre-formed with recesses during manufacturing, eliminating the need for on-site boring and machining operations. This preliminary preparation of the frame structure allows for rapid panel installation without time-consuming preliminary operations, while still achieving secure fastening through the recess-designed engagement features
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated fixing device acts as an intermediary component between the panel and frame stringer. This fixing device includes engagement features that mate with the pre-formed recesses, providing secure mechanical connection without requiring direct threading or bolting operations into the panel or frame, thus reducing installation time while maintaining fastening security
2Strength
If holes are bored in panels and frame for fastening devices, then secure mechanical connection is achieved, but mechanical weakness is introduced and air leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The frame stringers incorporate locally optimized recesses at specific fastening locations, and the fixing devices have corresponding localized engagement features. This localized structural adaptation provides strong mechanical connection only where needed, without compromising the overall integrity and gastightness of the panel and frame structures
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing device serves as an intermediary that creates a sealed mechanical connection between panel and frame. The engagement features are designed to interlock securely while maintaining continuous sealing surfaces, eliminating the need for penetrating holes that would compromise gastightness while still achieving the required mechanical connection strength
3Strength
If panels are installed over stringers of the frame, then proper support is achieved, but the footprint of the enclosure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing devices and panel engagement features are designed to nest within the existing frame stringer profile and panel thickness. The recesses in the stringers and corresponding features on the fixing devices allow the panel to sit flush with the frame outer surface, eliminating additional protrusion and reducing the overall enclosure footprint while maintaining adequate support
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~3C
Figure 4
AI summary
A fixing system (10) for a panel (17), particularly for a noise absorption panel, comprising: an omega stringer (14) having a substantially omega- shaped cross-section, wherein the omega stringer comprises a central portion (12) and two lateral (11, 13) foot portions; a flat bar (15) longitudinally directly connected to the central portion (12) of the omega stringer (14); a sealing gasket (16) arranged longitudinally onto the lateral (11, 13) foot portions of the omega stringer (14) or onto the flat bar (15); wherein height (20) of omega stringer (14) is selected so that, when a panel (17) is clamped between the omega stringer (14) and the flat bar (15), the sealing gasket (16) is compressed between panel (17) and fixing system (10).