Spherical-Link End Damper for Gas Turbine Bleed Valve Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bleed valve components in gas turbine engines are susceptible to damaging vibrational loads due to their location, requiring a damping mechanism that is both flexible and durable to prevent failure.

Innovation Solution

A damping arrangement featuring a valve ring with a link and a damper, where the link has an end curvature that contacts the damper, providing elastic deformation to absorb vibrational loads and prevent damage to the bleed valve components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a damping mechanism is added to protect bleed valve components from vibrational loads, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebleed valve component durabilityVSAvoiddamping mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The damper is nested within the link structure itself, with the link containing a bore that receives the damper. This integration eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining vibration protection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The damper utilizes an elastomeric material that deforms elastically under vibrational loads. This flexible element absorbs shock and vibration without requiring complex mechanical structures, achieving reliability improvement through material properties rather than structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Strength

If the link uses a rigid structure for strength, then strength is improved, but ability to absorb vibration deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelink structural strengthVSAvoidvibrational damage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The link is divided into distinct functional zones: a rigid structural portion that provides strength and a separate elastomeric damper portion that absorbs vibration. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its primary function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines rigid link material (providing strength) with elastomeric damper material (providing vibration absorption). This composite approach integrates materials with complementary properties to simultaneously achieve strength and vibration resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If the damper is made highly flexible to absorb motion, then ease of operation is improved, but durability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion absorption flexibilityVSAvoiddamper durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastomeric material is selected and configured with specific durometer hardness and geometric parameters that optimize the balance between flexibility and durability. By carefully controlling material parameters and dimensions, the damper achieves sufficient compliance for motion absorption while maintaining durability under operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 damping arrangement effectively reduces the risk of damage from vibrations, ensuring the longevity of the bleed valve components and maintaining operational stability during engine start-up, acceleration, and deceleration.

Implementation Method 1

providing elastic deformation to absorb vibrational loads and prevent damage to the bleed valve components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2864611B1Spherical-link end damper system with near constant engagement
Publication Date: 2017.05.17 UNITED TECH CORP
  • EP2864611B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2864611B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2864611B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A link includes a link body with two ends, a ring bore with a ring bore axis and a bearing, a mount bore with a mount bore axis and a bearing. The link also has an end curvature at the end having the ring bore wherein the curvature axis is substantially perpendicular to the ring bore axis.