Combustion Chamber Tile Positioning Aid for Engine Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The positioning of combustion chamber tiles in engine assemblies is often subject to significant variability, leading to irregular air supply and temperature distribution, which affects cooling performance and emission values, and requires manual, time-consuming precise alignment to ensure optimal conditions.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a positioning aid with at least two positioning elements on the tile component to facilitate precise alignment with the combustion chamber component along specific spatial axes, independent of tolerances and fixing elements, allowing for reproducible and rapid positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual mounting is used to carefully orient tile components, then positioning precision is improved, but production time and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidproduction time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Positioning elements are integrated directly onto the tile component during manufacturing, so that the positioning function is prepared in advance. This eliminates the need for manual orientation and alignment during assembly, as the tile component comes pre-configured with its positioning features that automatically engage with the combustion chamber component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tile component with integrated positioning elements performs its own positioning function without requiring external manual intervention. The positioning elements on the tile component automatically align and engage with the combustion chamber component, enabling self-positioning during assembly and eliminating time-consuming manual orientation operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If tolerances are increased to simplify manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but positioning precision and air supply uniformity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidpositioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning elements are manufactured as integral features of the tile component, with their positions precisely determined during tile manufacturing. This preliminary establishment of positioning features ensures high positioning precision is achieved without requiring tight tolerances on the tile component's opening positions, as the positioning elements themselves define the precise location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning elements act as intermediary features that mediate between the tile component and the combustion chamber component. These positioning elements provide precise geometric references that ensure accurate alignment, allowing the tile component's openings to be positioned with adequate tolerances while still achieving precise final positioning through the intermediary positioning elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If positioning is not precisely controlled, then ease of assembly is improved, but air supply uniformity and cooling performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidair supply uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tile component with integrated positioning elements performs self-positioning during assembly by automatically engaging with the combustion chamber component. This self-positioning mechanism ensures precise and uniform air supply without requiring manual intervention or complex alignment procedures, thereby maintaining both ease of assembly and reliability of air supply distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Strength

If fixing elements are used to secure tile components, then mechanical integrity is improved, but positioning precision may be compromised due to tolerance accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical integrityVSAvoidpositioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Positioning elements are established on the tile component before the fixing operation. These pre-established positioning features ensure that precise alignment is achieved before the fixing elements are installed, thereby preventing tolerance accumulation from affecting positioning precision. The fixing elements then secure the already precisely positioned tile component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting function is segmented into two distinct parts: positioning elements that handle alignment and positioning, and fixing elements that handle mechanical securing. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally—the positioning elements ensure precision without being affected by fixing element tolerances, while the fixing elements provide mechanical integrity without compromising positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11187411B2Combustion chamber assembly with shingle part and positioning facility

Publication Date: 2021.11.30 ROLLS ROYCE DEUT LTD & CO KG

AI summary

A combustion chamber assembly for an engine with at least one tile component, on the cold side of which facing away from a combustion space, a positioning aid with at least two positioning elements, wherein a defined position relative to the combustion chamber component is predefined for the tile component via the contact of the at least two positioning elements on at least one contact face of the combustion chamber component in two spatial axes.