Gas Turbine Mounting Linkage for Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting systems for gas turbine engines fail to adequately react static and dynamic loads, leading to engine distortion and increased tip clearances that negatively impact performance and fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A mounting system comprising a front mount and rear mount with a mounting linkage assembly, including thrust links, a tangential link, and a boomerang link, which provides redundant connections and optimal load distribution to minimize tip clearances and absorb various engine loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional mounting system with front and rear mounts is used, then the engine can be supported and loads can be transmitted, but the system fails to adequately react static and dynamic loads causing engine distortion and increased tip clearances
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into multiple independent linkage assemblies (front mount, rear mount, and intermediate mounts) that can independently react different components of static and dynamic loads. Each linkage assembly handles specific load vectors, preventing cumulative distortion effects that would occur in a conventional unified mounting system.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage assemblies incorporate movable joints and articulated connections that allow the mounting system to dynamically adapt to engine distortion and flexing during operation. The linkages can adjust their configuration to maintain optimal load paths while accommodating thermal expansion and mechanical deformation, thereby preventing excessive tip clearance variations.
2Manufacturing precision
If the engine casing is made rigid to maintain tip clearances, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the engine cannot adequately absorb deformations and thermal expansions during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting linkage assemblies function as flexible mechanical structures that can bend and articulate to accommodate engine casing deformations and thermal expansions. The linkages provide a controlled degree of flexibility that allows the engine to expand and contract while maintaining proper clearance geometry, effectively decoupling the rigid precision requirements from the flexible adaptation requirements.
3Device complexity
If a compact mounting system is used to reduce device complexity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the system cannot provide adequate redundant connections for optimal load distribution
Solution Approach 1:
Each linkage assembly is designed as a multi-functional unit that can simultaneously react multiple types of loads (vertical, lateral, axial, and torque components) through its articulated structure. This universal design allows the system to achieve redundant load paths without proportionally increasing the number of separate mounting components, thereby maintaining relative compactness while providing comprehensive load distribution capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A mounting system (56) for a gas turbine engine (10) includes a mounting linkage assembly (62) and a tangential link (66, 68) positioned generally transverse to the mounting linkage assembly (62). The mounting linkage assembly (62) reacts at least a thrust load. The tangential link (66, 68) reacts at least a vertical load, a side load, and a torque load of the gas turbine engine.