Turbine Shroud Interlocking Split Interface Wear Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Turbine engine shrouds face challenges in preventing relative movement between shroud elements, leading to wear and potentially requiring more rigid and costly materials to maintain structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

A shroud assembly comprising at least two shroud elements forming a ring with complementary structures that impede radial, axial, and circumferential movement, utilizing split surface interfaces with specific angular orientations to stabilize the elements and reduce wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional shroud elements are used without complementary structures, then manufacturing is simpler, but relative movement between shroud elements occurs causing wear and requiring more rigid materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of relative movementVSAvoidcomplementary structures

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shroud is divided into multiple shroud elements that form a ring, with each element having specific complementary structures on its radial ends. This segmentation allows for controlled assembly while preventing relative movement through the interlocking complementary structures between adjacent elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The complementary structures on the radial ends of shroud elements are designed with asymmetric geometries including fore portions with positive radial angles and aft portions with negative radial angles. This asymmetry ensures that the structures interlock in only one direction, preventing relative movement while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If more rigid materials are used to maintain structural integrity, then wear is reduced, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmaterial cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The complementary structures are designed to preliminarily prevent relative movement between shroud elements before operational wear occurs. By establishing the interlocking geometry in advance, the design eliminates the need for expensive rigid materials that would otherwise be required to prevent wear during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If shroud elements are allowed to move relative to each other, then manufacturing and assembly is easier, but wear increases reducing durability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidshroud durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The complementary structures are implemented locally at the radial ends of shroud elements where they confront each other. This localized application of anti-wear features allows the rest of the shroud elements to maintain simpler geometries for easier manufacturing, while the critical interface areas have the enhanced complementary structures needed to prevent wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10774661B2Shroud for a turbine engine

Publication Date: 2020.09.15 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

An interlocking shroud assembly for a turbine engine includes at least two shroud elements, each having confronting radial ends that define a split interface with axial fore, aft, and circumferential portions.