Two-part Ferrule Assembly for Axial Turbine Engine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing designs for compressor stator vanes in axial turbomachines are complex, requiring numerous parts and leading to tedious assembly and structural weaknesses due to mechanical stress concentrations.

Innovation Solution

A simplified and compact design featuring sections with flanges and half-orifices that allow for assembly without pre-mounting connecting rods, using a one-piece connecting rod integrated with the blade and a synchronization ring for easier assembly and reduced mechanical stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If traditional multi-part designs with pre-mounted connecting rods are used, then blade securing function is achieved, but assembly complexity increases and assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly complexityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The ferrule is divided into two separate sections that are assembled together, with half-orifices in each section that form complete circular orifices when joined. This segmentation allows the sections to be pre-assembled with integrated connecting rods, eliminating the need to mount connecting rods individually for each blade during final assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting rod is merged with the blade to form a single integrated component. This combining eliminates the separate step of mounting connecting rods to blade heads, as the connecting rod is already attached to the blade during manufacturing, significantly simplifying the assembly process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If traditional ferrule designs with concentrated stress areas are used, then blade mounting is achieved, but structural strength decreases due to stress concentrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Dividing the ferrule into two sections with flanges creates a distributed stress structure. The flanges provide additional surface area for stress distribution and create overlapping regions that reduce stress concentrations compared to traditional single-piece ferrule designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flanged connection adds an axial dimension to the stress distribution, spreading mechanical loads across multiple planes (radial and axial directions) rather than concentrating them in a single plane, thereby enhancing overall structural strength and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3553322B1Assembly for an axial turbine engine with two-part external ferrule
Publication Date: 2023.05.31 SAFRAN AERO BOOSTERS SA
  • EP3553322B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3553322B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3553322B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a turbomachine assembly (2), comprising: an upstream section (130), a downstream section (230), each comprising an annular row of semi-cylindrical radial half-orifices and a plurality of flanges (134, 234) positioned between two circumferentially adjacent half-orifices, the flanges (134, 234) allowing the two sections to be held together and the half-orifices forming an orifice (31) when the two sections (130, 230) are assembled. The half-orifices are formed on raised sections or bosses (133, 233), connected to each other by the flanges (134, 234). The invention also relates to a method for assembling the blades, each in a half-orifice of one section, and then assembling the other section, thus enclosing the blade tips.