Variable Guide Vane Actuating System Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional variable guide vane actuating systems in gas turbine engines experience increased wear and inaccuracy due to reduced contact between rotary actuators and actuating links, particularly in radial vane configurations, which limits the vane angle range.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a unison ring with radially projecting drive pins and actuating arms featuring profiled surfaces, including curved and flared slots, to maintain contact area and accommodate angular motion, minimizing wear and enhancing accuracy across the full vane angle range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the contact between rotary actuator and actuating links is reduced to accommodate greater VGV angle range, then the vane angle range is improved, but wear at the link-actuator interface increases leading to system inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating link incorporates a curved slot instead of a straight slot, allowing the drive pin to follow a curved path that accommodates the full range of VGV angles while maintaining continuous contact between the actuator and link throughout the motion range
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static contact arrangement to a dynamic one where the contact point between drive pin and curved slot continuously changes position along the curved path, enabling the mechanism to adapt to varying angular positions while maintaining optimal contact
2Device complexity
If conventional rotary actuator with reduced contact is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and system accuracy deteriorate due to increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The curved slot geometry is designed with specific radii and profiles that maintain constant contact between the drive pin and slot throughout the full angular range, eliminating wear-related accuracy loss while keeping the mechanical structure relatively simple
Data Source
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AI summary
A variable guide vane (VGV) apparatus (26) has a variable guide vane (VGV) (28) rotatable about a vane rotation axis (30). An actuating arm (35) is mounted to the VGV (28). The actuating arm (35) has a fork (36') defining a slot for receiving a drive pin (34). The slot has a curved contour configured to act as a vane angle schedule adjustment.