Gas Turbine Vane Assembly Ball Socket Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas turbine engine vane assemblies are limited in their ability to efficiently manage airflow across multiple flight points due to fixed or optimally designed flow areas, lacking adaptability to varying operational conditions.
Innovation Solution
A vane assembly with a ball and socket joint system that allows for rotational connection of variable airfoils to platforms, enabling adjustable airflow management through a combination of fixed and variable airfoils, and rotational shafts positioned at radial outer or inner portions, facilitating thermal and mechanical movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If fixed airfoils are used in the vane assembly, then manufacturing precision and structural simplicity are improved, but adaptability to varying operational conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by incorporating variable airfoils that can rotate about a given axis to change the flow area between adjacent vane airfoils. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the vane assembly to adapt to varying operational conditions while maintaining manufacturing precision through the integration of both fixed and variable airfoil components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If variable airfoils are used to alter flow area, then adaptability to varying operational conditions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the vane assembly into multiple independent variable airfoils, each capable of rotating independently about its own axis. This segmentation allows for distributed control and adjustment of flow areas between adjacent vanes, improving adaptability while managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of control by allowing airfoils to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the radial direction, enabling adjustment of the flow area between adjacent vanes. This dimensional freedom provides additional degrees of freedom for optimizing performance across varying operational conditions.
3Ease of operation
If ball and socket joints are used for rotational connection, then ease of operation and adjustability are improved, but reliability may deteriorate due to potential leakage paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sealing elements as intermediary components within the ball and socket joint structure to prevent gas leakage between the variable airfoil and the platform. These sealing elements mediate between the rotational movement requirement and the reliability requirement by blocking leakage paths while preserving the ease of operation of the joint.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure includes, among other possible features, a first platform, a second platform spaced from the first platform, and a first variable airfoil that extends radially across an annulus between the first platform and the second platform. One of a radial outer portion and a radial inner portion of the variable airfoil includes a rotational shaft and the other of the radial outer portion and the radial inner portion includes a ball and socket joint that rotationally connect the first variable airfoil relative to the first platform and the second platform.