Gas Turbine Vane Assembly Segmented Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vane assemblies in gas turbine engines face challenges in maintaining uniform surface coatings and preventing vane tipping, which can lead to inefficiencies in energy extraction and airflow management.
Innovation Solution
A vane assembly design featuring adjacent vanes with specific attachment mechanisms, such as pin-socket connectors and brackets, that mechanically couple outer platforms while avoiding over-constraint, allowing for uniform coating application and stable assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If vane assemblies are mechanically attached to create a full ring, then structural stability is improved, but uniform surface coating application becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The vane assembly is divided into multiple individual vanes rather than a continuous full ring structure. Each vane is a separate component that can be independently coated and then assembled together, allowing uniform coating application on each segment while maintaining overall structural stability through the assembled configuration.
2Stability of the object's composition
If vane assemblies are mechanically attached to create a full ring, then structural stability is improved, but vane tipping problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism uses a nested structure where a attachment feature on one vane receives and secures an attachment feature from an adjacent vane. This interlocking nested design provides stable mechanical connection while allowing proper alignment and preventing tipping movements through the complementary geometry of the nested features.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vane assembly (23) for a gas turbine engine includes a first vane (30) and a second vane (32). The first vane (30) and the second vane (32) include an inner platform (34), an outer platform (36) and an airfoil (38) that extends between the inner platform (34) and the outer platform (36). The first vane (30) and the second vane (32) are attached at least at one of their inner platforms (34) or their outer platforms (36) with a first attachment mechanism (48) and a second attachment mechanism (50).