Gas Turbine Vane Hook Anti-Rotation Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbine engine components, particularly turbine vanes, face challenges in resisting rotational forces effectively, leading to stress concentration and potential failure due to uneven load distribution and inadequate design features.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an anti-rotation surface with a triangular base and anti-rotation fillet, along with a recessed cavity and machined surfaces, which reduces stress by separating radial and tangential loads through a unique geometric configuration that includes a hypotenuse edge and circumferentially offset components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional attachment designs are used for turbine vanes, then the structure is simple, but the stress distribution is uneven leading to potential failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress resistanceVSAvoidgeometric configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment hook geometry is segmented into distinct functional zones: a radial load-bearing section, a tangential load-bearing section, and a transition fillet region. This segmentation allows each zone to specifically address different stress components, preventing stress concentration at interfaces while maintaining overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the attachment hook are given different geometric properties optimized for their specific loading conditions. The radial section has geometry optimized for axial loads, the tangential section for circumferential loads, and the fillet region has enhanced radius to specifically address stress concentration at the transition zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the anti-rotation surface and triangular base are overlapping, then the structural continuity is maintained, but stress concentration occurs at the intersection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress distributionVSAvoidmachined surfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The design extracts the overlapping portion of the anti-rotation surface and triangular base, creating a deliberate gap between them. This removal of the overlapping region eliminates the stress concentration that would occur at their intersection, while the gap itself is engineered to maintain structural continuity through proper load path design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Force

If the vane design does not include anti-rotation features, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the vane cannot effectively resist rotational forces from airflow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational force resistanceVSAvoidanti-rotation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-rotation capability is achieved by extending the attachment hook geometry into the circumferential dimension. The tangential load-bearing section and circumferential edge create a mechanical interlock that resists rotational moments, transforming a simple radial attachment into a multi-dimensional anti-rotation mechanism.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3498978B1Gas turbine engine vane with attachment hook
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 RTX CORP
  • EP3498978B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3498978B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3498978B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A component (68) for a gas turbine engine (20) includes at least one airfoil (80) that has a radially inner end and a radially outer end. A platform (84) has a gas path side (48A) that supports the radially outer end of the at least one airfoil (80) and a non-gas path side (48B). A hook (90) is supported by the platform (84) and has an anti-rotation surface (102) that faces in a circumferential direction. A conical surface (94) is spaced axially forward of a base portion of the hook (90). A triangular base surface (112) intersects the anti-rotation surface (102) and is spaced radially outward from the conical surface (94).