Gas Turbine Vane Assembly Melt-Weld Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vane assemblies for gas turbine engines with removable vanes face uneven retention forces and displacement of remaining vanes during replacement, as the circumferential strap disengagement method is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The use of concentric annular inner and outer shrouds with vanes connected via melt-weld connections, incorporating a non-metallic heat-meltable material and a metal wire mesh layer for localized heating to form and break the connections, allowing for controlled vane removal and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a circumferential strap is used to retain vanes in a gas turbine engine, then the vanes can be removed for replacement, but the retention force becomes uneven around the circumference and remaining vanes shift out of position during disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous circumferential strap is segmented into individual retention mechanisms at each vane location. Each vane has its own discrete retention features (protrusions and recesses) that provide independent, uniform retention forces around the circumference, eliminating the uneven force distribution and vane shifting problems associated with a single continuous strap.
2Ease of repair
If a circumferential strap is used to retain vanes, then vanes can be replaced, but the disengagement process disturbs and shifts remaining vanes out of position
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the retention system into independent individual vane retention mechanisms rather than a continuous strap, each vane can be disengaged independently without affecting the position of adjacent vanes. The discrete protrusions and recesses allow for isolated manipulation of each vane while maintaining the positional integrity of others.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention features are localized to specific positions at each vane root, with protrusions and recesses precisely positioned to engage only with their corresponding vane. This localized engagement ensures that disengagement forces are applied locally to the target vane without transmitting disturbance to neighboring vanes, maintaining their positional stability during the replacement process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method ensures consistent vane retention, facilitates efficient removal and replacement of vanes without disturbing other components, and reduces the complexity of repair work by allowing localized heating of the melt-weld connections.
Implementation Method 1
the metal wire mesh being heatable to melt the heat-meltable material for formation and breakdown of the melt-weld connection
Implementation Method 2
each vane being connected to at least one adjacent portion of at least one of the inner and the outer shrouds through a melt-weld connection
Data Source
AI summary
A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine where each vane is connected to at least one adjacent portion of at least one of the inner and the outer shrouds through a melt-weld connection. The melt-weld connection includes non-metallic heat-meltable material with a metal wire mesh layer trapped therein, the metal wire mesh being heatable to melt the heat-meltable material for formation and breakdown of the melt-weld connection.