Variable Pitch Airfoil Assembly With Balancing Insert for Vibration Stress

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Solution Overview

Problem

Turbine engines with variable pitch airfoils experience unbalance and vibration stresses due to the movement of the center of mass during operation, which can lead to mechanical stress and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a balancing insert within the airfoil assembly, which balances the airfoil assembly by reducing unbalance and vibration stresses, ensuring consistent balance even with pitch variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a variable pitch airfoil assembly is used to adjust fluid flow, then adaptability is improved, but unbalance and vibration stresses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepitch adjustment capabilityVSAvoidvibration stresses

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A balancing insert is provided within the airfoil assembly to counterbalance the variable pitch airfoil assembly during rotation. The balancing insert offsets the unbalance caused by pitch variations, reducing vibration stresses and harmful forces while maintaining the adaptability of pitch adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Adaptability or versatility

If pitch variation is increased to enhance performance, then adaptability is improved, but mechanical stress increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepitch variation rangeVSAvoidmechanical stress resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The balancing insert acts as a counterweight that compensates for the mechanical stress and unbalance generated during pitch variations. This allows the airfoil assembly to operate through a wider pitch range without excessive mechanical stress on the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Adaptability or versatility

If variable pitch mechanism is added to adjust flow, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow adjustment capabilityVSAvoidairfoil assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The balancing insert provides a relatively simple counterweight mechanism that addresses the complexity issue. By adding this single balancing component, the system achieves pitch adjustment capability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity, as the insert integrates into the existing airfoil assembly structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentUS12480421B2Turbine engine having a variable pitch airfoil assembly

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

A turbine engine comprising a fan section, a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow arrangement and defining a stator portion and a rotor portion, which rotates about an engine centerline. The rotor portion comprising a variable pitch airfoil assembly. The variable pitch airfoil assembly having an airfoil and a balancing insert.