Variable-Pitch Fan Actuator Assembly for Jam-Free Blade Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pitch control systems for turbomachine fan blades face issues with jamming and complex mounting, and inadequate sealing and supply systems in actuator cylinder devices, leading to mechanical stress and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A fixed actuator cylinder device with a separate actuator cylinder body and annular casing, featuring a one-piece chamber bottom and annular oil circuit with dual oil channels, ensures easy mounting, prevents jamming, and provides robust sealing and efficient oil supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the chamber bottom is attached separately to the actuator cylinder body and bearing support, then the mounting operations are multiplied and assembly complexity increases, but the structural flexibility is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber bottom is merged with the bearing support to form a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate attachment operations between the chamber bottom and bearing support, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining structural flexibility. The integrated design allows the chamber bottom to be formed as an integral part of the bearing support structure.
2Reliability
If multiple attached parts are used to ensure sealing in the actuator cylinder, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the integrated chamber bottom-bearing support structure. The single-piece design incorporates sealing surfaces and features directly into the bearing support, eliminating the need for multiple separate sealing components and attachments. This reduces the total number of components while maintaining sealing reliability through the integrated structure.
3Strength
If the actuator cylinder body is integrated with the bearing support as one-piece, then the structural strength is improved, but the ease of manufacture and maintenance accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator cylinder body is segmented from the bearing support, allowing each component to be manufactured independently. This segmentation provides manufacturing flexibility while maintaining structural strength through proper design of the integration interface. The separate components can be optimized for their specific functions and assembled together to form the complete actuator assembly.
4Ease of repair
If the chamber bottom is separate and attached, then the accessibility for maintenance is improved, but the sealing reliability and risk of jamming increase
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber bottom is merged with the bearing support to create an integrated structure that eliminates sealing interfaces between separate components. This merger removes the sealing reliability issues and jamming risks associated with multiple attachments, while the actuator cylinder body remains separately manufacturable and maintainable through the segmented design.
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
The solution facilitates simple assembly, enhances sealing, reduces mechanical stress, and maintains efficient operation by ensuring redundancy and accessibility, thus improving the reliability and maintenance of pitch control systems.
Implementation Method 1
each actuator cylinder body comprising an inner volume in which a piston is able to slide, separating the inner volume into two chambers isolated from each other
Implementation Method 2
an annular oil circuit centred on the longitudinal axis and surrounding the plurality of actuator cylinder rods and including a through passage forming an oil inlet passing through the annular casing towards the actuator cylinder body
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device comprising a fixed actuator for a control system for the orientation of fan blades of a turbomachine, comprising: at least one actuator body housed inside an annular casing of the turbomachine forming a bearing support, the annular casing being centred on a longitudinal axis of the turbomachine an inclined relative thereto, the actuator body having an internal volume in which a piston is able to slide, separating the internal volume into two chambers isolated from one another; and a plurality of actuator rods passing through the annular casing forming a bearing support and each having one end fixed to the piston and an opposite end intended to be connected to an internal ring of a movement transfer bearing in order to drive it in translation, the internal volume of the actuator body being closed downstream by a chamber bottom which forms a single part with the annular casing forming a bearing support.