Fan case bushing

• US 10,352,328 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2015
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Chow, Wai Tuck, Prihar, Ron I.
• Primary Examiner(s): McMahon, Matthew R
• Application Number:
  US14/948,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20170146018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/243 Flange connections; Bolting arrangements F01D25/265 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 19/002 Axial flow fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/056 Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/522 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/526 Details of the casing section radially opposing blade tips ducts F04D29/545
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/644 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/60 Assembly methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/301 Retaining bolts or nuts
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/60 Assembly methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/80 Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/31 Retaining bolts or nuts

Abstract

A bushing including a body portion including a cylinder portion having a bore there through configured to receive a bolt; a flange portion orthogonal and integral to the cylinder portion, the flange portion configured to abut a load bearing surface of a flange; a lip portion orthogonal to and integral to the flange portion proximate the cylinder portion, wherein the lip portion redistributes a flange load.

Claims

1. A casing flange coupling assembly comprising:

a first casing comprising a first flange, said first flange including at least one circular bolt hole;

a second casing coupled to said first casing, said second casing comprising a second flange, said second flange including at least one circular bolt hole aligned with said first flange bolt hole, wherein said second flange at least one bolt hole has a diameter larger than said first flange at least one circular bolt hole diameter;

a bushing coupled to said second flange, said bushing comprising a body portion including a cylinder portion having a circular bore configured to receive a circular bolt, said cylinder portion having an outer diameter configured to insert into and abut the second flange at least one bolt hole;

a flange portion orthogonal and integral to said cylinder portion, said flange portion configured to couple with a load bearing surface of said second flange;

a lip portion integral to said flange portion proximate said cylinder portion, wherein said lip portion redistributes a flange load; and

said circular bolt inserted through said circular bore and said first flange at least one circular bolt hole;

wherein said lip portion comprises a curvilinear shape that matches a radius of a fillet of said second flange.

2. The casing flange coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lip portion extends from said cylinder portion to a lip end face, said lip end face being adjacent to and orthogonal to a portion of said load bearing surface.

3. The casing flange coupling assembly according to claim 2, wherein said lip portion comprises a varying thickness extending distally from said cylinder portion to the lip end face.

4. The casing flange coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lip portion is configured to bear a portion of the flange load along the fillet and parts of the second casing proximate a fillet region.

5. The casing flange coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein said bushing body portion comprises a reduced portion located in a bushing outer face proximate said bore opposite said cylinder portion.