Lightweight cast inner diameter vane shroud for variable stator vanes

• US 20070020093A1
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Tirone, John, Giaimo, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/160
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/162 for axial flow, i.e. the vanes turning around axes which are essentially perpendicular to the rotor centre line F01D17/167 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 9/042 fixing blades to stators fixing stator-rings in the casing or to each other F01D25/246
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

An inner diameter vane shroud for use in a gas turbine engine is comprised of lightweight cast forward and aft shroud components. The forward and aft shroud components are made with an investment casting technique that creates a hollow cavity that runs in a circumferential direction through each component. The forward and aft shroud components are matable to form sockets that receive inner diameter ends of variable stator vanes.

Claims

1. An inner diameter vane shroud for receiving inner diameter ends of stator vanes in a turbine engine, the vane shroud comprising:

a forward shroud component having an acruate length and comprising;

a forward hollow channel running the length of the forward shroud component; and

aft facing recesses; and

an aft shroud component having an arcuate length and comprising;

an aft hollow channel running the length of the aft shroud component; and

forward facing recesses that mate with the aft facing recesses to form sockets for receiving inner diameter ends of stator vanes.

2. The vane shroud of claim 1 wherein the forward shroud component includes an opening to the forward hollow channel running the length of the forward shroud component.

3. The vane shroud of claim 2 wherein the forward shroud component includes a cap for sealing the opening of the forward hollow channel.

4. The vane shroud of claim 1 wherein the forward shroud component includes holes for receiving fasteners.

5. The vane shroud of claim 1 wherein the aft shroud component includes holes for receiving threaded fasteners.

6. The vane shroud of claim 5 wherein the holes include locking inserts for receiving threaded fasteners.

7. The vane shroud of claim 1 wherein threaded fasteners are use to couple the forward shroud component and the aft shroud component, wherein the fasteners are positioned between the sockets.

8. A stator vane section for use in a turbine engine, the stator vane section comprising:

an outer diameter fan case;

a plurality of stator vanes each comprising;

an inner diameter end; and

an outer diameter end for rotating in the outer diameter fan case;

an inner diameter vane shroud comprising;

a forward inner diameter shroud component comprising;

a forward hollow channel running circumferentially through the forward shroud component; and

a plurality of forward recesses; and

an aft shroud component comprising;

an aft hollow channel running circumferentially through the aft shroud component; and

a plurality of aft recesses that mate with the forward recesses to receive the inner diameter ends of stator vanes.

9. The stator vane section of claim 8 wherein the aft shroud component comprises holes for receiving threaded fasteners.

10. The stator vane section of claim 9 wherein the holes include locking inserts for receiving threaded fasteners.

11. The stator vane section of claim 8 wherein the forward shroud component comprises an opening to allow access to the forward hollow channel.

12. The stator vane section of claim 11 wherein the forward shroud component includes a cap for sealing the opening.

13. The stator vane section of claim 8 wherein forward shroud component comprises a plurality of holes for receiving threaded fasteners.

14. A vane shroud segment comprising:

an arcuate body portion;

a mating surface comprising partial sockets for receiving inner diameter ends of stator vanes; and

an internal hollow channel extending the length of the arcuate body portion.

15. The vane shroud segment of claim 14 wherein arcuate body portion comprises holes for receiving threaded fasteners.

16. The vane shroud segment of claim 15 wherein the holes include locking inserts for receiving threaded fasteners.

17. The vane shroud segment of claim 14 wherein the arcuate body portion comprises an opening to allow access to the internal hollow channel.

18. The vane shroud segment of claim 17 wherein the arcuate body portion includes a cap for sealing the opening.

19. The vane shroud segment of claim 14 wherein arcuate body portion comprises a plurality of holes for receiving threaded fasteners.

20. An inner diameter vane shroud having a forward shroud component and an aft shroud component that mate to receive inner diameter ends of stator vanes, the inner diameter vane shroud characterized by:

a forward hollow channel running through an interior of the forward shroud component; and

an aft hollow channel running through an interior of the aft shroud component.

21. The vane shroud of claim 20 wherein the aft shroud component comprises holes for receiving threaded fasteners.

22. The vane shroud of claim 21 wherein the holes include locking inserts for receiving threaded fasteners.

23. The vane shroud of claim 20 wherein the forward shroud component comprises an opening to allow access to the forward hollow channel.

24. The vane shroud of claim 23 wherein the forward shroud component includes a cap for sealing the opening.

25. The vane shroud of claim 20 wherein forward shroud component comprises a plurality of holes for receiving threaded fasteners.