TRIPOD BUCKLE FOR SPLIT FAIRING OF A GAS TURBINE ENGINE

• US 20130336782A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Ryczek, Scott Patrick, Dreischarf, Derek Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,212,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/14 Casings modified therefor double casings F01D25/26
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/28 Supporting or mounting arrangements, e.g. for turbine casing
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 9/00 Stators
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 9/04 forming ring or sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49339 Hollow blade

Abstract

A fairing for a turbine engine strut includes: inner and outer bands; a vane extending between the bands; the fairing is split along a generally transverse plane passing through the bands and the vane, defining nose and tail pieces; wherein the vane is defined by spaced-apart sidewalls extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, each sidewall split into forward and aft portions by the transverse plane; wherein each sidewall portion carries a radially-inwardly extending post, the posts positioned such that pairs of the posts lie adjacent to each other when the nose piece and tail piece are assembled, wherein each pair of adjacent posts includes at least two non-parallel faces; and a pair of slotted buckles, wherein each slotted buckle surrounds and clamps together a pair of the posts, wherein each pair of adjacent posts contacts a slot of the corresponding buckle in a tripod contact configuration.

Claims

1. A fairing for a strut in a gas turbine engine, comprising:

an inner band;

an outer band;

a hollow, airfoil-shaped vane extending between the inner and outer bands;

wherein the fairing is split along a generally transverse plane passing through the inner band, outer band and vane, so as to define a nose piece and a tail piece;

wherein the vane is defined by a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, each of the sidewalls being split into forward and aft portions by the transverse plane;

wherein each of the sidewall portions carries a radially-inwardly extending post, the posts positioned such that pairs of the posts lie adjacent to each other when the nose piece and tail piece are in an assembled condition, wherein each pair of adjacent posts includes at least two non-parallel faces; and

a pair of slotted buckles, wherein each slotted buckle surrounds and clamps together a pair of the posts, wherein each pair of adjacent posts contacts a slot of the corresponding buckle in a tripod contact configuration.

2. The fairing of claim 1 wherein the post of each sidewall portion of the tail piece includes a mating face and a pair of flank faces opposite the mating face, the flank faces oriented to form a “

V”

shape.

3. The fairing of claim 1 wherein the post of each sidewall portion of the nose piece includes a mating face, a pressure face opposite the mating face, and a pair of spaced-apart side faces flanking the pressure face, wherein the pressure face is disposed at an acute angle to the transverse plane.

4. The fairing of claim 3 wherein the slot is sized and shaped such that there will be substantially no contact between the side faces of the post and the slot when assembled.

5. The fairing of claim 1 wherein:

the buckle is a monolithic structure with a forward and aft ends, inner and outer surfaces, and side surfaces;

a slot is formed in the buckle extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, the slot including a forward wall adjacent the forward end, and a pair of flanking walls adjacent the aft end;

the flanking walls are oriented to form a “

V”

shape; and

in conjunction with the forward wall, the flanking walls form a generally triangular shape in plan view from the outer surface.

6. The fairing of claim 5 wherein:

the forward wall of the buckle is generally planar and is inclined at an acute angle to the outer surface, so as to lie generally parallel to the pressure face of the post when installed; and

each of the flanking walls of the buckle is generally planar, and the flanking walls are oriented so as to lie generally parallel to the flank faces of the post when installed.

7. The fairing of claim 1 wherein a pin passes through the buckle and at least one of the posts.

8. The fairing of claim 1 wherein mating surfaces of the sidewalls have a non-planar shape.

9. The fairing of claim 1 wherein the nose piece and the tail piece carry mating flanges configured to be coupled together by one or more fasteners.

10. the fairing of claim 1 wherein the slotted buckles are secured to the posts of the tail piece by brazing.

11. A method for assembling a fairing for a strut of a gas turbine engine, comprising:

Providing a fairing including;

an inner band;

an outer band; and

a hollow, airfoil-shaped vane extending between the inner and outer bands;

wherein the fairing is split along a generally transverse plane passing through the inner band, outer band and vane, so as to define a nose piece and a tail piece;

wherein the vane is defined by a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, each of the sidewalls being split into forward and aft portions by the transverse plane;

wherein each of the sidewall portions carries a radially-inwardly extending post, wherein each pair of adjacent includes at least two non-parallel faces;

positioning the nose piece and tail piece together in abutting relationship such that pairs of the posts lie adjacent to each other; and

positioning a slotted buckle over each pair of posts such that each slotted buckle surrounds and clamps together the pair of posts, wherein each buckle contacts the corresponding pair of posts in a tripod contact configuration.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the post of each sidewall portion of the tail piece includes a mating face and a pair of flank faces opposite the mating face, the flank faces oriented to form a “

V”

shape.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the post of each sidewall portion of the nose piece includes a mating face, a pressure face opposite the mating face, and a pair of spaced-apart side faces flanking the pressure face, wherein the pressure face is disposed at an acute angle to the transverse plane.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the slot is sized and shaped such that there will be substantially no contact between the side faces of the post and the slot when assembled.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein:

the buckle is a monolithic structure with a forward and aft ends, inner and outer surfaces, and side surfaces;

a slot is formed in the buckle extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, the slot including a forward wall adjacent the forward end, and a pair of flanking walls adjacent the aft end;

the flanking walls are oriented to form a “

V”

shape; and

in conjunction with the forward wall, the flanking walls form a generally triangular shape in plan view from the outer surface.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the forward wall is generally planar and is inclined at an acute angle to the outer surface, so as to lie generally parallel to the pressure face of the post when installed; and

each of the flanking walls is generally planar, and the flanking walls are oriented so as to lie generally parallel to the flank faces of the post when installed.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

forming holes through the buckle and one of the posts received in the slot thereof;

and

installing a pin through the holes.

18. the method of claim 17 further comprising securing the slotted buckles to the posts of the tail piece by brazing.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the nose piece and the tail piece carry mating flanges, the method further comprising coupling the flanges together with one or more fasteners.