Spiral wound containment ring

• US 5,163,809 A
• Filed: 04/29/1991
• Issued: 11/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Gekht, Eugene, Akgun, Yusuf V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US07/692,874
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 415/9, 415/200, 415/189, 415/196, 29/446, 29/451, 29/523
• US Class Current: 415/9
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/045 special arrangements in stators or in rotors dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/15 spiral
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/25 helical
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4994 Radially expanding internal tube

Abstract

A spiral wound containment ring (b 20l ) is received within a radially inward facing channel (38) in an engine case (18).

Claims

1. An outer containment ring for a rotor disposed within a concentric housing, comprising:

an elongated resiliant strip, said strip being wound in a spiral to form a plurality of radial layers and being restrained radially within the housing, said strip further having an unrestrained outer diameter greater than the restrained diameter thereof.

2. The ring as recited in claim 1, wherein the strip is received within a radially inward facing channel disposed circumferentially within the casing.

3. The ring as recited in claim 2, wherein the strip is retained within the channel solely by a radial expansion force exerted by the strip on the case.

4. The ring as recited in claim 1, wherein the radially inward to outward circumferential winding direction of the spiral is the same as the direction of rotation of the rotor.

5. The ring as recited in claim 1, wherein the strip is fabricated of Inco-600.

6. A method of installing a spiral wound containment ring in an engine casing, said ring having an unrestrained outer diameter greater than the installed diameter of the ring, comprising the steps of:

a. compressing the ring within an annular restraining hoop, the inner diameter of the restraining hoop being no greater than the installed diameter of the ring;

b. locating the hoop and compressed ring adjacent the engine case; and

c. releasing the ring from the radial restraint of the hoop and allowing the ring to expand into radial contact with the case.