Protection device for protecting control mechanism of inlet guide-vanes of turbojet engine

• US 6,398,483 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engine Company
• Original Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
• Inventors: Conete, Eric, Marlin, François Marie Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NINH H
• Application Number:
  US09/589,806
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 415/9, 415/129, 415/130, 415/151, 415/159, 415/160, 415/191
• US Class Current: 415/9
• 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

Abstract

A protection device for protecting a control mechanism of inlet guide-vanes of a turbojet engine includes a narrowed section on a connecting rod. The connecting rod is for transmitting the movement of a spindle of a piston of the control mechanism or actuator to a control ring that directs all of the inlet guide-vanes. The narrowed section of the connecting rod is a frangible part.

Claims

1. A protection device for protecting a control mechanism of a plurality of inlet guide-vanes at an entrance to a turbojet engine, said protection device comprising:

a direction control actuator;

a frangible transmission part activated by said direction control actuator;

a control ring driven by said direction control actuator using said frangible transmission part;

a control lever for each of said plurality of inlet guide-vanes;

a control ring actuating each of said control levers, wherein said frangible transmission part is a single component which constitutes a link of said control mechanism positioned between said direction control actuator and said control ring;

lateral stops fastened laterally to said control ring; and

a projection used to position a pivoting pin of each of said plurality of inlet guide-vanes, wherein said lateral stops come to bear on said projection.

2. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein said frangible transmission part is a connecting rod which includes a narrowed section, said connecting rod having a first end connected to a pivoting transmission part, said pivoting transmission part being connected to a spindle of said direction control actuator, and said connecting rod having a second end connected to said control ring.

3. The protection device according to claim 2, wherein said connecting rod and said narrowed section are tubular.

4. The protection device according to claim 2, wherein said connecting rod includes a protective part surrounding said narrowed section.

5. The protection device according to claim 4, wherein said protective part is a double-thickness thermoshrinkable sheath.

6. The protection device according to claim 2, further comprising an anti-deflection part fastened to a downstream yoke of said pivoting transmission part, wherein said anti-deflection part covers either said first end or said second end of said connecting rod to prevent said connecting rod from rotating at an amplitude which would cause an impact to either said direction control actuator or to said spindle of a piston extending outwardly from said direction control actuator if said narrowed section were weakened and broke.

7. The protection device according to claim 1, further comprising a frangible pin which includes at least one narrowed cross-section of a yoke of said control mechanism of said plurality of inlet guide-vanes.

8. A protection device for protecting a control mechanism of a plurality of inlet guide-vanes at an entrance to a turbojet engine, said protection device comprising:

a direction control actuator;

a frangible transmission part activated by said direction control actuator;

a control ring driven by said direction control actuator using said frangible transmission part;

a control lever for each of said plurality of inlet guide-vanes;

a control ring actuating each of said control levers, wherein said frangible transmission part is a single component which constitutes a link of said control mechanism positioned between said direction control actuator and said control ring, and wherein said frangible transmission part is a connecting rod which includes a narrowed section, said connecting rod having a first end connected to a pivoting transmission part, said pivoting transmission part being connected to a spindle of said direction control actuator, and said connecting rod having a second end connected to said control ring.

9. The protection device according to claim 8, wherein said connecting rod and said narrowed section are tubular.

10. The protection device according to claim 8, wherein said connecting rod includes a protective part surrounding said narrowed section.

11. The protection device according to claim 10, wherein said protective part is a double-thickness thermoshrinkable sheath.

12. The protection device according to claim 10, further comprising lateral stops fastened laterally to said control ring and a projection used to position a pivoting pin of each of said plurality of inlet guide-vanes, wherein said lateral stops come to bear on said projection.

13. The protection device according to claim 9, further comprising a frangible pin which includes at least one narrowed cross-section of a yoke of said control mechanism of said plurality of inlet guide-vanes.

14. The protection device according to claim 9, further comprising an anti-deflection part fastened to a downstream yoke of said pivoting transmission part, wherein said anti-deflection part covers either said first end or said second end of said connecting rod to prevent said connecting rod from rotating at an amplitude which would cause an impact to either said direction control actuator or to said spindle of a piston extending outwardly from said direction control actuator if said narrowed section were weakened and broke.