Gear train variable vane synchronizing mechanism for inner diameter vane shroud

• US 7,628,579 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Tirone, John P. III, Giaimo, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): VERDIER, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US11/185,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20070020092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 415/150, 415159-166
• 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: F04D 27/0246 by varying geometry within the pumps, e.g. by adjusting vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/563 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/53 using gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

An inner diameter vane shroud accommodates a mechanism for synchronously rotating an away of variable vanes. Particularly, the inner diameter vane shroud has a gear channel that runs circumferentially through the vane shroud. An array of variable vanes is rotatably mounted in the vane shroud at an inner end. The variable vanes comprise vane gears at their inner end, which are rotatable in the gear channel. Disposed between the vane gears of the variable vanes are idler gears. As one of the individual variable vanes is rotated by an actuation source, the other variable vanes of the variable vane away are rotated a like amount by the vane gears and idler gears.

Claims

1. A variable vane assembly having a plurality of rotatable stator vanes radially arranged between an inner diameter vane shroud and an outer diameter fan case such that outer diameter ends of the vanes connect to the fan case and inner diameter ends of the vanes connect to the inner diameter vane shroud, the variable vane assembly characterized by:

a vane gear carried at an inner end of each rotatable stator vane;

a plurality of idler gears situated between the vane gears so that the plurality of rotatable stator vanes synchronously rotate; and

the inner diameter vane shroud comprising a forward vane shroud component and an aft vane shroud component;

each vane shroud component comprising;

an arcuate body portion;

a mating surface comprising;

partial sockets for receiving inner diameter ends of stator vanes;

a gear track extending across a width of the mating surface adjacent the partial sockets; and

a hole connecting each of the partial sockets with the gear track;

wherein the gear tracks of the forward vane shroud component and the aft vane shroud component mate to form a gear channel disposed therebetween for receiving the vane gears and the plurality of idler gears.

2. A variable vane assembly comprising:

an annular inner diameter vane shroud comprising;

a forward vane shroud component;

an aft vane shroud component;

an interior gear channel formed of the forward vane shroud component and the aft vane shroud component; and

sockets formed of the forward vane shroud component and the aft vane shroud component, wherein the gear channel is connected with each of the sockets;

a plurality of stator vanes extending radially from the inner diameter vane shroud, each vane comprising an inner diameter end positioned in a socket and having a vane gear positioned in the gear channel; and

a plurality of idler gears located in the gear channel that interface with the vane gears such that when one stator vane is rotated an amount, the plurality of stator vanes are rotated a like amount by the vane gears and idler gears.

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

an annular outer diameter fan case;

an annular inner diameter vane shroud concentrically disposed within the fan case, the vane shroud comprising;

a forward vane shroud component;

an aft vane shroud component;

a gear channel formed of and concealed between the forward vane shroud component and the aft vane shroud component; and

sockets formed of the forward vane shroud component and the aft vane shroud component, wherein the gear channel is connected with each of the sockets;

a drive vane comprising;

a first inner diameter end rotatably connected to and positioned in a socket of the inner diameter vane shroud;

a first outer diameter end rotatably connected to the outer diameter fan case;

a first vane body radially extending between the vane shroud and the fan case; and

a drive gear for rotating in the gear channel;

an actuator connected to the outer diameter end of the drive vane and for rotating the outer diameter end of the drive vane within the outer diameter fan case;

a plurality of follower vanes each comprising;

a second inner diameter end rotatably connected to and positioned in a socket of the inner diameter vane shroud;

a second outer diameter end rotatably connected to the outer diameter fan case;

a second vane body radially extending between the vane shroud and the fan case; and

a follower gear located at the gear channel of the inner diameter end; and

a plurality of idler gears rotatably positioned along the gear channel to interface with the drive gear and follower gears such that when the drive vane is rotated an amount by the actuator, the follower vanes are rotated a like amount by the follower gears and the plurality of idler gears.

4. A variable vane for use in a gas turbine engine having an outer diameter fan case and an inner diameter vane shroud, the variable vane comprising:

a blade portion;

an outer diameter end having a cylindrical, radially extending outer diameter trunnion for rotating in the fan case;

an inner diameter end having a radially extending inner diameter trunnion for rotating in the inner diameter vane shroud, the inner diameter trunnion comprising;

a button configured for rotating in a vane socket of the inner diameter vane shroud;

a gear positioned at a tip of the inner diameter end; and

a gear post extending from the button and connected to the gear.

5. The variable vane of claim 4 wherein the outer diameter trunnion is configured for connection to an actuator.