Inner diameter shroud assembly for variable inlet guide vane structure in a gas turbine engine

• US 8,951,010 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Major, Daniel W., Ditomasso, John C., Champion, Nathan F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, JASON GREGORY
• Application Number:
  US13/531,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20120257963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 415/200, 415/209.2, 415/209.3, 415/209.4, 415/210.1, 415/214.1, 411/353
• US Class Current: 415/209.4
• 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 25/246 Fastening of diaphragms or stator-rings
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2203/00 Non-metallic inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/12 Fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/30 Retaining components in desired mutual position
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/74 by turning around an axis perpendicular the rotor centre line
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/603 Composites; e.g. fibre-reinforced
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

An inner shroud assembly includes an aft core segment mountable to a forward core segment to support a multiple of vanes for rotational movement relative thereto. A shroud backing plate segment engageable with the aft core segment and at least one fastener which passes through the shroud backing plate, the aft core segment and the forward core segment.

Claims

1. An inner shroud assembly comprising:

a forward core segment including an alignment aperture;

an aft core segment mountable to said forward core segment to support a multiple of vanes for rotational movement, said aft core segment including an alignment aperture;

a shroud backing plate segment engageable with said aft core segment;

at least one fastener which passes through said shroud backing plate to retain said aft core segment to said forward core segment;

at least one fastener receipt member mounted within said aft core segment and said forward core segment, wherein said at least one fastener receipt member limits compression upon said forward core segment and said aft core segment if said at least one fastener is tightened, and wherein said at least one fastener receipt member is provided through said alignment apertures of both said forward and aft core segments such that said at least one fastener receipt member spans the entirety of a length of said alignment apertures of both said forward and aft core segments; and

a body, wherein said at least one fastener passes through said at least one fastener receipt member and engages said body when said at least one fastener is tightened.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said aft core segment and said forward core segment are manufactured of a non-metallic material.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said at least one fastener passes through said fastener receipt member, said at least one fastener receipt member is a metallic tubular member.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a fastener retainer mountable to said shroud backing plate segment, said fastener retainer operable to lock said at least one fastener.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a fastener retainer mountable to said shroud backing plate segment, said fastener retainer includes tabs operable to lock said at least one fastener.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein said fastener retainer includes an arcuate surface opposite said tabs.

7. The assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein an outer surface of an aft segment of said shroud backing plate segment defines a recessed area which follows an outer profile of said fastener retainer.

8. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one fastener receipt member abuts a face of said body when said at least one fastener is tightened.

9. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said body is a front center body of a gas turbine engine, said body being a static structure, and wherein an inner shroud assembly is attached to said body.

10. An inner shroud assembly comprising:

a forward core segment;

an aft core segment mountable to said forward core segment to support a multiple of vanes for rotational movement;

a shroud backing plate segment engageable with said aft core segment;

at least one fastener which passes through said shroud backing plate to retain said aft core segment to said forward core segment;

at least one fastener receipt member mounted within said aft core segment and said forward core segment, wherein said fastener receipt member limits compression upon said forward core segment and said aft core segment if said one fastener is tightened; and

wherein a fastener retainer defines an arcuate segment of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees.

11. The assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said fastener retainer is manufactured of a metallic material.

12. An inner shroud assembly comprising:

a forward core segment including an alignment aperture;

an aft core segment mountable to said forward core segment to support a multiple of vanes for rotational movement, said aft core segment including an alignment aperture;

a shroud backing plate segment engageable with said aft core segment;

at least one fastener which passes through said shroud backing plate to retain said aft core segment to said forward core segment;

at least one fastener receipt member mounted within said aft core segment and said forward core segment, wherein said at least one fastener receipt member limits compression upon said forward core segment and said aft core segment if said at least one fastener is tightened, and wherein said at least one fastener receipt member is provided through said alignment apertures of both said forward and aft core segments such that said at least one fastener receipt member spans the entirety of a length of said alignment apertures of both said forward and aft core segments; and

at least one annular fastener retainer segment.

13. The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said at least one annular fastener retainer segment defines an arcuate segment of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees.

14. The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said at least one annular fastener retainer segment is mounted to said shroud backing plate segment.

15. The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said at least one annular fastener retainer segment includes tabs to prevent rotation of said at least one fastener.