Radial compressor blade clearance control system
First Claim
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1. A diaphragm assembly comprises:
- a cylinder defining an axis, the cylinder includinga first end; and
a second end opposite the first end;
a circular flange coaxial with the cylinder and at a greater radial distance from the axis than the cylinder;
a diaphragm extending from the second end of the cylinder to the flange; and
a first actuator connected to the second end of the cylinder to move the cylinder in an axial direction against a restoring force of the diaphragm.
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Abstract
A diaphragm assembly includes a cylinder, a circular flange, and a diaphragm. The cylinder defines an axis and includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The circular flange is coaxial with the cylinder and at a greater radial distance from the axis than the cylinder. The diaphragm extends from the second end of the cylinder to the flange.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A diaphragm assembly comprises:
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a cylinder defining an axis, the cylinder including a first end; and a second end opposite the first end; a circular flange coaxial with the cylinder and at a greater radial distance from the axis than the cylinder; a diaphragm extending from the second end of the cylinder to the flange; and a first actuator connected to the second end of the cylinder to move the cylinder in an axial direction against a restoring force of the diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A radial compressor comprising:
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an impeller rotatable about an axis, the impeller including a frustoconical hub and a plurality of impeller blades extending radially from the hub; a frustoconical shroud coaxial with the impeller and spaced a distance from the impeller blades to form a fluid flow path between the hub and the shroud; a diaphragm assembly including; a cylinder coaxial with and radially outward from a portion of the shroud, the cylinder having a first end connected to the shroud and a second end opposite the first end; a circular flange coaxial with the cylinder and at a greater radial distance from the axis than the cylinder; and a diaphragm extending from the second end of the cylinder to the flange; and a first actuator connected to the second end of the cylinder to move the cylinder and shroud in an axial direction against a restoring force of the diaphragm and change the distance between the shroud and the impeller blades. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for dynamically controlling a distance between impeller blades and a surrounding compressor shroud in a radial compressor of a gas turbine engine;
- the method comprising;
measuring a compressor impeller inlet fluid temperature; measuring a compressor impeller exit fluid pressure; measuring a compressor impeller rotation rate; determining a desired distance between the impeller blades and the shroud based on conditions represented by the measured compressor impeller inlet fluid temperature, the measured compressor impeller exit fluid pressure, and the measured compressor impeller rotation rate; and commanding an actuator to move a diaphragm assembly attached to the shroud to an axial position corresponding to the desired distance. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- the method comprising;
Specification