Fan and compressor housing for an air cycle machine

• US 10,788,046 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2018
• Issued: 09/29/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Colson, Darryl A., Lokhandwalla, Murtuza
• Primary Examiner(s): Edgar, Richard A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boardman, Maranatha
• Application Number:
  US15/863,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20190211842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 4152131
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/06 the air being conditioned pressurising B64D13/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0648 with energy recovery means, e.g. using turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/24 Casings modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14; Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M ; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/024 the driving means being assisted by a power recovery turbine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/4233 with volutes extending mainly in axial or radially inward direction
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/624 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps

Abstract

A housing for an air cycle machine includes a first housing portion adjacent a first end of the housing, and a second housing portion adjacent a second end of the housing and attached to the first housing portion. A first duct in the first housing portion is adjacent the first end of the housing with an air inlet and an air outlet. A second duct in the second housing portion is adjacent the second end of the housing with an air inlet and an air outlet. The housing further includes a bolt hole positioned in the second end of the housing, and a rib extending between the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The rib is aligned with the bolt hole.

Claims

1. A housing for an air cycle machine, the housing comprising:

a first housing portion adjacent a first end of the housing;

a second housing portion adjacent a second end of the housing and attached to the first housing portion;

a first duct in the first housing portion adjacent the first end of the housing with an air inlet and an air outlet;

a second duct in the second housing portion adjacent the second end of the housing with an air inlet and an air outlet;

a bolt hole positioned in the second end of the housing;

a rib extending between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, wherein the rib is aligned with the bolt hole; and

a bulged area on the second housing portion, wherein the bulged area is aligned with the bolt hole and the rib, wherein the bulged area is on a radially outer wall of the second housing portion, wherein the radially outer wall of the second housing portion has a first thickness T1, wherein the bulged area has a second thickness T2, and wherein a ratio of the first thickness T1 to the second thickness T2 is between 0.1250 and 0.2414.

2. The housing of claim 1, wherein there are fifteen ribs on the housing.

3. The housing of claim 1, wherein the first housing portion includes a radially outer wall, a curved wall, and a collar, and wherein the second housing portion includes the radially outer wall, a curved wall, and a radially inner wall.

4. The housing of claim 3, and further comprising:

an opening at a radially inward end of the rib positioned adjacent to the radially inner wall of the second housing portion.

5. The housing of claim 1, wherein the first housing portion is a fan housing portion, and the second housing portion is a compressor housing portion.

6. An air cycle machine comprising:

a tie rod that is configured to rotate about an axis;

a fan section with a fan rotor mounted to the tie rod;

a compressor section with a compressor rotor mounted to the tie rod;

a first turbine section with a first turbine rotor mounted to the tie rod;

a first turbine housing; and

a fan and compressor housing comprising the housing of claim 1.

7. A housing for an air cycle machine, the housing comprising:

a first housing portion adjacent a first end of the housing;

a second housing portion adjacent a second end of the housing and attached to the first housing portion;

a first duct in the first housing portion adjacent the first end of the housing with an air inlet and an air outlet;

a second duct in the second housing portion adjacent the second end of the housing with an air inlet and an air outlet;

a rib extending between and connecting the first housing portion and the second housing portion, wherein there is an opening at a radially inward end of the rib adjacent to the housing; and

a bulged area on the second housing portion, wherein the bulged area is aligned with the rib, wherein the bulged area is on a radially outer wall of the second housing portion, wherein the radially outer wall of the second housing portion has a first thickness T1, wherein the bulged area has a second thickness T2, and wherein a ratio of the first thickness T1 to the second thickness T2 is between 0.1250 and 0.2414.

8. The housing of claim 7, wherein there are thirteen openings in the ribs in the housing.

9. The housing of claim 7, wherein the first housing portion includes a radially outer wall, a curved wall, and a collar, and wherein the second housing portion includes the radially outer wall, a curved wall, and a radially inner wall.

10. The housing of claim 9, wherein the opening in the rib is positioned adjacent to the radially inner wall of the second housing portion.

11. The housing of claim 7, wherein the first housing portion is a fan housing portion, and the second housing portion is a compressor housing portion.

12. An air cycle machine comprising:

a tie rod that is configured to rotate about an axis;

a fan section with a fan rotor mounted to the tie rod;

a compressor section with a compressor rotor mounted to the tie rod;

a first turbine section with a first turbine rotor mounted to the tie rod;

a first turbine housing; and

a fan and compressor housing comprising the housing of claim 7.

13. A housing for an air cycle machine, the housing comprising:

a first housing portion adjacent a first end of the housing;

a second housing portion adjacent a second end of the housing and attached to the first housing portion;

a first duct in the first housing portion adjacent the first end of the housing with an air inlet and an air outlet;

a second duct in the second housing portion adjacent the second end of the housing with an air inlet and an air outlet;

a bolt hole positioned in the second end of the housing; and

a bulged area on the second housing portion, wherein the bulged area is aligned with the bolt hole, wherein a radially outer wall of the second housing portion has a first thickness T1, wherein the bulged area has a second thickness T2, and wherein a ratio of the first thickness T1 to the second thickness T2 is between 0.1250 and 0.2414.

14. The housing of claim 13, wherein the first housing portion includes a radially outer wall, a curved wall, and a collar, and wherein the second housing portion includes the radially outer wall, a curved wall, and a radially inner wall.

15. The housing of claim 14, and further comprising:

a rib extending between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, wherein the rib is aligned with the bolt hole; and

an opening at a radially inward end of the rib, wherein the opening in the rib is positioned adjacent to the radially inner wall of the second housing portion.

16. The housing of claim 14, wherein the first housing portion is a fan housing portion, and the second housing portion is a compressor housing portion.

17. An air cycle machine comprising:

a tie rod that is configured to rotate about an axis;

a fan section with a fan rotor mounted to the tie rod;

a compressor section with a compressor rotor mounted to the tie rod;

a first turbine section with a first turbine rotor mounted to the tie rod;

a first turbine housing; and

a fan and compressor housing comprising the housing of claim 13.