MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT

• US 20140290271A1
• Filed: 02/28/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: DALTON, Justin Sean
• Granted Patent: US 9,788,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/801
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/045 special arrangements in stators or in rotors dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/14 responsive to other specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/32 Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/80 Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/90 Mounting on supporting structures or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/311 of the frangible or shear type
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/94 Functionality given by mechanical stress related aspects such as low cycle fatigue [LCF] of high cycle fatigue [HCF]
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/432 PTFE [PolyTetraFluorEthylene]
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/434 Polyimides, e.g. AURUM
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/436 Polyetherketones, e.g. PEEK
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49982 Coating

Abstract

A rigid electrical raft is provided to a gas turbine engine via a fusible mount arrangement. The rigid electrical raft may be a part of an electrical system of the gas turbine engine, for example a part of the electrical harness. The fusible mount is arranged to break when a predetermined load is applied. The rigid electrical raft may be attached to a fan case of the engine, and the predetermined load may that which results from a fan blade being released from the hub. This ensures that the rigid electrical raft is protected from the load.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising a rigid electrical raft mounted to a body, wherein:

the rigid electrical raft comprises electrical conductors embedded in a rigid material;

the rigid electrical raft is mechanically attached to the body using at least one fusible mount arrangement; and

the fusible mount arrangement is constructed and arranged to break when a predetermined load is applied to the assembly.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fusible mount arrangement is constructed and arranged to break at a lower load than the rigid electrical raft when a load is applied through the fusible mount arrangement.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, constructed and arranged to ensure that the rigid electrical raft remains substantially undamaged when the predetermined load is applied to the assembly.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the rigid electrical raft is also mechanically attached to the body using at least one non-fusible mount arrangement; and

the fusible mount arrangement is constructed and arranged to break at a lower load than the non-fusible mount arrangement.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein:

the non-fusible mount arrangement is constructed and arranged to remain intact above the predetermined load, such that after exposure to the predetermined load, the rigid electrical raft is mechanically attached to the body by the non-fusible mount arrangement but not by the fusible mount arrangement.

6. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

at least a part of the fusible mount arrangement is integral to the rigid electrical raft; and

the fusible mount arrangement is arranged to break in the part that is integral to the rigid electrical raft when the predetermined load is applied.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fusible mount arrangement comprises a weakened portion at which the fusible mount arrangement is arranged to break when the fusible mount arrangement is subjected to the predetermined load.

8. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary location feature constructed and arranged to constrain the movement of the rigid electrical raft relative to the body after the fusible mount arrangement has broken.

9. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rigid electrical raft has a fluid passage embedded therein or mounted thereon.

10. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rigid material of the rigid electrical raft is an organic matrix composite.

11. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body to which the rigid electrical raft is attached is a part of a gas turbine engine.

12. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the body to which the rigid electrical raft is attached is a fan containment structure of a gas turbine engine that comprises fan blades; and

the predetermined load at which the fusible mount arrangement is constructed and arranged to break is lower than the load generated in the event of a fan blade being released from the gas turbine engine and striking the fan containment structure, and higher than the load generated in normal operation of the engine.

13. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein:

the embedded electrical conductors are a part of an electrical system of the gas turbine engine; and

the rigid electrical raft has embedded therein or mounted thereon at least one of;

another part of the electrical system, and a part of another system of the gas turbine engine.

14. A gas turbine engine comprising an assembly according to claim 1.

15. A method of assembling a gas turbine engine having a rigid electrical raft comprising electrical conductors embedded in a rigid material, the method comprising:

mechanically attaching the rigid electrical raft to a fan containment structure of the gas turbine engine using at least one fusible mount arrangement that is constructed and arranged to break when a predetermined load is applied to the fan containment structure, and at least one non-fusible mount arrangement constructed and arranged to remain intact when the predetermined load is applied to the fan containment structure, wherein;

the predetermined load is lower than the load generated in the event of a fan blade being released from the gas turbine engine and striking the fan containment structure, and higher than the load generated in normal operation of the engine, such that after the predetermined load is applied, the rigid electrical raft is mechanically attached to the fan containment structure by the at least one non-fusible mount arrangement, but not by the at least one fusible mount arrangement.