Patent Grant
12270313
The present disclosure relates to components turbine engines, and more particularly, an engine carcass stiffener for high maneuver loads driven by the turboprop engine.
Gas turbine engines, such as those that power modern commercial and military aircraft, include a compressor section to pressurize a supply of air, a combustor section to burn a fuel in the presence of the pressurized air, and a turbine section to extract energy from the resultant combustion gases to generate thrust. In typical gas turbine engines, such as in a reverse flow combustor, the air supply is received aft of the gas turbine engine, such that the compressor section pressurizes a supply of air received aft of the gas turbine engine, the combustor section burns the fuel in the presence of the pressurized air, the turbine section extracts energy from the resultant combustion gases to generate thrust, and then expel exhaust gas via an exhaust engine carcass that is forward of the gas turbine engine. However, under high maneuver loads, considerable deflection may be experienced in the exhaust engine carcass where the exhaust gases are expelled when under high maneuver loads. Accordingly, improved systems may be beneficial to structurally reinforce and minimize deflection of the exhaust engine carcass.
An engine carcass stiffener for a turboprop engine is disclosed herein. The engine carcass stiffener includes a proximal flange; a first longitudinal reinforcement member, a proximal end of the first longitudinal reinforcement member is coupled to a first end of the proximal flange; a second longitudinal reinforcement member, a proximal end of the second longitudinal reinforcement member is coupled to a second end of the proximal flange; a distal flange; a first bushing holder, the first bushing holder is coupled to a first end of the distal flange; a second bushing holder, the second bushing holder is coupled to a second end of the distal flange; a first bolt, the first bolt is inserted through the first bushing holder and couples to a distal end of the first longitudinal reinforcement member; and a second bolt, the second bolt is inserted through the second bushing holder and couples to a distal end of the second longitudinal reinforcement member.
In various embodiments, the engine carcass stiffener further includes a first bushing and a second bushing. In various embodiments, the first bushing is fitted into the first bushing holder. In various embodiments, the first bolt is inserted through the first bushing in the first bushing holder. In various embodiments, the second bushing is fitted into the second bushing holder. In various embodiments, the second bolt is inserted through the second bushing in the second bushing holder.
In various embodiments, the engine carcass stiffener further includes a first sliding pin and a second sliding pin. In various embodiments, the first sliding pin is fitted into the first bushing. In various embodiments, the first bolt is inserted through the first sliding pin in the first bushing in the first bushing holder. In various embodiments, the second sliding pin is fitted into the second bushing. In various embodiments, the second bolt is inserted through the second sliding pin in the second bushing in the second bushing holder.
In various embodiments, the distal flange is configured to slide along the first sliding pin and the second sliding pin. In various embodiments, the first sliding pin is longer in length longitudinally than a longitudinal length of the first bushing and the first bushing holder. In various embodiments, the second sliding pin is longer in length longitudinally than a longitudinal length of the second bushing and the second bushing holder.
In various embodiments, the engine carcass stiffener further includes a first cross-support member and a second cross-support member. In various embodiments, a first end of the first cross-support member is coupled to the proximal flange at an area between the radially opposite ends of the proximal flange. In various embodiments, a second end of the first cross-support member is coupled to the first longitudinal reinforcement member at an area between the proximal end and the distal end of the first longitudinal reinforcement member. In various embodiments, a first end of the second cross-support member is coupled to the proximal flange at the area between the radially opposite ends of the proximal flange. In various embodiments, a second end of the second cross-support member is coupled to the second longitudinal reinforcement member at an area between the proximal end and the distal end of the second longitudinal reinforcement member.
In various embodiments, the engine carcass stiffener further includes a first structural support and a second structural support. In various embodiments, the first structural support is coupled to a side of the first bushing holder. In various embodiments, the first structural support is further coupled to the distal flange. In various embodiments, the second structural support is coupled to a side of the second bushing holder. In various embodiments, the second structural support is further coupled to the distal flange.
In various embodiments, the distal end of the first longitudinal reinforcement member comprises female threads configured to receive male threads of the first bolt. In various embodiments, the distal end of the second longitudinal reinforcement member comprises female threads configured to receive male threads of the second bolt.
In various embodiments, the first longitudinal reinforcement member is spaced a distance from the second longitudinal reinforcement member. In various embodiments, the distance is dependent on a diameter of an exhaust port. In various embodiments, the first longitudinal reinforcement member and the second longitudinal reinforcement member are disposed proximate to either side of the exhaust port.
In various embodiments, the engine carcass stiffener is manufactured from a superalloy.
Also disclosed herein is a turboprop engine. The turboprop engine includes an engine carcass stiffener, the engine carcass stiffener includes a proximal flange; a first longitudinal reinforcement member, a proximal end of the first longitudinal reinforcement member is coupled to a first end of the proximal flange; a second longitudinal reinforcement member, a proximal end of the second longitudinal reinforcement member is coupled to a second end of the proximal flange; a distal flange; a first bushing holder, the first bushing holder is coupled to a first end of the distal flange; a second bushing holder, the second bushing holder is coupled to a second end of the distal flange; a first bolt, the first bolt is inserted through the first bushing holder and couples to a distal end of the first longitudinal reinforcement member; and a second bolt, the second bolt is inserted through the second bushing holder and couples to a distal end of the second longitudinal reinforcement member.
In various embodiments, the engine carcass stiffener further includes a first bushing and a second bushing. In various embodiments, the first bushing is fitted into the first bushing holder. In various embodiments, the first bolt is inserted through the first bushing in the first bushing holder. In various embodiments, the second bushing is fitted into the second bushing holder. In various embodiments, the second bolt is inserted through the second bushing in the second bushing holder.
In various embodiments, the engine carcass stiffener further includes a first sliding pin and a second sliding pin. In various embodiments, the first sliding pin is fitted into the first bushing. In various embodiments, the first bolt is inserted through the first sliding pin in the first bushing in the first bushing holder. In various embodiments, the second sliding pin is fitted into the second bushing. In various embodiments, the second bolt is inserted through the second sliding pin in the second bushing in the second bushing holder.
In various embodiments, the distal flange is configured to slide along the first sliding pin and the second sliding pin. In various embodiments, the first sliding pin is longer in length longitudinally than a longitudinal length of the first bushing and the first bushing holder. In various embodiments, the second sliding pin is longer in length longitudinally than a longitudinal length of the second bushing and the second bushing holder.
In various embodiments, the engine carcass stiffener further includes a first cross-support member and a second cross-support member. In various embodiments, a first end of the first cross-support member is coupled to the proximal flange at an area between the radially opposite ends of the proximal flange. In various embodiments, a second end of the first cross-support member is coupled to the first longitudinal reinforcement member at an area between the proximal end and the distal end of the first longitudinal reinforcement member. In various embodiments, a first end of the second cross-support member is coupled to the proximal flange at the area between the radially opposite ends of the proximal flange. In various embodiments, a second end of the second cross-support member is coupled to the second longitudinal reinforcement member at an area between the proximal end and the distal end of the second longitudinal reinforcement member.
In various embodiments, the engine carcass stiffener further includes a first structural support and a second structural support. In various embodiments, the first structural support is coupled to a side of the first bushing holder. In various embodiments, the first structural support is further coupled to the distal flange. In various embodiments, the second structural support is coupled to a side of the second bushing holder. In various embodiments, the second structural support is further coupled to the distal flange.
In various embodiments, the distal end of the first longitudinal reinforcement member comprises female threads configured to receive male threads of the first bolt. In various embodiments, the distal end of the second longitudinal reinforcement member comprises female threads configured to receive male threads of the second bolt.
In various embodiments, the first longitudinal reinforcement member is spaced a distance from the second longitudinal reinforcement member. In various embodiments, the distance is dependent on a diameter of an exhaust port. In various embodiments, the first longitudinal reinforcement member and the second longitudinal reinforcement member are disposed proximate to either side of the exhaust port.
In various embodiments, the engine carcass stiffener is manufactured from a superalloy.
The present disclosure may include any one or more of the individual features disclosed above and/or below alone or in any combination thereof.
The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated herein otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation of the disclosed embodiments will become more apparent in light of the following description and accompanying drawings.
The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.
The detailed description of embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show embodiments by way of illustration. While these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical, chemical, and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not for limitation. For example, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option. Further, any steps in a method discussed herein may be performed in any suitable order or combination. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact. It should also be understood that unless specifically stated otherwise, references to “a,” “an,” or “the” may include one or more than one and that reference to an item in the singular may also include the item in the plural. Further, all ranges may include upper and lower values and all ranges and ratio limits disclosed herein may be combined.
As used herein, “aft” refers to the direction associated with the tail (e.g., the back end) of an aircraft, or generally, to the direction of exhaust of the gas turbine. As used herein, “forward” refers to the direction associated with the nose (e.g., the front end) of an aircraft, or generally, to the direction of flight or motion, or to the direction associated with the inlet of the gas turbine engine. As utilized herein, radially inward refers to the negative R direction (towards axis A-A′) and radially outward refers to the R direction (away from the A-A′ axis). An A-R-C (axial, radial, circumferential) axis is shown in various drawings to illustrate the relative position of various components.
Disclosed herein is an engine carcass stiffener that structurally reinforces and minimizes deflection of the exhaust engine carcass in a turboprop engine. In various embodiments, the engine carcass stiffener may be installed on either side of an exhaust engine carcass, hereinafter referred to as an exhaust engine carcass. In various embodiments, each engine carcass stiffener includes a first section and a second section. In various embodiments, the first section, which may be coupled to an aft portion of the exhaust engine carcass, includes a set of longitudinal reinforcement members, i.e. a first longitudinal reinforcement member and a second longitudinal reinforcement member. In various embodiments, the first longitudinal reinforcement member is spaced, in a z-direction, a distance from the second longitudinal reinforcement member such that the first longitudinal reinforcement member and the second longitudinal reinforcement member are disposed proximate to either side of an exhaust port that protrudes through a portion of the exhaust engine carcass. In various embodiments, the first section includes a proximal flange that couples to a proximal flange of the exhaust engine carcass, the proximal flange of the exhaust engine carcass further coupled to a distal flange of a gas generator case. In various embodiments, a proximal end of each of the first longitudinal reinforcement member and the second longitudinal reinforcement member couple to the proximal flange of the first section at radially opposite ends, in the z-direction, of the proximal flange of the first section. In various embodiments, the first section further includes a set of cross-support members. In various embodiments, a first end of each of the cross-support members are coupled to the proximal flange of the first section at an area between the radially opposite ends of the proximal flange of the first section and are respectively coupled to an area of the first longitudinal reinforcement member or the second longitudinal reinforcement member between the proximal end and the distal end of the first longitudinal reinforcement member or the second longitudinal reinforcement member.
In various embodiments, the second section of the engine carcass stiffener includes a distal flange that couples to a distal flange of the exhaust engine carcass, the distal flange of the exhaust engine carcass further coupled to a proximal flange of the gear box. In various embodiments, the distal flange of the second section includes a set of bushing holders, which each have a tubular shape with a void in the center in order to receive a bushing. In various embodiments, the bushing holders are disposed at radially opposite ends of the distal flange of the second section. In various embodiments, each of the set of bushing holders may be structurally supported and affixed to the distal flange of the second section by a support that is coupled to a side of the bushing holder and coupled to the distal flange of the second section. In various embodiments, a respective bushing may be disposed within each of the set of bushing holders. In various embodiments, the distal flange of the second section may be coupled to the distal ends of the set of longitudinal reinforcement members via a respective bolt that is fitted into a respective sliding pin that is fitted into a respective bushing within a respective bushing holder. In that regard, in various embodiments, each distal end of the set of longitudinal reinforcement members includes a female threaded portion so as to receive the male threaded portion of a respective bolt. In various embodiments, each sliding pin is longer in length longitudinally than a longitudinal length of the respective bushing and bushing holder into which the sliding pin is fitted. In that regard, in various embodiments, once the respective bolt is tightened into a respective one of the set of longitudinal reinforcement members with the respective sliding pin positioned between the head of the bolt and the distal end of the respective one of the set of longitudinal reinforcement members, the distal flange of the second section is configured to slide in an axial direction, i.e. in the x-direction, along a respective sliding pin. In that regard, responsive to an axial expansion of the exhaust engine carcass that may occur when the exhaust engine carcass heats up during operation, the second section of the engine carcass stiffener slides along the sliding pins while providing structurally reinforcement and minimizing deflection of the exhaust engine carcass.
With reference to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In various embodiments, the second section 204 of the engine carcass stiffener includes a distal flange 308 that couples to a distal flange of the exhaust engine carcass. In various embodiments, the distal flange 308 includes a set of bushing holders 410, 412, i.e. a first bushing holder 410 and a second bushing holder 412. In various embodiments, the of bushing holders 410, 412 each have a tubular shape in order to receive a bushing. In various embodiments, each bushing holder 410, 412 is disposed at and coupled to radially opposite ends of the distal flange 308. In various embodiments, each of the set of bushing holders 410, 412 may be structurally supported and affixed to the distal flange 308 by a structural support 414 that is coupled to a side of the bushing holder 410 or 412 and coupled to the distal flange 308. In various embodiments, structural support may be a piece of metal with a defined thickness that is triangular or square, among others in shape that may be welded, or otherwise affixed to a side of the bushing holder 410 or 412 and coupled to the distal flange 308. In various embodiments, a respective bushing 416, 418 may be disposed within each of the set of bushing holders 410, 412. In various embodiments, the distal flange 308 may be coupled to the distal ends 402b, 404b of the set of longitudinal reinforcement members 402, 404 via a respective bolt 420 that is fitted into a respective sliding pin 422 that is fitted into a respective bushing 416, 418. In that regard, in various embodiments, each distal end 402b, 404b of the set of longitudinal reinforcement members 402, 404 includes a female threaded portion so as to receive the male threaded portion of a respective bolt 420.
In various embodiments, each sliding pin 422 is longer in length longitudinally than a longitudinal length of the respective bushing 416, 418 and bushing holder 410, 412 into which the sliding pin 422 is fitted. In that regard, in various embodiments, once the respective bolt 420 is inserted through a respective bushing 416, 418 and bushing holder 410, 412 and tightened into a respective distal end 402b, 404b of the set of longitudinal reinforcement members 402, 404 with the respective sliding pin 422 positioned between the head of the bolt 420 and the respective distal end 402b, 404b of the set of longitudinal reinforcement members 402, 404, the distal flange 308 of the second section 204 is configured to slide in an axial direction, i.e. in the x-direction, along a respective sliding pin 422. In that regard, responsive to an axial expansion of the exhaust engine carcass that may occur when the exhaust engine carcass heats up during operation, the second section 204 of the engine carcass stiffener 200 slides along the sliding pins 422 while providing structurally reinforcement and minimizing deflection of the exhaust engine carcass. In various embodiments, the various components of the engine carcass stiffener 200 may be manufactured from nickel-chromium alloy 625 (a nickel-based superalloy), nickel alloy 718 (a nickel-based superalloy), waspaloy (a nickel-based, age hardenable superalloy), Haynes® 282® (a nickel-chromium-cobalt superalloy), or other superalloy, among others, that each have high strength, excellent fabricability (including joining), and outstanding corrosion resistance. In various embodiments, the set of longitudinal reinforcement members 402, 404 and the set of cross-support members 406, 408 may be tubular shaped, square shaped, or “L” shaped, among others, with a round, square, or “L” shaped outer surface, among others.
Referring to
Benefits and other advantages have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C. B and C, or A and B and C.
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments.
Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112 (f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2965338 | McLean | Dec 1960 | A |
| 9738392 | Hellegouarch et al. | Aug 2017 | B2 |
| 10788046 | Colson et al. | Sep 2020 | B2 |
| 11486271 | Gajowniczek | Nov 2022 | B1 |
| 11746664 | Muldoon et al. | Sep 2023 | B2 |
| 12158076 | Demenois et al. | Dec 2024 | B1 |
| 20060013681 | Cardarella, Jr. | Jan 2006 | A1 |
| 20120195752 | Lopez Partida et al. | Aug 2012 | A1 |
| 20220065111 | Saboundji | Mar 2022 | A1 |
| 20220162964 | Kuziemko | May 2022 | A1 |
| 20220224556 | Nakajima | Jul 2022 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 106414241 | Feb 2017 | CN |
| 3344544 | Jul 2022 | EP |
| 3039824 | Feb 2017 | FR |
| Entry |
|---|
| European Patent Office, European Search Report dated Jan. 29, 2025 in Application No. 24197744.6. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20250075638 A1 | Mar 2025 | US |
