The present subject matter relates generally to an aircraft propulsion device, or more particularly to an aircraft propulsion device having variable pitch guide vanes.
A gas turbine engine generally includes a core having, in serial flow order, a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section. During operation, an engine airflow is provided to an inlet of the compressor section where one or more axial compressors progressively compress the air until it reaches the combustion section. Fuel is mixed with the compressed air and burned within the combustion section to provide combustion gases. The combustion gases are routed from the combustion section to the turbine section. The flow of combustion gasses through the combustion section drives the compressor section and is then routed through the exhaust section, e.g., to atmosphere.
In particular configurations, the gas turbine engine additionally includes a fan mechanically coupled to the core and a plurality of outlet guide vanes. For example, the fan of such a gas turbine engine typically includes a plurality of rotatable blades driven by a shaft of the core. Rotation of the plurality of blades generates thrust for the gas turbine engine. Additionally, the plurality outlet guide vanes can direct an airflow from the blades to, e.g., reduce an amount of noise generated by the gas turbine engine and enhance a performance of the gas turbine engine.
In certain configurations, the gas turbine engine may define an outer nacelle enclosing the plurality of fan blades of the fan and the plurality of outlet guide vanes. Such a configuration allows for the outlet guide vanes to be rotated about respective pitch axes at radially outer ends where the outlet guide vanes attach to the outer nacelle.
However, certain gas turbine engines may not include the outer nacelle enclosing the plurality of fan blades and the plurality of outlet guide vanes. Accordingly, known means for actuating the outlet guide vanes may not be included with such gas turbine engines. Therefore, a gas turbine engine capable of actuating a plurality of outlet guide vanes without requiring an outer nacelle enclosing the plurality of outlet guide vanes would be useful.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an aeronautical propulsion device defining a radial direction is provided. The propulsion device includes a fan having a plurality of fan blades for providing a flow of air in a flowpath, as well as a plurality of variable guide vanes for directing air to or from the fan in a desired direction. The plurality of guide vanes each define an inner end and an outer end along the radial direction. The plurality of guide vanes are each attached to a housing of the propulsion device at the inner end in a rotatable manner the aeronautical propulsion device additionally includes a pitch change mechanism positioned within the housing of the propulsion device and mechanically coupled to at least one of the plurality of guide vanes for changing a pitch of the at least one of the plurality of guide vanes.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a fan including a plurality of fan blades for providing a flow of air in a flowpath, and a plurality of variable outlet guide vanes for directing air from the plurality of fan blades of the fan in a desired direction. The plurality of variable outlet guide vanes each define an inner end and an outer end along the radial direction. The plurality of variable outlet guide vanes are each attached to a core of the gas turbine engine at the inner end in a rotatable manner. The gas turbine engine additionally includes a pitch change mechanism positioned within the core of the gas turbine engine and mechanically coupled to at least one of the plurality of variable outlet guide vanes for changing a pitch of the at least one of the plurality of variable outlet guide vanes.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to present embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similar designations in the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the invention. As used herein, the terms “first”, “second”, and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative direction with respect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, “upstream” refers to the direction from which the fluid flows, and “downstream” refers to the direction to which the fluid flows.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein identical numerals indicate the same elements throughout the figures,
The exemplary core engine 16 depicted generally includes a substantially tubular outer casing 18 that defines an annular inlet 20. The outer casing 18 encases, in serial flow relationship, a compressor section including a booster or low pressure (LP) compressor 22 and a high pressure (HP) compressor 24; a combustion section 26; a turbine section including a high pressure (HP) turbine 28 and a low pressure (LP) turbine 30; and a jet exhaust nozzle section 32. A high pressure (HP) shaft or spool 34 drivingly connects the HP turbine 28 to the HP compressor 24. A low pressure (LP) shaft or spool 36 drivingly connects the LP turbine 30 to the LP compressor 22.
Additionally, for the embodiment depicted, the fan section 14 includes a variable pitch fan 38 having a plurality of fan blades 40 coupled to a disk 42 in a spaced apart manner. As depicted, the fan blades 40 extend outwardly from the disk 42 generally along the radial direction R. The fan blades 40 and disk 42 are together rotatable about the longitudinal centerline 12 by LP shaft 36 across a power gear box 44. The power gear box 44 includes a plurality of gears for adjusting the rotational speed of the LP shaft 36. Additionally, the plurality of fan blades 40 are rotatable about respective pitch axes P1 by an actuation device (not shown). Moreover, for the embodiment depicted, the disk 42 of the variable pitch fan 38 is covered by a rotatable front hub 46 aerodynamically contoured to promote an airflow through the plurality of fan blades 40.
Referring still to the exemplary turbofan engine 10 of
For the exemplary turbofan engine 10 depicted, the fan section 14, or more particularly, the rotation of the fan blades 40 of the fan section 14, provides a majority of the propulsive thrust of the turbofan engine 10. Additionally, the plurality of outlet guide vanes 50 are provided to increase an efficiency of the fan section 14 as well as to provide other benefits, such as, for example, decreasing an amount of noise generated by the turbofan engine 10, by directing a flow of air from the plurality of fan blades 40 of the fan section 14.
During operation of the turbofan engine 10, a volume of air 56 passes over the plurality of blades 40 of the fan section 14. A first portion of the volume of air 56, i.e., the first portion of air 60, is directed or routed into an engine air flowpath 64 extending through the compressor section, the combustion section 26, the turbine section, and the exhaust section 32. Additionally, a second portion of the volume of air 56, i.e. a second portion of air 62, flows around the core engine 16, bypassing the core engine 16 (i.e., in a bypass air flowpath). The ratio between the second portion of air 62 and the first portion of air 60 is commonly known as a bypass ratio.
Referring still to
Referring now to
As with the exemplary embodiment of
As with the embodiment discussed above, a first portion of the flow of air 60 provided by the fan 38 flows into an engine air flowpath 64 within the core engine 16, wherein such air 60 may be progressively compressed by an LP compressor 22 and subsequent by an HP compressor 24. A second portion of the flow of air 62 provided by the fan 38 bypasses the core engine 16 and is provided to a bypass air flowpath.
The turbofan engine 10 additionally includes a plurality of variable guide vanes 100 for directing air to or from the fan 38 in a desired direction. Specifically, for the embodiment depicted, the plurality of variable guide vanes 100 are configured as a plurality of variable outlet guide vanes extending generally between a radially inner end 102 and a radially outer end 103 along the radial direction R. As is depicted, the plurality of guide vanes 100 are positioned aft of the plurality of fan blades 40 of the fan 38, such that the plurality of guide vanes 100 are configured for directing a flow of bypass air 62 for the turbofan engine 10.
Referring now also to
In order to attach the variable guide vane 100 to the core engine 16 in a rotatable manner, the turbofan engine 10 additionally includes an attachment mechanism 104 for attaching one or more of the variable outlet guide vanes 100 to the core engine 16. For the embodiment depicted, the attachment mechanism 104 includes an inner race 106 attached to a base 108 of the variable guide vane 100 and an outer race 110 attached to a frame member 112 of the core engine 16. Additionally, a plurality of bearing members 113 are provided between the inner and outer races 106, 110 of the attachment mechanism 104 to allow for rotation of the variable guide vane 100 about respective a pitch axis P2 of the variable guide vane 100. The bearing members 113 may be configured as any suitable bearing or combination of bearings. For example, the bearing members 113 may include one or more cylindrical roller bearings, tapered roller bearings, ball bearings, etc. Additionally, it should be appreciated that although a single guide vane 100 and attachment mechanism 104 is depicted in
Referring still to
It should be appreciated, however, that the exemplary turbofan engine 10 described with reference to
Moreover, in still other exemplary embodiments, any other suitable gas turbine engine may be provided, and furthermore, aspects of the present disclosure may be utilized with any other suitable aeronautical propulsion device. For example, referring now to
Additionally, for the embodiment of
The plurality of fan blades 160 of the fan 156 are encircled by a nacelle 166. The nacelle 166 extends, for the embodiment depicted, substantially 360 degrees around a housing or core 168 of the aft engine 150, as well as of a portion of the fuselage 154 of the aircraft 152. Accordingly, the nacelle 166 defines an inlet 170 at a forward end with the fuselage 154 of the aircraft 152, the inlet 170 extending substantially 360 degrees around the fuselage 154 of the aircraft 152. For the embodiment depicted, the nacelle 166 is supported by a plurality of structural members 172 located aft of the plurality of fan blades 160. The plurality of structural members 172 may be configured as outlet guide vanes.
Moreover, the aft engine 150 includes a plurality of variable guide vanes 174 for directing air to the plurality of fan blades 160 in a desired direction. The plurality of variable guide vanes 174 are positioned forward of the plurality of fan blades 160 and are configured as variable inlet guide vanes. Moreover, as is depicted, each of the plurality of variable guide vanes 174 are attached to the core 168 of the aft engine 150/fuselage 154 of the aircraft 152 at a respective radially inner end 176 in a rotatable manner. Accordingly, each of the plurality of variable guide vanes 174 are attached in a cantilevered manner to the core 168 of the aft engine 150/fuselage 154 of the aircraft 152. The aft engine 150 additionally includes a pitch change mechanism 178 mechanically coupled to each of the plurality of variable guide vanes 174 for changing a pitch P2 of the plurality of variable guide vanes 174, e.g., in unison.
It should be appreciated, however, that the exemplary aft engine 150 depicted in
An aeronautical propulsion device including aspects of the present disclosure may allow for the variable guide vane to be attached in a cantilevered manner at a radially inner end to a housing or core of the propulsion device in a rotatable manner. Inclusion of such a variable guide vane may allow for an increased efficiency of the propulsion device, as well as providing various other benefits, without requiring the propulsion device to include, e.g., a nacelle or other outer casing member such that the variable guide vanes may be attached at a radially outer ends thereto and controlled therefrom.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/877,210, which was filed on Oct. 7, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2999630 | Warren et al. | Sep 1961 | A |
3318574 | Tyler | May 1967 | A |
3352537 | Petrie | Nov 1967 | A |
3542484 | Mason | Nov 1970 | A |
3638428 | Shipley et al. | Feb 1972 | A |
3687569 | Klompas | Aug 1972 | A |
3861822 | Wanger | Jan 1975 | A |
3870434 | Paulson | Mar 1975 | A |
3876334 | Andrews | Apr 1975 | A |
3887297 | Welchek | Jun 1975 | A |
3946554 | Neumann | Mar 1976 | A |
4222234 | Adamson | Sep 1980 | A |
4239450 | Geitner et al. | Dec 1980 | A |
4275560 | Wright et al. | Jun 1981 | A |
4278398 | Hull | Jul 1981 | A |
4292802 | Snow | Oct 1981 | A |
4363600 | Thebert | Dec 1982 | A |
4371133 | Edgley | Feb 1983 | A |
4430043 | Knight et al. | Feb 1984 | A |
4486146 | Campion | Dec 1984 | A |
4569199 | Klees et al. | Feb 1986 | A |
4607657 | Hirschkron | Aug 1986 | A |
4652208 | Tameo | Mar 1987 | A |
4657484 | Wakeman et al. | Apr 1987 | A |
4784575 | Nelson et al. | Nov 1988 | A |
4791783 | Neitzel | Dec 1988 | A |
4796424 | Farrar et al. | Jan 1989 | A |
4907946 | Ciokajlo et al. | Mar 1990 | A |
4927329 | Kliman et al. | May 1990 | A |
4936748 | Adamson et al. | Jun 1990 | A |
5054998 | Davenport | Oct 1991 | A |
5155993 | Baughman et al. | Oct 1992 | A |
5190441 | Murphy et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
5199850 | Carvalho et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
5215434 | Greune et al. | Jun 1993 | A |
5259187 | Dunbar et al. | Nov 1993 | A |
5261227 | Giffin, III | Nov 1993 | A |
5281087 | Hines | Jan 1994 | A |
5345760 | Giffin, III | Sep 1994 | A |
5457346 | Blumberg et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
5601401 | Matheny et al. | Feb 1997 | A |
5630701 | Lawer | May 1997 | A |
5794432 | Dunbar et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
5950308 | Koff et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
6547518 | Czachor et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6602049 | Caubert et al. | Aug 2003 | B2 |
6619916 | Capozzi et al. | Sep 2003 | B1 |
6792758 | Dowman | Sep 2004 | B2 |
6887035 | Bruce | May 2005 | B2 |
7104754 | Willshee et al. | Sep 2006 | B2 |
7198454 | Evans | Apr 2007 | B2 |
7223066 | Rockley | May 2007 | B2 |
7299621 | Bart et al. | Nov 2007 | B2 |
7588415 | Giaimo et al. | Sep 2009 | B2 |
7665959 | Giaimo et al. | Feb 2010 | B2 |
7690889 | Giaimo et al. | Apr 2010 | B2 |
7762766 | Shteyman et al. | Jul 2010 | B2 |
7942632 | Lord et al. | May 2011 | B2 |
8087883 | Bouru et al. | Jan 2012 | B2 |
8240983 | Suljak, Jr. et al. | Aug 2012 | B2 |
8314505 | McLoughlin et al. | Nov 2012 | B2 |
8459035 | Smith et al. | Jun 2013 | B2 |
8668444 | Jarrett, Jr. et al. | Mar 2014 | B2 |
8762766 | Ferguson et al. | Jun 2014 | B2 |
9593582 | Dejeu et al. | Mar 2017 | B2 |
10202865 | Breeze-Stringfellow et al. | Feb 2019 | B2 |
10669881 | Breeze-Stringfellow et al. | Jun 2020 | B2 |
10704410 | Zatorski et al. | Jul 2020 | B2 |
20040197187 | Usab, Jr. et al. | Oct 2004 | A1 |
20040234372 | Shahpar | Nov 2004 | A1 |
20100014977 | Shattuck | Jan 2010 | A1 |
20100047068 | Parry et al. | Feb 2010 | A1 |
20100111674 | Sparks | May 2010 | A1 |
20110150659 | Micheli et al. | Jun 2011 | A1 |
20110192166 | Mulcaire | Aug 2011 | A1 |
20120177493 | Fabre | Jul 2012 | A1 |
20130104522 | Kupratis | May 2013 | A1 |
20150003993 | Kim et al. | Jan 2015 | A1 |
20150098813 | Jarrett, Jr. et al. | Apr 2015 | A1 |
20150291285 | Gallet | Oct 2015 | A1 |
20160333729 | Miller et al. | Nov 2016 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
1204005 | Jan 1999 | CN |
1975130 | Jun 2007 | CN |
0385913 | Sep 1990 | EP |
0887259 | Dec 1998 | EP |
1493900 | Jan 2005 | EP |
2053204 | Apr 2012 | EP |
2532082 | Dec 2012 | EP |
2562082 | Feb 2013 | EP |
3093443 | Nov 2016 | EP |
2196390 | Apr 1988 | GB |
2405184 | Feb 2005 | GB |
WO2004033295 | Apr 2004 | WO |
WO2005111413 | Nov 2005 | WO |
WO2011020458 | Feb 2011 | WO |
WO2011107320 | Sep 2011 | WO |
WO2014066503 | May 2014 | WO |
Entry |
---|
Crigler, Application of Theodorsen's Theory to Propeller Design, Report 924, (NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Report 924, 1948, pp. 83-89. |
Smith, Unducted Fan Aerodynamic Design, Journal of Turbomachinery, vol. 109, Issue 3, Jul. 1, 1987, pp. 313-324. |
Theordorsen, The Theory of Propellers, NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Aug. 1944, pp. 1-53. |
Yamamoto et al, Numerical Calculation of Propfan/Swirl Recovery Vane Flow Field, 28th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, Nashville, TN, Jul. 6-8, 1992, pp. 1-8. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20220325723 A1 | Oct 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 14877210 | Oct 2015 | US |
Child | 17840685 | US |