IP Library Granted Patent US 10,808,540
Granted Patent B2
US 10,808,540 · App. 15/928,133 · Granted Oct 20, 2020

Case for gas turbine engine

Inventors: Jonathan Jeffery Eastwood (West Hartford, CT); Curtis L. Memory (Manchester, CT); Jin Hu (Glastonbury, CT); Thomas J. Praisner (Colchester, CT)
Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
F01D5/145F01D9/041F01D9/065F01D25/24F01D25/30F15D1/005F05D2240/121F05D2240/127F05D2240/14F05D2250/60F05D2270/17
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,808,540
App. No.
15/928,133
Granted
Oct 20, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A strut for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil section extending in a spanwise direction between a first platform and a second platform, extending in a chordwise direction between a leading edge and trailing edge to define a chord length, and extending in a thickness direction between a first side and a second side to define a chord width. Exterior surfaces of the airfoil section define a leading portion between the leading edge and a widest location of the airfoil section relative to the thickness direction, and a trailing portion between the widest location and the trailing edge. The exterior surfaces establish a respective exterior contour for each span position between a 0% span position and a 100% span position. The exterior surfaces define a plurality of dimples in the leading portion.

Claims (28)

1. A strut for a gas turbine engine comprising: an airfoil section extending in a spanwise direction between a first platform and a second platform, extending in a chordwise direction between a leading edge and trailing edge to define a chord length, and extending in a thickness direction between a first side and a second side to define a chord width; a leading portion is defined by an exterior surface of the airfoil section between the leading edge and a widest location of the airfoil section relative to the thickness direction, and a trailing portion between the widest location and the trailing edge; a respective exterior contour is established by the exterior surface for each span position between a 0% span position and a 100% span position, and a ratio of the chord width to the chord length of at least 1:2 for at least some span positions; and a plurality of dimples are defined in the exterior surface in the leading portion, wherein the plurality of dimples extend across a localized region of the exterior surfaces, a remainder of the exterior surfaces defines a second region free of any dimples, and a ratio of the localized region to the second region is between 1:2 and 1:4, and wherein each dimple of the plurality of dimples in the localized region has a surface area, and a ratio of a sum of the surface area of each dimple within the localized region to a total area of the localized region is between 1:3 and 1:4.

2. The strut of claim 1 , wherein the trailing portion is free of any dimples.

3. The strut of claim 1 , wherein at least one dimple of the plurality of dimples is separated from the leading edge by a first distance of no more than 5% of a second distance between the leading edge and the trailing edge along the exterior contour for at least some of the span positions.

4. The strut of claim 3 , wherein the at least one dimple is defined along the leading edge.

5. The strut of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dimples are distributed in the localized region such that the localized region has a density of between 3.41 and 4.34 dimples per square centimeter.

6. The strut of claim 1 , wherein the trailing portion is free of any dimples.

7. The strut of claim 6 , wherein the localized region has a density of between 3.41 and 4.34 dimples per square centimeter at a majority of span positions.

8. The strut of claim 6 , wherein the first side is a pressure side and the second side is a suction side.

9. The strut of claim 1 , wherein the first platform and second platform are respective portions of an inner ring and outer ring of a stator case.

10. A turbine exhaust case comprising: an inner ring extending along an axis; an outer ring extending at least partially about the inner ring; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart struts extending radially between the inner ring and the outer ring with respect to the axis, wherein each strut of the plurality of struts comprises: an airfoil section extending in a spanwise direction between the inner ring and the outer ring, extending in a chordwise direction between a leading edge and trailing edge to define a chord length, and extending in a thickness direction between a first side and a second side to define a chord width; a leading portion is defined by an exterior surface of the airfoil section between the leading edge and a widest location of the airfoil section relative to the thickness direction, and a trailing portion between the widest location and the trailing edge; a respective exterior contour is established by the exterior surface for each span position between a 0% span position and a 100% span position; and a plurality of dimples are defined in the exterior surface, at least one dimple of the plurality of dimples is separated from the leading edge by a first distance of no more than 5% of a second distance between the leading edge and the trailing edge along the exterior contour, wherein the plurality of dimples extend across a localized region of the exterior surface, a remainder of the exterior surface defines a second region free of any dimples, and a ratio of the localized region to the second surface area is between 1:2 and 1:4; and wherein each dimple of the plurality of dimples in the localized region has a surface area, and a ratio of a sum of the surface area of each dimple within the localized region to a total area of the localized region is between 1:3 and 1:4.

11. The turbine exhaust case of claim 10 , wherein the trailing portion is free of any dimples.

12. The turbine exhaust case of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of dimples is defined along the leading edge.

13. The turbine exhaust case of claim 10 , wherein each strut of the plurality of struts has an inner fillet where the strut meets the inner ring and an outer fillet where the strut meets the outer ring.

14. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a compressor section;

a turbine section; and

a stator case comprising:

an inner ring extending along an engine axis;

an outer ring extending at least partially about the inner ring; and

a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart struts extending radially between the inner ring and the outer ring with respect to the axis, wherein each strut comprises:

an airfoil section extending in a spanwise direction between the inner ring and the outer ring, extending in a chordwise direction between a leading edge and trailing edge to define a chord length, and extending in a thickness direction between a first side and a second side to define a chord width;

a leading portion is defined by an exterior surface of the airfoil section between the leading edge and a widest location of the airfoil section relative to the thickness direction, and a trailing portion between the widest location and the trailing edge;

a respective exterior contour is established by the exterior surface for each span position between a 0% span position and a 100% span position;

a plurality of dimples is defined in the exterior surface in the leading portion; and

two or more dimples of the plurality of dimples are defined along the leading edge; wherein the plurality of dimples extend across a localized region of the exterior surface, each dimple in the localized region has a surface area, and a ratio of a sum of the surface area of each dimple within the localized region of the leading portion to a total area of the region is between 1:4 and 1:3.

15. The gas turbine engine of claim 14 , wherein the stator case is a mid-turbine frame.

16. The gas turbine engine of claim 14 , wherein the stator case is a turbine exhaust case.

17. The gas turbine engine of claim 16 , wherein the turbine exhaust case supports a bearing system.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded May 11, 2018
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION PRATT & WHITNEY
To: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
Reel/Frame 046137/0349 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2018
From: EASTWOOD, JONATHAN JEFFERY; MEMORY, CURTIS L.; HU, JIN; PRAISNER, THOMAS J.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 045310/0067 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190292915A1 · Sep 26, 2019
Cited By (1)
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