IP Library Granted Patent US 10,823,002
Granted Patent B2
US 10,823,002 · App. 15/979,982 · Granted Nov 3, 2020

Variable stiffness static structure

Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger (Bangalore, IN); Praveen Sharma (Bangalore, IN); Shuvajyoti Ghosh (Bangalore, IN); Amit Zutshi (Mason, OH); Raghavendra Muralidhar (Bangalore, IN); Rangasai Madoor Comandore (Bangalore, IN)
Assignee: General Electric Company
F01D25/164F05D2240/50F05D2260/52F05D2300/50212
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,823,002
App. No.
15/979,982
Granted
Nov 3, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A turbine engine including a first static structure comprising a first material defining a first thermal expansion coefficient and a second static structure comprising a second material defining a second thermal expansion coefficient different from the first thermal expansion coefficient. The first static structure and the second static structure are together disposed in adjacent arrangement along a load direction. The first static structure and the second static structure together selectively define a gap therebetween along the load direction based at least on a load difference between the first static structure and the second static structure.

Claims (51)

1. A turbine engine, the engine comprising:

a first static structure comprising a first material defining a first thermal expansion coefficient; and

a second static structure comprising a second material defining a second thermal expansion coefficient different from the first thermal expansion coefficient,

wherein the first static structure and the second static structure are together disposed in adjacent arrangement along a load direction, and

wherein the first static structure and the second static structure together selectively define a gap dimension therebetween along the load direction to vary between a value greater than zero and zero based at least on a load difference between the first static structure and the second static structure.

2. The turbine engine of claim 1 , further comprising:

a coupling member attaching together the first static structure and the second static structure and

further wherein the coupling member at least partially defines a nominal position of the gap dimension between the first static structure and the second static structure.

3. The turbine engine of claim 2 ,

wherein the coupling member is at least partially extended along the load direction, and

wherein the coupling member defines a spring structure allowing increase and decrease of the gap dimension between the first static structure and the second static structure.

4. The turbine engine of claim 2 ,

wherein the coupling member comprises a first member and a second member,

wherein the first member and the second member are each coupled together and extend from one another at an angle less than 90 degrees and greater than approximately 15 degrees.

5. The turbine engine of claim 4 , wherein the first member defines a substantially vertical member extending in a vertical direction of the turbine engine and the second member defines an at least partially horizontal member extending at least partially in a horizontal direction of the turbine engine.

6. The turbine engine of claim 5 , wherein the second member is coupled to the second static structure.

7. The turbine engine of claim 2 ,

wherein the coupling member comprises a first member and a second member, and

wherein the second member defines a first portion defining a first stiffness and a second portion defining a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness.

8. The turbine engine of claim 7 ,

wherein the second portion is coupled to the second static structure and

wherein the gap dimension is defined between the first portion and the second static structure.

9. The turbine engine of claim 7 ,

wherein the second member further defines a third portion, and

wherein the gap dimension is defined between the third portion and the second static structure.

10. The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein a second member is coupled to a rotary component.

11. The turbine engine of claim 10 , wherein the rotary component at least partially defines a rolling element of a bearing assembly.

12. The turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein the second member at least partially defines a bearing surface.

13. The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the first thermal expansion coefficient is higher than the second thermal expansion coefficient.

14. The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the first static structure and the second static structure together at least partially define a bearing assembly.

15. A turbine engine, the engine comprising:

a first static structure comprising a first material defining a first thermal expansion coefficient and

a second static structure comprising a second material defining a second thermal expansion coefficient different from the first thermal expansion coefficient,

wherein the first static structure and the second static structure are together disposed in adjacent arrangement along a load direction,

wherein the first static structure and the second static structure together selectively define a gap dimension therebetween along the load direction based at least on a load difference between the first static structure and the second static structure, and

wherein the gap dimension is variable between approximately 0.040 millimeters and zero millimeters.

16. A structural support assembly, the structural support assembly comprising:

a first static structure comprising a first material defining a first thermal expansion coefficient; and

a second static structure comprising a second material defining a second thermal expansion coefficient different from the first thermal expansion coefficient,

wherein the first static structure and the second static structure are together disposed in adjacent arrangement along a load direction, and

wherein the first static structure and the second static structure together selectively define a gap dimension therebetween along the load direction to vary between a value greater than zero and zero based at least on a load difference between the first static structure and the second static structure.

17. The structural support assembly of claim 16 , further comprising:

a coupling member attaching together the first static structure and the second static structure and

further wherein the coupling member at least partially defines a nominal position of the gap dimension between the first static structure and the second static structure.

18. The structural support assembly of claim 17 ,

wherein the coupling member comprises a first member and a second member,

wherein the first member and the second member are each coupled together and extend from one another at an angle less than 90 degrees and greater than approximately 15 degrees.

19. The structural support assembly of claim 17 ,

wherein the coupling member comprises a first member and a second member,

wherein the second member defines a first portion defining a first stiffness and a second portion defining a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness.

20. The structural support assembly of claim 16 , wherein the structural support assembly defines a bearing assembly.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2019
From: ZUTSHI, AMIT; MURALIDHAR, RAGHAVENDRA; COMANDORE, RANGASAI MADOOR
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 049045/0555 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2018
From: GANIGER, RAVINDRA SHANKAR; SHARMA, PRAVEEN; GHOSH, SHUVAJYOTI
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 045807/0838 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190353051A1 · Nov 21, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,352,208 US 12,503,963