IP Library Granted Patent US 11,136,995
Granted Patent B2
US 11,136,995 · App. 16/376,445 · Granted Oct 5, 2021

Pre-diffuser for a gas turbine engine

Inventors: Michael G. McCaffrey (Windsor, CT); Pedro Rivero (Palm Beach Gardens, FL); Matthew Andrew Hough (West Simsbury, CT)
Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
F04D29/545F23R3/04F05D2240/128F05D2240/55F05D2250/52F05D2260/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,136,995
App. No.
16/376,445
Granted
Oct 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pre-diffuser for a gas turbine engine includes an exit guide vane ring having a multiple of exit guide vanes defined around an engine longitudinal axis; a hot fairing structure adjacent to the exit guide vane ring to define a multiple of diffusion passages around the engine longitudinal axis; an outer radial interface between a radial outer surface of the hot fairing structure and the exit guide vane ring, the outer radial interface being a full hoop structure; and an anti-rotation feature between the hot fairing structure and the exit guide vane ring, the anti-rotation features inboard of the multiple of diffusion passages.

Claims (30)

1. A pre-diffuser downstream of a compressor section of a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a full ring ring-strut-ring structure that comprises a multiple of hollow struts and a multiple of inlets to a respective diffusion passage, one of the multiple of inlets formed between each one of the multiple of hollow struts located between two diffusion passages;

a multiple of diffusion passage ducts, each of the multiple of diffusion passage ducts in communication with one of the multiple of diffusion passages;

an exit guide vane ring adjacent to the ring-strut-ring structure; and

a seal between the full ring ring-strut-ring structure and the exit guide vane ring, the seal radially inboard of the multiple of diffusion passages, the seal accommodates compression of the full ring ring-strut-ring structure and the exit guide vane ring in response to axial assembly of an engine static structure;

a hot fairing radial flange that extends radially inward from the full ring ring-strut-ring structure and an exit guide vane radial flange that extends radially inward from the exit guide vane ring, the seal located between the exit guide vane radial flange and the hot fairing radial flange; and

a static structure flange that abuts the hot fairing radial flange, the static structure flange extends radially outwardly from the static structure with respect to an engine axis of rotation.

2. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a clamp ring that abuts the exit guide vane radial flange.

3. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a multiple of fasteners that fasten the clamp ring to the static structure flange.

4. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an axial extension that extends from the full ring ring-strut-ring structure along an inner diameter and around an engine axis of rotation.

5. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 4 , further comprising a recessed area in the exit guide vane ring to receive the axial extension.

6. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 5 , wherein the exit guide vane radial flange extends radially inward from the exit guide vane ring transverse to the recessed area.

7. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 6 , further comprising a clamp ring that abuts the exit guide vane radial flange.

8. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 7 , further comprising a multiple of fasteners to retain the clamp to the static structure flange.

9. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an outer radial interface between a radial outer surface of the full ring ring-strut-ring structure and the exit guide vane ring.

10. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 9 , wherein the full ring ring-strut-ring structure at least partially overlaps the exit guide vane ring at the outer radial interface.

11. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 10 , wherein the outer radial interface is a full ring structure.

12. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an anti-rotation feature between the full ring ring-strut-ring structure and the exit guide vane ring, the anti-rotation feature being inboard of the multiple of diffusion passages.

13. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 1 , wherein the seal is one of a torsional spring seal, a dogbone seal, and a diamond seal.

14. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 1 , wherein the multiple of diffusion passage ducts are manufactured of sheet metal and welded to the ring-strut-ring structure.

15. The pre-diffuser as recited in claim 1 , wherein the full ring ring-strut-ring structure is a cast component.

16. A pre-diffuser for a gas turbine engine, comprising:

an exit guide vane ring having a multiple of exit guide vanes defined around an engine longitudinal axis, an exit guide vane radial flange that extends radially inward from the exit guide vane ring;

a full ring ring-strut-ring structure adjacent to the exit guide vane ring to define a multiple of diffusion passages around the engine longitudinal axis, a hot fairing radial flange that extends radially inward from the full ring ring-strut-ring structure;

an outer radial interface between a radial outer surface of the full ring ring-strut-ring structure and the exit guide vane ring, the outer radial interface being a full hoop structure;

an anti-rotation feature between the full ring ring-strut-ring structure and the exit guide vane ring, the anti-rotation feature inboard of the multiple of diffusion passages;

a seal located between the exit guide vane radial flange and the hot fairing radial flange, the seal radially inboard of the multiple of diffusion passages, the seal accommodates compression of the full ring ring-strut-ring structure and the exit guide vane ring in response to axial assembly of an engine static structure;

a static structure flange that abuts the hot fairing radial flange, the static structure flange extends radially outwardly from the static structure with respect to an engine axis of rotation;

a clamp ring that abuts the exit guide vane radial flange; and

a multiple of fasteners that fasten the clamp ring to the static structure flange.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SPELLING ON THE ADDRESS 10 FARM SPRINGD ROAD FARMINGTONCONNECTICUT 06032 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 057190 FRAME 0719. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT SPELLING OF THE ADDRESS 10 FARM SPRINGS ROAD FARMINGTON CONNECTICUT 06032. Recorded Aug 19, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057226/0390 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 16, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057190/0719 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2019
From: MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL G.; RIVERO, PEDRO; HOUGH, MATTHEW ANDREW
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048805/0714 →