IP Library Granted Patent US 11,346,235
Granted Patent B2
US 11,346,235 · App. 16/431,334 · Granted May 31, 2022

Bushing for variable vane in a gas turbine engine

Inventors: Pantcho P. Stoyanov (West Hartford, CT); Mary E. Makowiec (Manchester, CT)
Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
F01D9/041F01D9/042F01D17/162F05D2220/32F05D2240/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,346,235
App. No.
16/431,334
Granted
May 31, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A component for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil. A first trunnion has an outer surface and extends from a first end of the airfoil. A first bushing at least partially surrounds the outer surface. At least one of the first bushing or the first trunnion includes a plurality of surface irregularities.

Claims (23)

1. A component for a gas turbine engine comprising:

an airfoil;

a first trunnion extending from a first end of the airfoil, the first trunnion is cylindrical and includes an outer surface having a plurality of trunnion surface irregularities forming troughs; and

a first bushing at least partially surrounding the outer surface of the first trunnion, wherein the first bushing includes a plurality of bushing surface irregularities on an inner surface facing the plurality of trunnion surface irregularities, wherein the plurality of bushing surface irregularities includes peaks extending inward from the inner surface of the first bushing;

wherein a depth of each trough is substantially equal to a spacing between the first bushing and the first trunnion.

2. The component of claim 1 , further comprising a second trunnion having an outer surface located on an opposite end of the airfoil from the first trunnion having a plurality of second trunnion surface irregularities forming troughs and a second bushing at least partially surrounding the outer surface on the second trunnion and the second bushing includes a plurality of second bushing surface irregularities on an inner surface forming peaks facing the plurality of second trunnion surface irregularities.

3. A gas turbine engine comprising:

an outer engine structure;

an inner engine structure located radially inward from the outer engine structure;

a variable vane located between the outer engine structure and the inner engine structure including:

an airfoil;

a first trunnion extending from a first end of the airfoil, the first trunnion is cylindrical and includes an outer surface having a plurality of trunnion surface irregularities forming troughs; and

a first bushing at least partially surrounding the outer surface of the first trunnion and fixed from movement relative to the outer engine structure, wherein the first bushing includes a plurality of bushing surface irregularities on an inner surface facing the plurality of trunnion surface irregularities, wherein the plurality of bushing surface irregularities includes peaks extending inward from the inner surface of the first bushing;

wherein a depth of each trough is substantially equal to a spacing between the first bushing and the first trunnion.

4. The gas turbine engine of claim 3 , further comprising a second trunnion having an outer surface located on an opposite end of the airfoil from the first trunnion having a plurality of second trunnion surface irregularities forming troughs and a second bushing at least partially surrounding the outer surface on the second trunnion and the second bushing includes a plurality of second bushing surface irregularities on an inner surface forming peaks facing the plurality of second trunnion surface irregularities.

5. The component of claim 1 , wherein each peak forms a point at a junction of a first lateral side and a second lateral side.

6. The component of claim 1 , wherein the first bushing is made from carbon graphite.

7. The component of claim 1 , wherein the first bushing is made entirely from an electrographitic carbon material.

8. The gas turbine engine of claim 3 , wherein each peak forms a point at a junction of a first lateral side and a second lateral side.

9. The gas turbine engine of claim 3 , wherein the first bushing is made entirely from carbon graphite.

10. The gas turbine engine of claim 3 , wherein the first bushing is made from an electrographitic carbon material.

11. The component of claim 1 , wherein the troughs extend in a radial direction and include a “V” shaped cross section.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 3 , wherein the troughs extend in a radial direction and include a “V” shaped cross section.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 10, 2022
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058680/0943 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2019
From: STOYANOV, PANTCHO P.; MAKOWIEC, MARY E.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049369/0198 →
Continuity (1)
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