IP Library Granted Patent US 11,261,748
Granted Patent B2
US 11,261,748 · App. 16/678,549 · Granted Mar 1, 2022

Vane with seal

Inventor: Robert White, III (Meriden, CT)
Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
F01D9/041F01D5/18F05D2240/12F05D2240/55
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,261,748
App. No.
16/678,549
Granted
Mar 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An airfoil vane assembly includes a vane piece defining a first vane platform, a second vane platform, and a hollow airfoil section joining the first vane platform and the second vane platform. The first vane platform defines a collar projection therefrom. A spar piece defines a spar platform and a spar extends from the spar platform into the hollow airfoil section. The spar platform includes a radial opening defined by first and second axial faces. The radial opening is configured to receive the collar projection, and a groove in the first axial face. A seal is situated in the groove. The seal seals against the collar projection and a biasing member is configured to bias the seal towards the collar projection. A method of assembling a vane is also disclosed.

Claims (33)

1. An airfoil vane assembly, comprising:

a vane piece defining a first vane platform, a second vane platform, and a hollow airfoil section joining the first vane platform and the second vane platform, the first vane platform defining a collar projection therefrom;

a spar piece defining a spar platform and a spar extending from the spar platform into the hollow airfoil section, the spar platform including a radial opening defined by first and second axial faces, the radial opening configured to receive the collar projection, and a groove in the first axial face; and

a seal situated in the groove, the seal sealing against the collar projection; and

a biasing member configured to bias the seal towards the collar projection.

2. The airfoil vane assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first axial face is an outer axial face with respect to a centerline of the hollow airfoil section.

3. The airfoil vane assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal is formable to a contour of the collar projection, and is non-abrasive with respect to the collar projection.

4. The airfoil vane assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal includes multiple fingers, each of the multiple fingers configured to contact the collar projection at a contact point.

5. The airfoil vane assembly of claim 4 , wherein the multiple fingers are formed by a corrugated sheet.

6. The airfoil vane assembly of claim 5 , further comprising multiple filler structures configured to support the multiple fingers of the corrugated sheet.

7. The airfoil vane assembly of claim 6 wherein the multiple fingers each have a rounded distal end.

8. The airfoil vane assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spar piece is metallic and the vane piece is ceramic.

9. A gas turbine engine, comprising:

a compressor section;

a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section;

a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor, the turbine section having a vane including,

a vane piece defining a first vane platform, a second vane platform, and a hollow airfoil section joining the first vane platform and the second vane platform, the first vane platform defining a collar projection therefrom;

a spar piece defining a spar platform and a spar extending from the spar platform into the hollow airfoil section, the spar platform including a radial opening defined by first and second axial faces, the radial opening configured to receive the collar projection, and

a groove in the first axial face; and

a seal situated in the groove, the seal sealing against the collar projection; and

a biasing member configured to bias the seal towards the collar projection.

10. The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the first axial face is an outer axial face with respect to a centerline of the hollow airfoil section.

11. The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the seal is formable to a contour of the collar projection, and is non-abrasive with respect to the collar projection.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the seal is non-abrasive with respect to the collar projection.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the seal includes multiple fingers, each of the multiple fingers configured to contact the collar projection at a contact point.

14. The gas turbine engine of claim 13 , wherein the multiple fingers are formed by a corrugated sheet.

15. The gas turbine engine of claim 14 wherein the multiple fingers each have a rounded distal end.

16. The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the spar piece is metallic and the vane piece is ceramic.

17. A method of assembling a vane, comprising:

inserting a spar piece into a central cavity of a hollow airfoil section of a vane piece, the vane piece having a first vane platform, a second vane platform, and the hollow airfoil section joining the first vane platform and the second vane platform, the first vane platform defining a collar projection therefrom, the collar projection extending radially outward from the first vane platform, and the spar piece having a platform section that corresponds to the outer platform of the hollow airfoil section and that includes a radial opening configured to receive the collar projection, wherein the spar piece includes a spar platform and a spar extending from the spar platform with a radial opening defined by first and second axial faces, the radial opening configured to receive the collar projection, and a groove in the first axial face; and

providing a seal situated in the groove, the seal sealing against the collar projection, the seal being biased towards the collar projection by a biasing member.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the seal includes a plurality of fingers, each of the plurality of fingers configured to contact the collar projection at a contact point.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the spar piece is metallic and the vane piece is ceramic.

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 Nov 8, 2019
From: WHITE, ROBERT, III
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050959/0971 →