IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,241,387
Granted Patent B1
US 12,241,387 · App. 18/455,293 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Tilted CMC vane arc segment

Inventors: Howard J. Liles (Newington, CT); Cheng Gao (South Glastonbury, CT); Bryan P. Dube (Chepachet, RI)
Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
F01D5/282F01D5/284F05D2240/12F05D2300/6033
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,241,387
App. No.
18/455,293
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

An article includes a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) vane arc segment for disposal about an engine central axis. The CMC vane arc segment includes first and second platforms and an airfoil section that extends therebetween. The airfoil section defines a radial stacking axis that is oblique to a Z-axis that is perpendicular to the engine central axis such that the radial stacking axis forms a non-zero angle with the Z-axis.

Claims (18)

1. An article comprising:

a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) vane arc segment for disposal about an engine central axis, the CMC vane arc segment including first and second platforms and an airfoil section extending therebetween, the airfoil section defining a radial stacking axis that is oblique to a Z-axis that is perpendicular to the engine central axis such that the airfoil section has a circumferential lean in which the radial stacking axis forms a circumferential non-zero angle with the Z-axis, the radial stacking axis is a linear axis that passes through all centroids of all axial cross-sections of the airfoil section and that intersects the engine central axis; and

outer and inner radial supports between which the CMC vane arc segment is mounted so as to form a ring-strut-ring configuration, the first platform is a radially outer platform, the second platform is a radially inner platform, and wherein the CMC vane arc segment defines an aerodynamic load vector that is transmitted through a leading end corner of the inner platform and a circumferentially opposed trailing end corner of the outer platform.

2. The article as recited in claim 1 , wherein the airfoil section has an axial tilt.

3. The article as recited in claim 2 , wherein the airfoil section includes radially inner and outer ends and a leading edge, and the leading edge at the radially outer end is aft of the leading edge at the radially inner end.

4. The article as recited in claim 2 , wherein at least one fiber ply in the CMC vane arc segment extends from the airfoil section, through a fillet, and into the second platform.

5. The article as recited in claim 1 , wherein the airfoil section includes radially inner and outer ends and a leading edge, and the leading edge at the radially outer end is circumferentially offset from the leading edge at the radially inner end.

6. The article as recited in claim 1 , wherein the circumferential non-zero angle is from 15° to 45°.

7. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a compressor section;

a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section; and

a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor, the turbine section including:

a plurality of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) vane arc segments disposed about an engine central axis, each of the CMC vane arc segments including first and second platforms and an airfoil section extending therebetween, the airfoil section defining a radial stacking axis that is tilted with respect to a Z-axis that is perpendicular to the engine central axis such that the airfoil section has a circumferential lean in which the radial stacking axis forms a circumferential non-zero angle with the Z-axis, the radial stacking axis is a linear axis that passes through all centroids of all axial cross-sections of the airfoil section and that intersects the engine central axis;

outer and inner radial supports between which the CMC vane arc segments are mounted so as to form a ring-strut-ring configuration, the first platform is a radially outer platform, the second platform is a radially inner platform, and wherein each of the CMC vane arc segments defines an aerodynamic load vector that is transmitted through a leading end corner of the inner platform and a circumferentially opposed trailing end corner of the outer platform.

8. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 7 , wherein the airfoil section has an axial tilt.

9. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 8 , wherein the airfoil section includes radially inner and outer ends and a leading edge, and the leading edge at the radially outer end is aft of the leading edge at the radially inner end.

10. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 7 , wherein the airfoil section includes radially inner and outer ends and a leading edge, and the leading edge at the radially outer end is circumferentially offset from the leading edge at the radially inner end.

11. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 7 , wherein the circumferential non-zero angle is from 15° to 45°.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2023
From: LILES, HOWARD J.; GAO, CHENG; DUBE, BRYAN P.
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064980/0415 →
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