IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,161,260
Granted Patent B2
US 10,161,260 · App. 14/761,827 · Granted Dec 25, 2018

Vane lever arm for a variable area vane arrangement

Inventors: Nicholas G. Morganti (Durham, CT); Bernard W. Pudvah (Portland, CT); Christopher R. Osborne (Middletown, CT)
Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
F01D17/162F02C7/36F04D29/563F05D2260/30F05D2260/36F05D2260/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,161,260
App. No.
14/761,827
Granted
Dec 25, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A variable area vane arrangement includes a stator vane including a shaft having an axis. The vane arrangement also includes a vane lever arm that rotates the stator vane about the axis. The vane lever arm includes a base, a first tab and a second tab. The base is arranged laterally between the first tab and the second tab. The first tab laterally overlaps the base. The second tab includes an aperture and laterally overlaps the base and the first tab. The shaft extends through the aperture and is connected to the base.

Claims (58)

1. A variable area vane arrangement, comprising:

a stator vane including a shaft having an axis; and

a vane lever arm that rotates the stator vane about the axis, and includes a base, a first tab and a second tab, wherein

the base is arranged laterally between the first tab and the second tab;

the first tab laterally overlaps the base; and

the second tab includes an aperture and laterally overlaps the base and the first tab;

wherein the shaft extends through the aperture and is connected to the base;

wherein the first tab extends from the base to a first anti-rotation element;

wherein the second tab includes a second anti-rotation element that partially defines the aperture;

wherein the shaft is arranged between and engages the first anti-rotation element and the second anti-rotation element;

wherein the second tab includes a third anti-rotation element that partially defines the aperture;

wherein the third anti-rotation element is separated from the shaft by a gap during a first mode of operation, and engages the shaft during a second mode of operation; and

wherein the shaft is arranged between the second anti-rotation element and the third anti-rotation element.

2. The vane arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the vane lever arm further includes an arm portion that extends longitudinally from the base.

3. The vane arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first tab is located adjacent the shaft.

4. The vane arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first tab overlaps the aperture.

5. The vane arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first anti-rotation element is configured as a substantially planar surface that contacts a substantially planar surface of the shaft.

6. The vane arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the second anti-rotation element is configured as a substantially planar surface that contacts a substantially planar surface of the shaft.

7. The vane arrangement of claim 1 , wherein

at least one of the first tab and the second tab each include an intermediate portion and an end portion;

the intermediate portion extends between the base and the end portion; and

the end portion overlaps the base.

8. The vane arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the intermediate portion is curved, and the end portion is substantially planar.

9. The vane arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a second aperture, and the shaft extends through the second aperture.

10. The vane arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a vane platform including a second aperture, wherein the stator vane further includes a turbine engine airfoil, and wherein the shaft extends from the airfoil, through the second aperture, to the vane lever arm.

11. A variable area vane arrangement, comprising:

a stator vane including a shaft having an axis; and

a vane lever arm that rotates the stator vane about the axis, and includes a base, a first tab and a second tab, wherein

the base is arranged between the first tab and the second tab;

the first tab extends from the base to a first anti-rotation element; and

the second tab includes an aperture and a second anti-rotation element that partially defines the aperture;

wherein the shaft extends through the aperture, is connected to the base, and is arranged between the first anti-rotation element and the second anti-rotation element;

wherein the second tab includes a third anti-rotation element that partially defines the aperture;

wherein the third anti-rotation element is separated from the shaft by a gap during a first mode of operation, and engages the shaft during a second mode of operation; and

wherein the shaft is arranged between the second anti-rotation element and the third anti-rotation element.

12. The vane arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the first tab overlaps the base, and the second tab overlaps the base and the first tab.

13. The vane arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the first tab overlaps the aperture.

14. The vane arrangement of claim 11 , wherein

at least one of the first tab and the second tab each include an intermediate portion and an end portion;

the intermediate portion extends between the base and the end portion; and

the end portion overlaps the base.

15. The vane arrangement of claim 11 , further comprising a vane platform including a second aperture, wherein the stator vane further includes a turbine engine airfoil, and wherein the shaft extends from the airfoil, through the second aperture, to the vane lever arm.

16. A variable area vane arrangement, comprising:

a stator vane including a shaft; and

a vane lever arm configured to rotate the stator vane about an axis of the shaft, the vane lever arm including an arm portion, a base, a first tab and a second tab;

the arm portion projecting out from the base and away from the shaft;

the base extending and connected laterally between the first tab and the second tab;

the first tab connected to the arm portion through the base independent of the second tab, and the first tab laterally overlapping the base;

the second tab connected to the arm portion through the base independent of the first tab, and the second tab including an aperture and laterally overlapping the base and the first tab;

wherein the shaft extends through the aperture and is connected to the base.

17. The vane arrangement of claim 16 , wherein

the first tab extends from the base to a first anti-rotation element;

the second tab includes a second anti-rotation element that partially defines the aperture; and

the shaft is arranged between and engages the first anti-rotation element and the second anti-rotation element.

18. The vane arrangement of claim 17 , wherein

the second tab includes a third anti-rotation element that partially defines the aperture;

the third anti-rotation element is separated from the shaft by a gap during a first mode of operation, and engages the shaft during a second mode of operation; and

the shaft is arranged between the second anti-rotation element and the third anti-rotation element.

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 AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2015
From: MORGANTI, NICHOLAS G.; PUDVAH, BERNARD W.; OSBORNE, CHRISTOPHER R.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036117/0974 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150354401A1 · Dec 10, 2015
Cited By (1)
US 12,735,992