IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,253,002
Granted Patent B2
US 12,253,002 · App. 18/594,658 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Systems and methods for sensors on circumferential interior surface of turbomachine casing

Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif (Greenville, SC); Andrew David Ellis (Greenville, SC); Michael Allen Ball (Greer, SC)
Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
F01D25/24F05D2220/30F05D2240/14F05D2240/90
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,253,002
App. No.
18/594,658
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensor system for a turbomachine having an axis is disclosed. The sensor system includes a mounting member including a body configured to be mounted to a circumferential slot defined in at least a circumferential portion of a circumferential interior surface of a casing of the turbomachine. A plurality of sensors is coupled to the mounting member and configured to measure an operational parameter of the turbomachine.

Claims (33)

1. A mounting member for a plurality of sensors for a turbomachine having an axis, the mounting member comprising:

a body configured to mount to a circumferential portion along a circumferential interior surface of a casing of the turbomachine;

a plurality of openings extending through a radially inner surface of the body, each of the plurality of openings configured to position a sensor of the plurality of sensors such that each sensor faces radially inward relative to the axis, each sensor extending only partially through the body; and

a plurality of communications leads within a passage extending longitudinally through the body, each communications lead extending circumferentially along the circumferential interior surface of the casing and operatively connecting to at least one of the plurality of sensors,

wherein the body has a cross-section configured to mate with a complementary cross-section of a circumferentially extending slot in the circumferential interior surface of the casing, wherein the cross-section of the body and the complementary cross-section of the circumferentially extending slot radially fix the body relative to the circumferential interior surface.

2. The mounting member of claim 1 , wherein the body has a T-shaped cross-section, and the circumferentially extending slot has a complementary T-shaped cross-section configured to receive the T-shaped cross-section of the body.

3. The mounting member of claim 1 , wherein the body has a T-shaped cross-section extension, and the circumferentially extending slot has a complementary T-shaped cross-section extension configured to receive the T-shaped cross-section extension of the body.

4. The mounting member of claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the body is rectangular with axial extensions, and the complementary cross-section of the circumferentially extending slot is rectangular with axial seats configured to retain the axial extensions of the body.

5. The mounting member of claim 1 , wherein the body has a dovetail cross-section, and the circumferentially extending slot has a complementary dovetail cross-section configured to receive the dovetail cross-section of the body.

6. The mounting member of claim 1 , wherein the body has an elongated at least partially circular cross-section, and the circumferentially extending slot has a complementary at least partially circular cross-section configured to receive the at least partially circular cross-section of the body.

7. A sensor system for a turbomachine having an axis, the sensor system comprising:

a mounting member including a body configured to be mounted to a circumferential portion of a circumferential interior surface of a casing of the turbomachine;

a plurality of sensors coupled to the mounting member and configured to measure an operational parameter of the turbomachine, each sensor extending only partially through the body; and

a plurality of communications leads within a passage extending longitudinally through the body, each communications lead extending circumferentially along the circumferential interior surface of the casing and operatively connecting to at least one of the plurality of sensors,

wherein the body has a cross-section configured to mate with a complementary cross-section of a circumferentially extending slot in the circumferential interior surface of the casing, wherein the cross-section of the body and the complementary cross-section of the circumferentially extending slot radially fix the body relative to the circumferential interior surface.

8. The sensor system of claim 7 , wherein the body has a T-shaped cross-section, and the circumferentially extending slot has a complementary T-shaped cross-section configured to receive the T-shaped cross-section of the body.

9. The sensor system of claim 7 , wherein the body has a T-shaped cross-section extension, and the circumferentially extending slot has a complementary T-shaped cross-section extension configured to receive the T-shaped cross-section extension of the body.

10. The sensor system of claim 7 , wherein the cross-section of the body is rectangular with axial extensions, and the complementary cross-section of the circumferentially extending slot is rectangular with axial seats configured to retain the axial extensions of the body.

11. The sensor system of claim 7 , wherein the body has a dovetail cross-section, and the circumferentially extending slot has a complementary dovetail cross-section configured to receive the dovetail cross-section of the body.

12. The sensor system of claim 7 , wherein the body has an elongated at least partially circular cross-section, and the circumferentially extending slot has a complementary at least partially circular cross-section configured to receive the at least partially circular cross-section of the body.

13. A casing for a turbomachine having an axis, the casing comprising:

a casing body including a circumferential interior surface and an exterior surface, the casing body defining a circumferentially extending slot along at least a circumferential portion of the circumferential interior surface; and

a sensor system for the turbomachine, the sensor system including:

a mounting member including a body mounted in the circumferentially extending slot of the circumferential interior surface of the casing body of the turbomachine;

a plurality of sensors coupled to the mounting member and configured to measure an operational parameter of the turbomachine, each sensor extending only partially through the body; and

a plurality of communications leads within a passage extending longitudinally through the body, each communications lead extending circumferentially along the circumferential interior surface of the casing body and operatively connecting to at least one of the plurality of sensors,

wherein the body has a cross-section configured to mate with a complementary cross-section of the circumferentially extending slot in the circumferential interior surface of the casing body, wherein the cross-section of the body of the mounting member and the complementary cross-section of the circumferentially extending slot radially fix the body of the mounting member relative to the circumferential interior surface.

14. The casing of claim 13 , wherein the body has a T-shaped cross-section, and the circumferentially extending slot has a complementary T-shaped cross-section configured to receive the T-shaped cross-section of the body.

15. The casing of claim 13 , wherein the body has a T-shaped cross-section extension, and the circumferentially extending slot has a complementary T-shaped cross-section extension configured to receive the T-shaped cross-section extension of the body.

16. The casing of claim 13 , wherein the cross-section of the body is rectangular with axial extensions, and the complementary cross-section of the circumferentially extending slot is rectangular with axial seats configured to retain the axial extensions of the body.

17. The casing of claim 13 , wherein the body has a dovetail cross-section, and the circumferentially extending slot has a complementary dovetail cross-section configured to receive the dovetail cross-section of the body.

18. The casing of claim 13 , wherein the body has an elongated at least partially circular cross-section, and the circumferentially extending slot has a complementary at least partially circular cross-section configured to receive the at least partially circular cross-section of the body.

19. The casing of claim 13 , wherein adjacent sensors of the plurality of sensors are circumferentially spaced from one another along the body; and wherein the plurality of sensors is coupled to the mounting member before the mounting member is circumferentially slid into the circumferentially extending slot.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2024
From: SCHLEIF, KURT KRAMER; ELLIS, ANDREW DAVID; BALL, MICHAEL ALLEN
To: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 066769/0811 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17655202 · Mar 17, 2022
Continuation In Part 16437943 · Jun 11, 2019
Related Publication 20240200469A1 · Jun 20, 2024
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