IP Library Granted Patent US 12,326,099
Granted Patent B2
US 12,326,099 · App. 18/452,912 · Granted Jun 10, 2025

Bathtub seal integrated into CMC vane load path

Inventor: David J. Wasserman (Hamden, CT)
Assignee: RTX Corporation
F01D5/18F01D5/282F02C7/28F05D2260/232F05D2300/6033
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,326,099
App. No.
18/452,912
Granted
Jun 10, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vane assembly includes a vane having an outer platform with mount structure and an airfoil extending inwardly from the mount structure and formed of ceramic matrix composites (“CMC”). The vane has an internal cooling chamber. A metal baffle is received within the internal cooling chamber and extends beyond the platform. A bathtub seal has a central portion receiving the metal baffle. The metal baffle has a central chamber and cooling air holes to deliver cooling air into the internal cooling chamber. The bathtub seal has an inner wall and an outer wall outward of the metal baffle. The inner wall, the outer wall and a bottom wall define a bathtub seal chamber. The bottom wall is in contact with an upper surface of the vane. The vane is connected to the outer wall. Static structure is received within the bathtub seal chamber. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Claims (30)

1. A vane assembly comprising:

a vane has an outer platform with a mount structure and an airfoil extending inwardly from the mount structure and formed of ceramic matrix composites (“CMC”), the vane having an internal cooling chamber;

a metal baffle received within said internal cooling chamber and extending beyond said platform, a bathtub seal, having a central portion receiving said metal baffle, said metal baffle having a central chamber and cooling air holes to deliver cooling air into said internal cooling chamber, said bathtub seal having an inner wall and an outer wall outward of said metal baffle, and said inner wall, said outer wall and a bottom wall defining a bathtub seal chamber, said bottom wall in contact with an upper surface of said vane, and said vane connected to said outer wall, and a static structure received within said bathtub seal chamber; and

said bottom wall being in contact with the upper surface of the vane over at least 75% of an overall surface area of the upper surface of the vane.

2. The vane assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the baffle has an upper face and the bathtub seal has a support face.

3. The vane assembly as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the upper face and the support face are brazed together.

4. The vane assembly as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the vane is mounted into a vane row with the bathtub seal providing support between the vane, the baffle and static structure.

5. The vane assembly as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the static structure includes a first vane support having a tab extending into the bathtub seal chamber defined between an inner and an outer wall of the bathtub seal.

6. The vane assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the vane is mounted into a vane row with the bathtub seal providing support between the vane, the baffle and static structure.

7. The vane assembly as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the static structure includes a first vane support having a tab extending into the bathtub seal chamber defined between an inner and an outer wall of the bathtub seal.

8. The vane assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the mount structure on an upper surface of the vane platform is provided with a coating on an outer surface.

9. The vane assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein a support surface on the baffle sits outwardly of a support surface on the bathtub seal.

10. A vane assembly comprising:

a vane has an outer platform with a mount structure and an airfoil extending inwardly from the mount structure and formed of ceramic matrix composites (“CMC”), the vane having an internal cooling chamber;

a metal baffle received within said internal cooling chamber and extending beyond said platform, a bathtub seal, having a central portion receiving said metal baffle, said metal baffle having a central chamber and cooling air holes to deliver cooling air into said internal cooling chamber, said bathtub seal having an inner wall and an outer wall outward of said metal baffle, and said inner wall, said outer wall and a bottom wall defining a bathtub seal chamber, said bottom wall in contact with an upper surface of said vane, and said vane connected to said outer wall, and a static structure received within said bathtub seal chamber;

wherein the mount structure on an upper surface of the vane platform is provided with a coating on an outer surface; and

wherein a flange cap extends across an outer wall of the bathtub seal and the mount structure of the vane, said flange cap contacting both the outer wall of the bathtub seal and the mount structure.

11. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a compressor section, a combustor and a turbine section, the turbine section including rotating blade rows alternating with static vane rows, and the vane rows including a vane assembly having a plurality of vanes with an outer platform having a mount structure and an airfoil extending inwardly from the mount structure and the vane formed of ceramic matrix composites (“CMC”), the vane having an internal cooling chamber;

a metal baffle received within said internal cooling chamber and extending beyond said platform, a bathtub seal having a central portion receiving said metal baffle, said metal baffle having a central chamber and cooling air holes to deliver cooling air into said internal cooling chamber, said bathtub seal having an inner wall and an outer wall outward of said metal baffle, and said inner wall, said outer wall and a bottom wall defining a bathtub seal chamber, said bottom wall in contact with an upper surface of said vane, and said vane connected to said outer wall, and a static structure received within said bathtub seal chamber; and

said bottom wall being in contact with the upper surface of the vane over at least 75% of an overall surface area of the upper surface of the vane.

12. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the baffle has an upper face and the bathtub seal has a support face.

13. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the upper face and the support face are brazed together.

14. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the vane is mounted into a vane row with the bathtub seal providing support between the vane and the baffle and static structure.

15. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the static structure includes a first vane support having a tab extending into a seal chamber defined between an inner and an outer wall of the bathtub seal.

16. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 15 , wherein a flange cap extends across an outer wall of the bathtub seal and the mount structure of the vane, said flange cap contacting both the outer wall of the bathtub seal and the mount structure.

17. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 14 , wherein a flange cap extends across an outer wall of the bathtub seal and the mount structure of the vane.

18. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the vane is mounted into a vane row with the bathtub seal providing support between the vane and the baffle and static structure.

19. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 18 , wherein a flange cap extends across an outer wall of the bathtub seal and the mount structure of the vane, said flange cap contacting both the outer wall of the bathtub seal and the mount structure.

20. The gas turbine as set forth in claim 11 , wherein a support surface on the baffle sits outwardly of a support surface on the bathtub seal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2023
From: WASSERMAN, DAVID J.
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064886/0150 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250067182A1 · Feb 27, 2025
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