IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,644,605
Granted Patent B2
US 12,644,605 · App. 18/604,921 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Gas turbine engine combustor having ceramic matrix composite (CMC) liners and CMC dome

Inventors: Trevor James Hahm (Cincinnati, OH); Gerardo Antonio Salazar Lois (West Chester, OH); Daniel J. Kirtley (Blue Ash, OH); Ryan Christopher Jones (West Chester, OH); Adam Robert Kahn (Mason, OH)
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
F23R3/60F02C3/14F05D2240/35F05D2300/6033
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,644,605
App. No.
18/604,921
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) dome structure, a metallic cowl structure including a single yoke outer cowl connecting flange and a single yoke inner cowl connecting flange, a CMC outer liner, and a CMC inner liner. An outer connection connects the outer cowl connecting flange, the CMC dome structure, and the CMC outer liner in an outer stacked arrangement, and an inner connection connects the inner cowl connecting flange, the CMC dome structure, and the CMC inner liner in an inner stacked arrangement.

Claims (28)

1 . A combustor for a gas turbine engine, the combustor comprising:

a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) dome structure including an outer dome connecting flange extending in a longitudinal direction with respect to a combustor centerline axis from an outer side of a dome plate, and an inner dome connecting flange extending in the longitudinal direction from an inner side of the dome plate;

a cowl structure including an outer cowl flange root portion, a single yoke outer cowl connecting flange extending in the longitudinal direction from the outer cowl flange root portion of the cowl structure, an inner cowl flange root portion, a single yoke inner cowl connecting flange extending in the longitudinal direction from the inner cowl flange root portion of the cowl structure, and at least one of:

the outer cowl flange root portion having a first outer discourager wall portion extending radially outward from an upstream end of the outer cowl connecting flange, and a second outer discourager wall portion extending radially inward from the upstream end of the outer cowl connecting flange, or

the inner cowl flange root portion having a first inner discourager wall portion extending radially outward from an upstream end of the inner cowl connecting flange, and a second inner discourager wall portion extending radially inward from the upstream end of the inner cowl connecting flange;

a CMC outer liner including an outer liner connecting flange extending in the longitudinal direction at an upstream end of the CMC outer liner;

a CMC inner liner including an inner liner connecting flange extending in the longitudinal direction at an upstream end of the CMC inner liner;

an outer connection connecting the outer dome connecting flange, the outer cowl connecting flange, and the outer liner connecting flange in an outer stacked arrangement with respect to a radial direction extending outward from the combustor centerline axis; and

an inner connection connecting the inner dome connecting flange, the inner cowl connecting flange, and the inner liner connecting flange in an inner stacked arrangement extending in the radial direction.

2 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the outer stacked arrangement comprises the outer dome connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the outer stacked arrangement, the outer liner connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the outer stacked arrangement, and the outer cowl connecting flange arranged between the outer dome connecting flange and the outer liner connecting flange, and the inner stacked arrangement comprises the inner liner connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the inner stacked arrangement, the inner dome connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the inner stacked arrangement, and the inner cowl connecting flange arranged between the inner liner connecting flange and the inner dome connecting flange.

3 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the outer stacked arrangement comprises the outer cowl connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the outer stacked arrangement, the outer liner connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the outer stacked arrangement, and the outer dome connecting flange arranged between the outer cowl connecting flange and the outer liner connecting flange, and the inner stacked arrangement comprises the inner liner connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the inner stacked arrangement, the inner dome connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the inner stacked arrangement, and the inner cowl connecting flange arranged between the inner liner connecting flange and the inner dome connecting flange.

4 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the outer stacked arrangement comprises the outer dome connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the outer stacked arrangement, the outer cowl connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the outer stacked arrangement, and the outer liner connecting flange arranged between the outer dome connecting flange and the outer cowl connecting flange, and the inner stacked arrangement comprises the inner liner connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the inner stacked arrangement, the inner dome connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the inner stacked arrangement, and the inner cowl connecting flange arranged between the inner liner connecting flange and the inner dome connecting flange.

5 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the outer stacked arrangement comprises the outer dome connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the outer stacked arrangement, the outer liner connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the outer stacked arrangement, and the outer cowl connecting flange arranged between the outer dome connecting flange and the outer liner connecting flange, and the inner stacked arrangement comprises the inner cowl connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the inner stacked arrangement, the inner dome connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the inner stacked arrangement, and the inner liner connecting flange arranged between the inner cowl connecting flange and the inner dome connecting flange.

6 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the outer stacked arrangement comprises the outer cowl connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the outer stacked arrangement, the outer liner connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the outer stacked arrangement, and the outer dome connecting flange arranged between the outer cowl connecting flange and the outer liner connecting flange, and the inner stacked arrangement comprises the inner cowl connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the inner stacked arrangement, the inner dome connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the inner stacked arrangement, and the inner liner connecting flange arranged between the inner cowl connecting flange and the inner dome connecting flange.

7 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the outer stacked arrangement comprises the outer dome connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the outer stacked arrangement, the outer cowl connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the outer stacked arrangement, and the outer liner connecting flange arranged between the outer dome connecting flange and the outer cowl connecting flange, and the inner stacked arrangement comprises the inner cowl connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the inner stacked arrangement, the inner dome connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the inner stacked arrangement, and the inner liner connecting flange arranged between the inner cowl connecting flange and the inner dome connecting flange.

8 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the outer stacked arrangement comprises the outer dome connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the outer stacked arrangement, the outer liner connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the outer stacked arrangement, and the outer cowl connecting flange arranged between the outer dome connecting flange and the outer liner connecting flange, and the inner stacked arrangement comprises the inner liner connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the inner stacked arrangement, the inner cowl connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the inner stacked arrangement, and the inner dome connecting flange arranged between the inner liner connecting flange and the inner cowl connecting flange.

9 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the outer stacked arrangement comprises the outer cowl connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the outer stacked arrangement, the outer liner connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the outer stacked arrangement, and the outer dome connecting flange arranged between the outer cowl connecting flange and the outer liner connecting flange, and the inner stacked arrangement comprises the inner liner connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the inner stacked arrangement, the inner cowl connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the inner stacked arrangement, and the inner dome connecting flange arranged between the inner liner connecting flange and the inner cowl connecting flange.

10 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the outer stacked arrangement comprises the outer dome connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the outer stacked arrangement, the outer cowl connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the outer stacked arrangement, and the outer liner connecting flange arranged between the outer dome connecting flange and the outer cowl connecting flange, and the inner stacked arrangement comprises the inner liner connecting flange arranged on an inner side of the inner stacked arrangement, the inner cowl connecting flange arranged on an outer side of the inner stacked arrangement, and the inner dome connecting flange arranged between the inner liner connecting flange and the inner cowl connecting flange.

11 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the outer cowl flange root portion includes an outer discourager wall portion extending radially inward from an upstream end of the outer cowl connecting flange, an upstream end of the outer liner connecting flange is arranged adjacent to the outer discourager wall portion to define an outer liner connecting flange discourager, and an upstream end of the outer dome connecting flange is arranged adjacent to the outer discourager wall portion to define an outer dome connecting flange discourager.

12 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the outer cowl flange root portion includes an outer discourager wall portion extending radially outward from an upstream end of the outer cowl connecting flange, an upstream end of the outer liner connecting flange is arranged adjacent to the outer discourager wall portion to define an outer liner connecting flange discourager, and an upstream end of the outer dome connecting flange is arranged adjacent to the outer discourager wall portion to define an outer dome connecting flange discourager.

13 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the inner cowl flange root portion includes an inner discourager wall portion extending radially inward from an upstream end of the inner cowl connecting flange, an upstream end of the inner liner connecting flange is arranged adjacent to the inner discourager wall portion to define an inner liner connecting flange discourager, and an upstream end of the inner dome connecting flange is arranged adjacent to the inner discourager wall portion to define an inner dome connecting flange discourager.

14 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the inner cowl flange root portion includes an inner discourager wall portion extending radially outward from an upstream end of the inner cowl connecting flange, an upstream end of the inner liner connecting flange is arranged adjacent to the inner discourager wall portion to define an inner liner connecting flange discourager, and an upstream end of the inner dome connecting flange is arranged adjacent to the inner discourager wall portion to define an inner dome connecting flange discourager.

15 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the outer connection comprises at least one outer connection bushing extending through at least one of the outer liner connecting flange and the outer dome connecting flange, an outer connection fastener extending through the at least one outer connection bushing, and a retention member connected to the outer connection fastener.

16 . The combustor according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one outer connection bushing includes an outer liner connecting flange bushing extending through the outer liner connecting flange and an outer dome connecting flange bushing extending through the outer dome connecting flange.

17 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein the inner connection comprises at least one inner connection bushing extending through at least one of the inner liner connecting flange and the inner dome connecting flange, an inner connection fastener extending through the at least one inner connection bushing, and a retention member connected to the inner connection fastener.

18 . The combustor according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one inner connection bushing includes an inner liner connecting flange bushing extending through the inner liner connecting flange and an inner dome connecting flange bushing extending through the inner dome connecting flange.

19 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein an upstream end of the outer liner connecting flange is arranged adjacent to the first outer discourager wall portion to define an outer liner connecting flange discourager, and an upstream end of the outer dome connecting flange is arranged adjacent to the second outer discourager wall portion to define an outer dome connecting flange discourager.

20 . The combustor according to claim 1 , wherein an upstream end of the inner liner connecting flange is arranged adjacent to the second inner discourager wall portion to define an inner liner connecting flange discourager, and an upstream end of the inner dome connecting flange is arranged adjacent to the first inner discourager wall portion to define an inner dome connecting flange discourager.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2024
From: HAHM, TREVOR JAMES; SALAZAR LOIS, GERARDO ANTONIO; KIRTLEY, DANIEL J.; JONES, RYAN CHRISTOPHER; KAHN, ADAM ROBERT
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066790/0612 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250290636A1 · Sep 18, 2025
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