IP Library Granted Patent US 12,736,009
Granted Patent B1
US 12,736,009 · App. 19/334,324 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

SGV acoustic liner retention

Inventors: Colin Kling (Exton, PA); David A. Welch (Quaker Hill, CT)
Assignee: RTX Corporation
F02C7/24G10K11/18F05D2260/96
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,736,009
App. No.
19/334,324
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention including an acoustic panel inserted into an acoustic panel receiver; a retention tab formed near a trailing edge of the acoustic panel; a leading edge extension formed near a leading edge of the acoustic panel; a tab receiver formed in the structural guide vane near a trailing edge of the structural guide vane; and a leading edge cap secured over the leading edge extension and leading edge of the structural guide vane to encapsulate and secure the acoustic panel into the acoustic receiver.

Claims (58)

1 . A structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention comprising:

a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite chordwise from the leading edge; a radially inner attachment region opposite spanwise from a radially outer attachment region; a span dimension extending between the radially inner attachment region and the radially outer attachment region; a chord dimension extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge; a pressure side opposite a suction side of the structural guide vane;

an acoustic panel receiver formed within the structural guide vane extendable at least one of spanwise through the structural guide vane between the radially inner attachment region and the radially outer attachment region or chordwise between the leading edge and the trailing edge; and

an acoustic panel inserted into the acoustic panel receiver;

a retention tab formed near a trailing edge of the acoustic panel;

a leading edge extension formed near a leading edge of the acoustic panel;

a tab receiver formed in the structural guide vane near the trailing edge of the structural guide vane; and

a leading edge cap secured over the leading edge extension and the leading edge of the structural guide vane to encapsulate and secure the acoustic panel into the acoustic receiver.

2 . The structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention according to claim 1 , wherein the acoustic panel is configured to be rotatably hinged, insertable into the acoustic panel receiver.

3 . The structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention according to claim 1 , wherein the acoustic panel receiver is located on the pressure side.

4 . The structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention according to claim 1 , wherein the tab receiver can be open ended such that the suction side is open or the tab receiver is closed such that the suction side is closed off.

5 . The structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention according to claim 1 , further comprising:

acoustic treatment formed within the acoustic panel, the acoustic treatment configured to dissipate sound energy.

6 . The structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention according to claim 1 , wherein the retention tab can pivot within the tab receiver to be secured.

7 . The structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention according to claim 1 , wherein the retention tab abuts the structural guide vane near the pressure side within the tab receiver.

8 . A gas turbine engine including a structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention comprising:

a fan located within a fan duct; and

an array of structural guide vanes supported within the fan duct downstream from the fan, the array of structural guide vanes span across the fan duct attached to a radially inner surface of the fan duct and a radially outer surface of the fan duct;

wherein each structural guide vane of the array of structural guide vanes comprises:

a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite chordwise from the leading edge; a radially inner attachment region opposite spanwise from a radially outer attachment region;

a span dimension extending between the radially inner attachment region and the radially outer attachment region;

a chord dimension extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge; a pressure side opposite a suction side of the fan exit guide vane;

an acoustic panel receiver formed within the structural guide vane extendable at least one of spanwise through the structural guide vane between the radially inner attachment region and the radially outer attachment region or chordwise between the leading edge and the trailing edge; and

an acoustic panel inserted into the acoustic panel receiver;

a retention tab formed near a trailing edge of the acoustic panel;

a leading edge extension formed near a leading edge of the acoustic panel;

a tab receiver formed in the structural guide vane near the trailing edge of the structural guide vane; and

a leading edge cap secured over the leading edge extension and the leading edge of the structural guide vane to encapsulate and secure the acoustic panel into the acoustic receiver.

9 . The gas turbine engine including a structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention according to claim 8 , wherein the acoustic panel is configured to be rotatably hinged, insertable into the acoustic panel receiver.

10 . The gas turbine engine including a structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention according to claim 8 , wherein the retention tab presses against the structural guide vane to secure the acoustic panel within the acoustic receiver.

11 . The gas turbine engine including a structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention according to claim 8 , wherein the leading edge cap overlaps the leading edge extension near the pressure side of the structural guide vane.

12 . The gas turbine engine including a structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention according to claim 8 ,

wherein the leading edge cap can be attached with the structural guide vane and acoustic panel configured to allow for the acoustic panel to have thermal growth in an absence of distortion created by thermal-induced stress/strain in the acoustic panel.

13 . The gas turbine engine including a structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention according to claim 8 , wherein the leading edge cap can be attached with the structural guide vane by use of adhesive.

14 . A process for a creating gas turbine engine including a structural guide vane with acoustic panel retention comprising:

supporting an array of structural guide vanes within a fan duct downstream from a location associated with a fan; attaching the array of structural guide vanes spanned across the fan duct to a radially inner surface of the fan duct and a radially outer surface of the fan duct;

coupling a radially inner attachment region of each structural guide vane of the array of structural guide vanes in operative communication with the radially inner surface of the fan duct;

coupling a radially outer attachment region of each structural guide vane of the array of structural guide vanes in operative communication with the radially outer surface of the fan duct;

forming an acoustic panel receiver within each structural guide vane extending at least one of spanwise through the structural guide vane between the radially inner attachment region and the radially outer attachment region or chordwise between a leading edge and a trailing edge of each structural guide vane;

inserting an acoustic panel into the acoustic panel receiver;

forming a retention tab near a trailing edge of the acoustic panel;

forming a leading edge extension near a leading edge of the acoustic panel;

forming a tab receiver in the structural guide vane near the trailing edge of the structural guide vane; and

encapsulating a leading edge cap over the leading edge extension and the leading edge of the structural guide vane to secure the acoustic panel with the acoustic receiver.

15 . The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

configuring the acoustic panel to be rotatably hinged, insertable into the acoustic panel receiver.

16 . The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

forming the acoustic treatment within the acoustic panel; and

configuring the acoustic treatment to dissipate sound energy.

17 . The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

pressing the retention tab against the structural guide vane to secure the acoustic panel within the acoustic receiver.

18 . The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

overlapping the leading edge cap over the leading edge extension near the pressure side of the structural guide vane.

19 . The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

pivoting the retention tab within the tab receiver to secure the acoustic panel within the acoustic receiver.

20 . The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

attaching the leading edge cap with the structural guide vane and acoustic panel; and

allowing for thermal growth of the acoustic panel in an absence of distortion created by thermal-induced stress/strain in the acoustic panel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2025
From: KLING, COLIN; WELCH, DAVID A.
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072316/0646 →
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