IP Library Granted Patent US 11,649,729
Granted Patent B2
US 11,649,729 · App. 17/886,190 · Granted May 16, 2023

Anti-vortex tube retaining ring and bore basket

Inventors: Konstantinos Panagiotis Giannakopoulos (Middletown, CT); Matthew E. Bintz (West Hartford, CT); Jashandeep Singh (Allen, TX)
Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
F01D5/087B33Y80/00F05D2220/32F05D2230/31F05D2260/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,649,729
App. No.
17/886,190
Granted
May 16, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An anti-vortex tube (AVT) retaining ring and bore basket is provided and includes a unitary body having an inboard portion, an outboard portion and an intermediate portion. The inboard portion includes a first ring-shaped body with an outer diameter. The outboard portion is configured to support an array of AVTs and includes a second ring-shaped body with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first ring-shaped body. The intermediate portion includes a flange extending between the outer and inner diameters of the first and second ring-shaped bodies, respectively.

Claims (39)

1. An anti-vortex tube (AVT) retaining ring and bore basket, comprising:

a unitary body having an inboard portion, an outboard portion and an intermediate portion,

the inboard portion comprising a first ring-shaped body with an outer diameter,

the outboard portion being configured to support AVTs and comprising a second ring-shaped body with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter, and

the intermediate portion comprising a flange extending between the the first and second ring-shaped bodies,

wherein the second ring-shaped body defines through-holes through which the AVTs extend and comprises a protrusion for AVT support, and

wherein the outboard portion is configured for simultaneous engagement with two surfaces of a boss of the front or rear block.

2. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 1 , wherein the unitary body is additively manufactured.

3. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 1 , wherein the AVTs are arranged circumferentially and oriented radially.

4. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 1 , wherein:

the unitary body is configured for installation within a front block of a compressor, and

the outboard portion is configured for engagement with a boss of the front block.

5. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 1 , wherein:

the unitary body is configured for installation within a rear block of a compressor, and

the outboard portion is configured for engagement with a boss of the rear block.

6. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 1 , wherein an axial end of the outboard portion opposite the intermediate portion is axially aligned with a point on the inboard portion.

7. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 1 , wherein the first ring-shaped body defines an airflow pathway, an outlet thereof and an inlet thereof.

8. An anti-vortex tube (AVT) retaining ring and bore basket for a front block of a compressor and comprising:

a unitary body having an inboard portion, an outboard portion and an intermediate portion,

the inboard portion engageable with an inner diameter of the front block and comprising a first ring-shaped body with an outer diameter,

the outboard portion configured to simultaneously engage with two surfaces of a boss of the front block and configured to support AVTs and comprising a second ring-shaped body with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter, and

the intermediate portion comprising a flange extending between the first and second ring-shaped bodies,

wherein the second ring-shaped body defines through-holes through which the AVTs extend and comprises an AVT support protrusion.

9. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 8 , wherein the unitary body is additively manufactured.

10. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 8 , wherein the AVTs are arranged circumferentially and oriented radially.

11. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 8 , wherein the first ring-shaped body is disposable inside inboard ends of bores of rotors of forward-most stages of the front block.

12. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 8 , wherein the second ring-shaped body and the flange are disposable between lower webs of rotors of aft stages of the front block.

13. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 8 , wherein the first ring-shaped body defines an airflow pathway, which is configured to be fluidly communicative with an opening in the front block, an outlet thereof and an inlet thereof which is aft of the outlet.

14. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 13 , wherein, in an installed state of the retaining ring and bore basket, the airflow pathway extends inside inboard ends of bores of rotors of at least forward-most stages of the front block.

15. An anti-vortex tube (AVT) retaining ring and bore basket for a rear block of a compressor and comprising:

a unitary body having an inboard portion, an outboard portion and an intermediate portion,

the inboard portion engageable with an inner diameter of the rear block and comprising a first ring-shaped body with an outer diameter,

the outboard portion configured to simultaneously engage with two surfaces of a boss of the rear block and configured to support AVTs and comprising a second ring-shaped body with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter, and

the intermediate portion comprising a flange extending between the first and second ring-shaped bodies,

wherein the second ring-shaped body defines through-holes through which the AVTs extend and comprises an AVT support protrusion.

16. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 15 , wherein the unitary body is additively manufactured.

17. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 15 , wherein the AVTs are arranged circumferentially and oriented radially.

18. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 15 , wherein the first ring-shaped body is disposable inside inboard ends of bores of rotors of aft-most stages of the rear block.

19. The AVT retaining ring and bore basket according to claim 15 , wherein the second ring-shaped body and the flange are disposable between lower webs of rotors of forward stages of the rear block.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2022
From: GIANNAKOPOULOS, KONSTANTINOS PANAGIOTIS; BINTZ, MATTHEW E.; SINGH, JASHANDEEP
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060794/0563 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17024034 · Sep 17, 2020
Related Publication 20220389820A1 · Dec 8, 2022