Slots for turbomachine structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10443435-B2
Application number	US-201514969426-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2015
Priority date	Dec 15, 2014
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

A component for a turbomachine includes an annular body defining an inner diameter portion and an outer diameter portion, and a crack guiding slot defined in a surface of the annular body extending from the inner diameter portion radially outward toward the outer diameter portion or extending from the outer diameter portion radially inward toward the inner diameter portion. The outer diameter portion can be mountable to a stationary structure of a turbomachine. The inner diameter portion can be mountable to a turbine vane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A structural component for supporting a component of a turbomachine, the structural component comprising:
an annular body extending axially with respect to a center axis of the annular body, the annular body having an inner diameter portion and an outer diameter portion;
a crack guiding slot defined in a surface of the annular body extending from the inner diameter portion radially outward toward the outer diameter portion or extending from the outer diameter portion radially inward toward the inner diameter portion, the crack guiding slot extending into the surface of the annular body to a depth (D) less than a thickness (T) of the annular body proximate the crack guiding slot; and
a crack arresting hole defined at a radially outward terminus of the crack guiding slot.

2. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter portion is mountable to a stationary structure of the turbomachine.

3. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein the inner diameter portion is mountable to a turbine vane.

4. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein the crack guiding slot is V-shaped in cross-section.

5. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein the crack guiding slot includes one flat surface and one curved surface in cross-section.

6. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein the crack guiding slot is U-shaped in cross-section.

7. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein the crack guiding slot extends into the surface of the annular body to a depth of up to 80% of the thickness of the annular body proximate the crack guiding slot.

8. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein the crack arresting hole is defined through the entire thickness of the annular body.

9. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein the crack guiding slot is one of a plurality of crack guiding slots, each spaced apart in a predetermined circumferential pattern.

10. A method, comprising:
forming a turbomachine component support, the component support including an annular body extending axially with respect to a center axis of the annular body, the annular body defining an inner diameter portion and an outer diameter portion;
defining a crack guiding slot in a surface of the annular body extending from the inner diameter portion radially outward toward the outer diameter portion or extending from the outer diameter portion radially inward toward the inner diameter portion, wherein the crack guiding slot extends into the surface of the annular body to a depth (D) less than a thickness (T) of the annular body proximate the crack guiding slot; and
disposing a crack arresting hole at a radially outward terminus of the crack guiding slot.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the component support is a vane support.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein defining the crack guiding slot includes defining a V-shaped slot in cross-section.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein defining the crack guiding slot includes defining one flat surface and one curved surface in the slot.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein defining the crack guiding slot includes defining a U-shaped slot in cross-section.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein defining the crack guiding slot includes defining the slot into the surface of the annular body to a depth of up to 80% of the thickness of the annular body proximate the crack guiding slot.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein disposing the crack arresting hole includes defining the crack arresting hole in the annular body to the same depth as the crack guiding slot.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Hayford Richard K
• Bruskotter Michael J
• Vandenbosch Ross A

Classifications

• F01D11/18

  using stator or rotor components with predetermined thermal response, e.g. selective insulation, thermal inertia, differential expansion · CPC title

• F05D2260/941

  particularly aimed at mechanical or thermal stress reduction · CPC title

• F01D9/04 Primary

  forming ring or sector · CPC title

• F01D25/246

  Fastening of diaphragms or stator-rings · CPC title

• F01D25/12 Primary

  Cooling · CPC title