Fastener retention mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10494936-B2
Application number	US-201615162032-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2016
Priority date	May 23, 2016
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A stator assembly having: an inner air seal carrier having a mounting body; a plurality of guide vanes secured to the mounting body via a plurality of fasteners; and a fastener retention mechanism secured to the mounting body via the plurality of fasteners. The fastener retention mechanism having: a housing defining an inner chamber; and a filler located within the inner chamber. The portions of the plurality of fasteners are encapsulated within the filler.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stator assembly for a gas turbine engine, the stator assembly comprising:
an inner air seal carrier having a mounting body;
a plurality of guide vanes secured to the mounting body via a plurality of fasteners; and
a fastener retention mechanism secured to the mounting body via the plurality of fasteners, the fastener retention mechanism comprising:
a housing defining an inner chamber;
a filler located within the inner chamber; and

wherein portions of the plurality of fasteners are encapsulated within the filler,
wherein the housing further comprises: a base configured to secure to the mounting body; and a pair of opposing side walls extending from the base and a cover portion extending between the pair of opposing side walls, and
wherein the housing includes a screen located in the inner chamber, the screen configured to cover the at least one fastener access opening.

2. The stator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover portion includes at least one fastener access opening.

3. The stator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the filler is formed from a liquid material that is converted into a solid elastically deformable material having resilient properties.

4. The stator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing and the filler are configured to encapsulate the portion of at most four fasteners.

5. The stator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to reduce drag of the stator assembly.

6. The stator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover portion of the housing includes a first side opening and a second side opening.

7. A method for encasing a portion of a plurality of fasteners securing a plurality of guide vanes to a mounting body of an inner air seal carrier, comprising:
securing the plurality of guide vanes to the mounting body via the plurality of fasteners;
simultaneously securing a housing of a fastener retention mechanism to the mounting body via the plurality of fasteners, the housing defining an inner chamber and wherein the portion of the fasteners are located in the inner chamber; and
injecting a filler into the inner chamber, the filler configured to encapsulate the portion of the fasteners,
wherein the housing further comprises: a base configured to secure to the mounting body; and a pair of opposing side walls extending from the base and a cover portion extending between the pair of opposing side walls, and
wherein the housing includes a screen located in the inner chamber, the screen configured to cover the at least one fastener access opening.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cover portion includes at least one fastener access opening.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the filler is formed from a liquid material that is converted into a solid elastically deformable material having resilient properties.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the housing and the filler are configured to encapsulate the portion of at most four fasteners.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the housing is configured to reduce drag of the stator assembly.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cover portion of the housing includes a first side opening and a second side opening.

13. A fastener retention mechanism housing for a stator assembly of a gas turbine engine, the fastener retention mechanism housing comprising:
a base;
a pair of opposing side walls extending from the base; and
a cover portion extending between the pair of opposing side walls,
wherein the base includes a through hole configured to receive a fastener to secure the housing to the stator assembly of the gas turbine engine, and
wherein the cover portion includes a fastener access opening, the fastener access opening being opposite the through hole; and
a screen configured to cover the fastener access opening.

14. The fastener retention mechanism housing of claim 13 , wherein the cover portion of the housing includes a first side opening and a second side opening.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Biolsi David
• Eckland Kevin C
• Feigleson Steven J
• Freeman Thomas

Classifications

• F01D9/041 Primary

  using blades (F01D5/148 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F01D11/001

  for sealing space between stator blade and rotor · CPC title

• F05D2300/501

  Elasticity · CPC title

• F05D2300/615

  Filler · CPC title

• F05D2240/80

  Platforms for stationary or moving blades · CPC title