Blade tip clearance probe/lead cooling jacket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12467376-B1
Application number	US-202418793614-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 2, 2024
Priority date	Aug 2, 2024
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A lead cooling assembly includes a cooling jacket including a tubular section having an exterior portion and an interior portion, where the interior portion is proportioned to surround a probe lead and provide space for a flow of a gaseous coolant. The lead cooling assembly also includes an intake configured to admit the gaseous coolant into the interior portion of the cooling jacket. The lead cooling assembly further includes a collar configured to fit over the exterior portion of the cooling jacket, where the collar includes one or more exit holes configured to pass the gaseous coolant out of the interior portion of the cooling jacket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A lead cooling assembly comprising:
a cooling jacket comprising a tubular section having an exterior portion and an interior portion, wherein the interior portion is proportioned to surround a probe lead and provide space for a flow of a gaseous coolant; an intake configured to admit the gaseous coolant into the interior portion of the cooling jacket; a collar configured to fit over the exterior portion of the cooling jacket, wherein the collar includes one or more exit holes configured to pass the gaseous coolant out of the interior portion of the cooling jacket; and a backside cover, wherein the backside cover attaches to a backside of a probe body to define a cooling chamber between the backside cover and the backside of the probe body, wherein the gaseous coolant enters the cooling chamber from the one or more exit holes in the collar, and wherein the gaseous coolant exits the cooling chamber via one or more exit ports.

2 . The lead cooling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gaseous coolant comprises at least one of compressed air or gaseous nitrogen.

3 . The lead cooling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the collar attaches to the probe body by one or more of a brazed joint or a tack weld.

4 . The lead cooling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the collar is configured to attach to the probe lead, and wherein the probe lead is mounted to a sidewall of the probe body.

5 . The lead cooling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the collar is configured to attach to the probe lead, and wherein the probe lead is mounted to the backside cover of the probe body.

6 . The lead cooling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an insulated offset collar surrounding a section of the exterior portion of the cooling jacket,
wherein the insulated offset collar prevents one or more of a blade outer air seal (BOAS) rail or tack strap attached to a BOAS rail from directly contacting the cooling jacket.

7 . The lead cooling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the exit ports comprise gaps between tack welds attaching the backside cover to the backside of the probe body.

8 . The lead cooling assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a thermal spacer configured to surround a portion of the probe body and reduce contact between the probe body and a blade outer air seal (BOAS).

9 . The lead cooling assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the collar is integral with the backside cover; and the exit ports comprise holes formed in the backside cover.

10 . An apparatus comprising:
a sensor comprising a probe body and a probe lead connected to the probe body and configured to pass a signal generated in the probe body; a cooling jacket comprising a tubular section having an exterior portion and an interior portion, wherein the interior portion surrounds the probe lead and provides space for a flow of a gaseous coolant; an intake configured to admit the gaseous coolant into the interior portion of the cooling jacket; a collar configured to fit over the exterior portion of the cooling jacket and connect to the probe body, wherein the collar includes one or more exit holes configured to pass the gaseous coolant out of the interior portion of the cooling jacket; and a backside cover, wherein the backside cover attaches to a backside of the probe body to define a cooling chamber between the backside cover and the backside of the probe body, wherein the gaseous coolant enters the cooling chamber from the one or more exit holes in the collar, and wherein the gaseous coolant exits the cooling chamber via one or more exit ports.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the gaseous coolant comprises at least one of compressed air or gaseous nitrogen.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the collar attaches to the probe body by one or more of a brazed joint or a tack weld.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the collar is configured to attach to the probe lead, and wherein the probe lead is mounted to a sidewall of the probe body.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the collar is configured to attach to the probe lead, and wherein the probe lead is mounted to the backside cover of the probe body.

15 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising an insulated offset collar surrounding a section of the exterior portion of the cooling jacket,
wherein the insulated offset collar prevents one or more of a blade outer air seal (BOAS) rail or tack strap attached to a BOAS rail from directly contacting the cooling jacket.

16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the exit ports comprise gaps between tack welds attaching the backside cover to the backside of the probe body.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a thermal spacer configured to surround a portion of the probe body and reduce contact between the probe body and a blade outer air seal (BOAS).

18 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
the collar is integral with the backside cover; and the exit ports comprise holes formed in the backside cover.

Assignees

• Rtx Corp

Inventors

• Warren Eli
• Hackett Bryan James
• Harrington Patrick M
• Tomick Hunter
• Dreger Edward F
• Haldeman Charles W

Classifications

• F01D17/02

  Arrangement of sensing elements · CPC title

• F01D11/20

  Actively adjusting tip-clearance · CPC title

• F01D11/18 Primary

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

• F01D25/12

  Cooling · CPC title

• G01B5/14

  for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B5/24 takes precedence) · CPC title