Bushing for a variable stator vane and method of making same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016160675-A1
Application number	US-201414559332-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 3, 2014
Priority date	Dec 3, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bushing for use in a stator vane assembly that includes an annular body that extends between a first end and a second end. The bushing is configured to be removable from the stator vane assembly without disassembly of the stator vane assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bushing for use in a stator vane assembly, said bushing comprising:
an annular body extending between a first end and a second end, said bushing being configured to be removable from the stator vane assembly without disassembly of the stator vane assembly.

2 . The bushing of claim 1 , wherein said annular body defines at least one key portion, each said at least one key portion defines a first circumferential width at a first axial distance from said body first end and a second circumferential width at a second axial distance from said body first end, wherein the second axial distance is longer than the first axial distance, and wherein the second circumferential width is wider than the first circumferential width.

3 . The bushing of claim 2 , wherein each said at least one key portion is further defined by at least one engagement surface that at least partially faces toward said body second end, said at least one engagement surface extends at a third axial distance from said body first end, wherein the third axial distance is longer than the first axial distance and shorter than the second axial distance.

4 . The bushing of claim 2 , wherein said at least one key portion comprises a pair of oppositely-disposed key portions located on opposing portions of said annular body.

5 . The bushing of claim 2 , wherein each said at least one key portion comprises a cutout defined in said body, said cutout extends from said body first end towards said body second end.

6 . The bushing of claim 5 , wherein said cutout extends substantially radially from an inner surface of said body to an outer surface of said body.

7 . The bushing of claim 2 , wherein each said at least one key portion comprises a projection that extends from said body first end away from said body second end.

8 . The bushing of claim 7 , wherein said projection extends from an extended annular space defined by said body.

9 . A compressor for a rotary machine, said compressor comprising:
a casing; and at least one variable stator vane assembly coupled to said casing, wherein each said variable stator vane assembly comprises:
an airfoil that extends into a flow path defined through said compressor;
a trunnion coupled to said airfoil, said trunnion extends through an opening defined in said casing; and
a bushing between said trunnion and a wall that defines said opening, said bushing being configured to be removable from said at least one variable stator vane assembly, without disassembly of said at least one variable stator vane assembly.

10 . The bushing of claim 9 , wherein said bushing comprises an annular body extending between a first end and a second end, said annular body defining at least one key portion, each said at least one key portion defines a first circumferential width at a first axial distance from said body first end and a second circumferential width at a second axial distance from said body first end, wherein the second axial distance is longer than the first axial distance, and wherein the second circumferential width is wider than the first circumferential width.

11 . The bushing of claim 10 , wherein each said at least one key portion is further defined by at least one engagement surface that at least partially faces toward said body second end, said at least one engagement surface extends at a third axial distance from said body first end, wherein the third axial distance is longer than the first axial distance and shorter than the second axial distance.

12 . The bushing of claim 10 , wherein said at least one key portion comprises a pair of oppositely-disposed key portions located on opposing portions of said annular body.

13 . The bushing of claim 10 , wherein each said at least one key portion comprises a cutout defined in said body, said cutout extends from said body first end towards said body second end.

14 . The bushing of claim 13 , wherein said cutout extends substantially radially from an inner surface of said body to an outer surface of said body.

15 . A method of fabricating a bushing that can be removed from a variable stator vane assembly without disassembly of the variable stator vane assembly, said method comprising:
forming an annular body extending between a first end and a second end; and forming at least one key portion, each at least one key portion defines a first circumferential width at a first axial distance from said body first end and a second circumferential width at a second axial distance from said body first end, wherein the second axial distance is longer than the first axial distance, and wherein the second circumferential width is wider than the first circumferential width.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein forming at least one key portion of the body comprises forming at least one engagement surface that at least partially faces toward said body second end, said at least one engagement surface extends at a third axial distance from said body first end, wherein the third axial distance is longer than the first axial distance and shorter than the second axial distance.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein forming at least one key portion of the body comprises forming a pair of oppositely-disposed key portions located on opposing portions of the annular body.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein forming at least one key portion of the body comprises defining a cutout in the body, wherein the cutout extends from the body first end towards the body second end.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein forming at least one key portion of the body comprises forming a projection that extends from the body first end away from the body second end.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein forming the projection comprises disposing the projection within an extended annular space defined by the body.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Williamson Aaron David
• Jarrett Jr Harry Mcfarland

Classifications

• F01D17/162

  for axial flow, i.e. the vanes turning around axes which are essentially perpendicular to the rotor centre line (F01D17/167 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F05D2230/70

  Disassembly methods · CPC title

• F05D2250/182

  crenellated, notched · CPC title

• F04D29/644

  especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• F04D29/563 Primary

  specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title