Variable vane devices containing rotationally-driven translating vane structures and methods for the production thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018216632-A1
Application number	US-201715420717-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2017
Priority date	Jan 31, 2017
Publication date	Aug 2, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Variable vane devices containing rotationally-driven translating vane structures are provided, as are methods for fabricating variable vane devices. In one embodiment, the variable vane device includes a flow assembly having a centerline, an annular flow passage extending through the flow assembly, cam mechanisms, and rotationally-driven translating vane structures coupled to the flow assembly and rotatable relative thereto. The translating vane structures include vane bodies positioned within the annular flow passage and angularly spaced about the centerline. During operation of the variable vane device, the cam mechanisms adjust translational positions of the vane bodies within the annular flow passage in conjunction with rotation of the translating vane structures relative to the flow assembly. By virtue of the translational movement of the translating vane structures, a reduction in the clearances between the vane bodies and neighboring flow assembly surfaces can be realized to reduce end gap leakage and boost device performance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A variable vane device, comprising:
a flow assembly having a centerline; an annular flow passage extending through the flow assembly; rotationally-driven translating vane structures coupled to the flow assembly and rotatable relative thereto, the rotationally-driven translating vane structures including vane bodies positioned within the annular flow passage and angularly spaced about the centerline; and cam mechanisms coupled to the flow assembly and to the rotationally-driven translating vane structures, the cam mechanisms adjusting translational positions of the vane bodies within the annular flow passage as the rotationally-driven translating vane structures rotate relative to the flow assembly.

2 . The variable vane device of claim 1 wherein the cam mechanisms comprise rotating ramped surfaces, which are coupled to and which rotate in conjunction with the rotationally-driven translating vane structures.

3 . The variable vane device of claim 2 wherein the cam mechanisms further comprise non-rotating ramped surfaces, which are coupled to the flow assembly in a rotationally-fixed relationship and which engage the rotating ramped surfaces.

4 . The variable vane device of claim 3 wherein the rotating ramped surfaces slide along the non-rotating ramped surfaces as the rotationally-driven translating vane structures rotate relative to the flow assembly to adjust the translational positions of the vane bodies within the annular flow passage.

5 . The variable vane device of claim 3 wherein the cam mechanisms further comprise resilient preload members urging contact between the non-rotating and rotating ramped surfaces.

6 . The variable vane device of claim 2 wherein the rotating ramped surfaces are integrally formed with the rotationally-driven translating vane structures.

7 . The variable vane device of claim 6 wherein the rotationally-driven translating vane structures comprise:
stem portions;
vane bodies; and
button portions between the stem portions and the vane bodies, the rotating ramped surfaces integrally formed in the button portions of the rotationally-driven translating vane structures opposite the vane bodies.

8 . The variable vane device of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of spacers rotationally affixed to the rotationally-driven translating vane structures, the rotating ramped surfaces formed on the plurality of spacers.

9 . The variable vane device of claim 8 wherein the flow assembly comprises a plurality of bores provided in a circumferential surface of the flow assembly and angularly spaced about the centerline, wherein the rotationally-driven translating vane structures extend into the plurality of bores, and wherein the plurality of spacers is matingly received in the plurality of bores.

10 . The variable vane device of claim 1 wherein the flow assembly has an annular endwall partially bounding the flow passage, and wherein edge portions of the vane bodies are separated from the annular endwall by radial clearances.

11 . The variable vane device of claim 10 wherein the rotationally-driven translating vane structures have an angular Range of Motion (ROM), and wherein the cam mechanisms are configured to adjust the translational positions of the vane bodies within the annular flow passage such that an average value of the radial clearances over the angular ROM is decreased due to the translational movement imparted to the rotationally-driven translating vane structures by the cam mechanisms.

12 . The variable vane device of claim 11 wherein the radial clearances vary from a maximum value to a minimum value over the angular ROM, and wherein the cam mechanisms are configured to adjust the translational positions of the vane bodies within the annular flow passage such that the difference between the maximum and minimum values is less than 2% a chord length of the vane body.

13 . A variable vane device, comprising:
a flow assembly through which a flow passage extends; a non-rotating ramped surface coupled to the flow assembly in a rotationally-fixed relationship; a rotationally-driven translating vane structure coupled to the flow assembly and rotatable relative thereto through an angular Range of Motion (ROM), the rotationally-driven translating vane structure including a vane body positioned within the flow passage; and a rotating ramped surface fixedly coupled to the rotationally-driven translating vane structure and rotating therewith, the rotating ramped surface sliding along the non-rotating ramped surface as the rotationally-driven translating vane structure rotates through the angular ROM to adjust the translational position of the vane body within the flow passage.

14 . The variable vane device of claim 13 further comprising a resilient preload member exerting a translational force on the rotationally-driven translating vane structure urging contact between the non-rotating and rotating ramped surfaces.

15 . The variable vane device of claim 13 further comprising a ramped spacer engaging the rotationally-driven translating vane structure in a rotationally-fixed relationship and defining one of the non-rotating ramped surface and the rotating ramped surface.

16 . The variable vane device of claim 13 wherein rotationally-driven translating vane structure comprises:
a stem portion fixedly coupled to the vane body; and
a button portion between the stem portion and the translating body, the rotating ramped surface integrally formed on the button portion.

17 . The variable vane device of claim 13 wherein rotationally-driven translating vane structure comprises a stem portion fixedly coupled to the vane body, wherein the flow assembly comprises a bore into which the stem portion extends, and wherein the rotating and non-rotating ramped surfaces are located in the bore.

18 . A method for producing a variable vane device, comprising:
providing a non-rotating ramped surface coupled to a flow assembly in a rotationally-fixed relationship; further providing a rotating ramped surface fixedly coupled to a rotationally-driven translating vane structure, which includes a vane body positioned in a flow passage of the flow assembly; and placing the non-rotating and rotating ramped surfaces in contact such that the rotating ramped surface slides along the non-rotating ramped surface as the rotationally-driven translating vane structure rotates relative to the flow assembly to adjust a translational position of the vane body within the flow passage.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein providing a non-rotating ramped surface comprises inserting a ramped spacer into a bore formed in the flow assembly.

20 . The method of claim 18 wherein flow assembly comprises an annular static structure bounding a circumference of the flow passage, and wherein providing a non-rotating ramped surface comprises forming the ramped surface on the annular static structure.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Conner Richard David
• Reynolds Bruce David
• Gentry Timothy
• Hall Peter

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

• F05D2240/122

  related to the trailing edge of a stator vane · CPC title

• F01D11/005

  Sealing means between non relatively rotating elements · CPC title

• F04D29/023

  especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• F04D29/542

  Bladed diffusers (fixing blades to stators F01D9/042) · CPC title