Strut assembly for bearing compartment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018320552-A1
Application number	US-201715586920-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 4, 2017
Priority date	May 4, 2017
Publication date	Nov 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A strut assembly for a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine includes an inner case, an outer case, and a first plurality of struts. The inner case is disposed within the bearing compartment and includes a first axis. The outer case defines an exterior of the bearing compartment and includes a second axis disposed co-axially with the first axis. The inner and outer cases define a flowpath between the inner and outer cases. Each strut of the first plurality of struts extends between and is connected to the inner and outer cases. The first plurality of struts is configured to maintain concentric positioning between the inner and outer cases and to allow relative changes in size between the inner and outer cases without deforming the inner case.

First claim

1 . A strut assembly for a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine, the strut assembly comprising:
an inner case disposed within the bearing compartment, the inner case having a first axis, the first axis being a first radially central axis; an outer case defining an exterior of the bearing compartment, the outer case having a second axis, the second axis being a radially central axis that is co-axial with the first axis, wherein the inner and outer cases define a flowpath therebetween; and a first plurality of struts configured to maintain concentric positioning between the inner case and outer case, wherein each strut of the first plurality of struts extends between and is connected to the inner case and outer case, wherein the first plurality of struts is resiliently deformable between the outer case and inner case whereby a change in size in one of the outer case and inner case is radially isolated from the other of the outer case and inner case.

2 . The strut assembly of claim 1 , wherein each strut of the first plurality of struts comprises a fluidic passage extending through the strut.

3 . The strut assembly of claim 1 , wherein each strut of the first plurality of struts is elastic.

4 . The strut assembly of claim 1 , wherein each strut of the first plurality of struts comprises a coil spring, a leaf spring, a serpentine, or a bellows.

5 . The strut assembly of claim 1 , wherein a shape of one of the struts of the first plurality of struts comprises a hollow cylinder with a strut axis, wherein the strut axis is aligned along an axial direction with the first and second axes of the inner and outer cases.

6 . The strut assembly of claim 5 , further wherein the shape of one of the struts of the first plurality of struts comprises a right circular hollow cylinder, an elliptic hollow cylinder, an oblique hollow cylinder, or a torus.

7 . The strut assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of struts comprises a first circumferential clocking configuration between consecutive struts about the circumference of the inner case such that there is uniform spacing between each strut of the first plurality of struts.

8 . The strut assembly of claim 7 further comprising a second plurality of struts disposed axially aft of the first plurality of struts.

9 . The strut assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second plurality of struts comprises a second circumferential clocking configuration between consecutive struts about the circumference of the inner case, wherein the second circumferential clocking configuration is off-set from the first circumferential clocking configuration.

10 . The strut assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one strut of the plurality of struts includes a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different than a coefficient of thermal expansion of at least one of the inner case and the outer case.

11 . A bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine, the bearing compartment comprising:
a first annular structure; a second annular structure defining an exterior of a bearing housing of the bearing compartment and surrounding a portion of the first annular structure, wherein the second annular structure is disposed co-axially with the first annular structure, wherein the first and second annular structures define a flowpath located radially between the first and second annular structures; and a plurality of resilient support elements disposed between the first and second annular structures, wherein each of the plurality of resilient support structures is connected to the first annular structure and the second annular structure, and further wherein each of the plurality of resilient support structures is configured to radially deform upon thermal expansion of the second annular structure so as to maintain the shape of the first annular structure.

12 . The bearing compartment of claim 11 , wherein each resilient support element comprises a hollow cylinder.

13 . The bearing compartment of claim 12 , wherein a shape of each resilient support element comprises a right circular hollow cylinder, an elliptic hollow cylinder, an oblique hollow cylinder, or a torus.

14 . The bearing compartment of claim 11 , wherein each resilient support element is elastic.

15 . The bearing compartment of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of resilient support elements further comprises a first plurality and a second plurality of resilient support elements, wherein the first plurality of resilient support elements comprises a first clocking configuration between consecutive resilient support elements such that there is uniform circumferential spacing between each resilient support element of the first plurality of resilient support elements.

16 . The bearing compartment of claim 15 , wherein the second plurality of resilient support elements comprises a second clocking configuration between circumferentially consecutive resilient support elements, wherein the second clocking configuration is off-set from the first clocking configuration.

17 . The bearing compartment of claim 11 , wherein at least one resilient support element of the plurality of resilient support elements includes a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than a coefficient of thermal expansion of at least one of the inner case and the outer case.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Harris Thomas O
• Ribarov Lubomir A

Classifications

• F16C19/225

  Details of the ribs supporting the end of the rollers · CPC title

• F05D2260/30

  Retaining components in desired mutual position · CPC title

• F01D9/065

  Fluid supply or removal conduits traversing the working fluid flow, e.g. for lubrication-, cooling-, or sealing fluids (see also F01D25/16, F01D25/24 and F01D25/26) · CPC title

• F01D25/26

  Double casings; Measures against temperature strain in casings · CPC title

• F01D25/164 Primary

  Flexible supports; Vibration damping means associated with the bearing · CPC title