Ceramic matrix composite nozzle mounted with a strut and concepts thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9915159-B2
Application number	US-201414574472-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2014
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

A nozzle assembly is provided which is, in part, formed of a low coefficient of thermal expansion material. The assembly includes a nozzle fairing formed of the low coefficient of thermal expansion material and includes a metallic strut extending radially through the nozzle fairing. Load is transferred from the nozzle fairing to a static structure in either of two ways: first, the strut may receive the load directly and/or second, load may be transferred from the nozzle fairing to at least one of the inner and outer support rings. Further, the nozzle fairing and strut may allow for internal airflow for cooling.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A nozzle segment assembly, comprising:
an outer support ring and an inner support ring;
a nozzle fairing formed of a low coefficient of thermal expansion material having an outer band and an inner band;
said nozzle fairing further having a vane extending between said outer band and said inner band;
a metallic strut extending between said outer support ring and said inner support ring, said strut allowing for load transfer between at least one pair of said nozzle fairing and said strut or said nozzle fairing and at least one of an inner and outer support ring;
said metallic strut extending through said nozzle fairing and allowing growth of said strut through said vane,
wherein said nozzle fairing transfers at least one of an axial load or tangential load from said nozzle fairing to at least one of said inner support ring and said outer support ring through pads extending from said strut to a cavity inner surface of said vane.

2. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 1 further comprising transferring load from said nozzle fairing to at least one of said metallic strut and said inner and outer support rings through surfaces which are at least one of above or below said nozzle fairing.

3. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 1 further comprising transferring load through a pin joint between said nozzle fairing and at least one of said metallic strut said inner and outer support rings.

4. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 1 , the vane further comprising;
a vane pressure side; and
a vane suction side;

the pads further comprising;
a first load bearing pad located at a radially outer end of the metallic strut, between the metallic strut and the vane pressure side; and
a second load bearing pad located at a radially inner end of the metallic strut, between the metallic strut and the vane pressure side.

5. A nozzle segment assembly, comprising:
an outer support ring and an inner support ring;
a nozzle fairing formed of a low coefficient of thermal expansion material having an outer band and an inner band;
said nozzle fairing further having a vane extending between said outer band and said inner band;
a metallic strut extending between said outer support ring and said inner support ring, said strut allowing for load transfer between at least one pair of said nozzle fairing and said strut or said nozzle fairing and at least one of an inner and outer support ring;
said metallic strut extending through said nozzle fairing and allowing growth of said strut through said vane; and
an interface between said nozzle fairing and said metallic strut, said inner support ring and said outer support ring at one of an inner and outer band,
wherein said nozzle fairing transfers at least one of an axial load or tangential load from said nozzle fairing to at least one of said inner support ring and said outer support ring.

6. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a pin joint at one of said inner band and said outer band.

7. A nozzle segment assembly, comprising:
an outer support ring and an inner support ring;
a nozzle fairing formed of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material having an outer band and an inner band;
said nozzle fairing further having a vane extending between said outer band and said inner band;
a metallic strut extending between said outer support ring and said inner support ring, said strut allowing for load transfer between at least one pair of said nozzle fairing and said strut or said nozzle fairing and at least one of an inner and outer support ring;
said metallic strut extending through said nozzle fairing and allowing growth of said strut through said vane,
wherein said metallic strut is connected to at least one of said inner band and said outer band through a bolt connection, a slip-fit pinned connection, a hook and shiplap connection and an integral connection.

8. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 7 , the inner support ring further comprising a circular collar, the circular collar positioned on an inward surface of the inner support ring.

9. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 8 , the metallic strut further comprising a seal box interface located at a lower end of the strut, wherein the seal box interface extends into the circular collar to capture the strut in position between the inner support ring and the outer support ring.

10. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 9 , wherein the metallic strut is connected to the collar through a slip-fit pin connection comprising at least one pin, wherein said at least one pin of said slip-fit pin connection is aligned in a substantially circumferential direction.

11. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 7 , the nozzle fairing further comprising;
a first stud located at a radially outer end of the nozzle fairing, the first stud extending in a radially outward direction and radially interfacing with the outer support ring; and
a second stud located at a radially inner end of the nozzle fairing, the second stud extending in a radially inner direction and radially interfacing with the inner support ring,
wherein the first stud and the second stud transfer axial load from the nozzle fairing to the outer support ring and the inner support ring.

12. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 7 , the nozzle fairing further comprising;
an inwardly extending protrusion located at the radially inner end of the nozzle fairing;
the metallic strut further comprising;
a shoulder located at the radially inner end of the metallic strut;
wherein the shoulder of the metallic strut engages the inwardly extending protrusion, capturing the nozzle faring in position.

13. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 7 , the metallic strut further comprising;
a flange located at a radially outer end of the metallic strut;

the outer support ring further comprising;
a fastener,
wherein the fastener of the outer support ring engages the flange of the metallic strut.

14. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 7 , the metallic strut further comprising;
a shiplap located at a radially outer end of the metallic strut, the shiplap aligned at an axial end of the nozzle fairing outer band and including a shiplap notch at one circumferential end,
wherein the shiplap notch receives a circumferential end of an adjacent shiplap forming a shiplap joint.

15. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 14 , the metallic strut further comprising;
an L-shaped shoulder, the L-shaped shoulder comprising;
a first portion extending radially outward from the nozzle fairing outer band; and
a second portion extending axially from the first portion,

wherein the L-shaped shoulder is located at an axially opposite end of the nozzle fairing outer band from the shiplap.

16. The nozzle segment assembly of claim 15 wherein the shiplap joint is located at an axially aft end of the nozzle fairing outer band.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Huizenga Benjamin Scott
• Glynn Christopher Charles
• Senile Darrell Glenn
• Frederick Robert Alan
• Radwanski Michael Todd
• Tuertscher Michael Ray
• Phelps Greg Scott

Classifications

• F02C7/20

  Mounting or supporting of plant; Accommodating heat expansion or creep · CPC title

• F05D2300/6033

  Ceramic matrix composites [CMC] · CPC title

• F01D9/045 Primary

  for radial flow machines or engines · CPC title

• F01D25/16

  Arrangement of bearings; Supporting or mounting bearings in casings (bearings per se F16C) · CPC title

• F05D2230/642

  using maintaining alignment while permitting differential dilatation · CPC title