US4989406A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Turbine engine assembly with aft mounted outlet guide vanes
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1988-12-29
•
Granted: 1991-02-05
•
Expires: 2008-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A turbine assembly includes an annular fairing and strut subassembly which provides mechanical strength to the turbine assembly and support for the rotor aft bearing. A readily demountable annular outlet guide vane assembly is mounted to the aft of the fairing and strut assembly for deswirling the exhaust gasses which exit the turbine assembly. The aft mounting of the outlet guide vanes allows for an axially shorter and lighter turbine engine design which removes greater inlet swirl than prior designs, with equal or less pressure loss.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. Vdoviak
- 👤 Roy E. Moyer
- 👤 Dennis C. Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:10
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D25/00; F01D25/16; F01D25/162; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A turbine assembly having an inner casing, an outer casing, and a plurality of low pressure turbine blades located between said inner and outer casings, said assembly comprising: an annular array of radially extending support struts for interconnecting said inner and outer casings aft of said low pressure turbine blades; and a plurality of radially extending outlet guide vanes mounted within the turbine assembly aft of said support struts for deswirling exhaust gasses exiting said low pressure turbine blades.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A turbine assembly having an inner casing, an outer casing, and a plurality of low pressure turbine blades located between said inner and outer casings, said assembly comprising: an annular array of radially extending support struts for interconnecting said inner and outer casings aft of said low pressure turbine blades; and a plurality of radially extending outlet guide vanes mounted within the turbine assembly aft of said support struts for deswirling exhaust gasses exiting said low pressure turbine blades.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first inner annular support operatively associated with said inner casing and a first outer annular support operatively associated with said outer casing, and wherein said outlet guide vanes are mounted between said first inner and outer annular supports to form an outlet guide vane assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The assembly of claim 2, further comprising a fairing provided around each of said support struts, a second inner annular support and a second outer annular support, said second inner and outer annular supports supporting said support struts therebetween to form a fairing and strut assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly of claim 3, wherein said outlet guide vane assembly is removably mounted to said fairing and strut assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fairing mounted around each one of said support struts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly of claim 5 wherein said turbine engine comprises a longitudinal centerline and wherein said support struts are canted with respect to said centerline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly of claim 6, wherein said support struts are canted within a range of 25 degrees to 35 degrees with respect to said centerline.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly of claim 5, wherein said fairing is formed with an uncambered symmetrical cross section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly of claim 5, wherein said outlet guide vanes are mounted axially coextensive with a rear portion of said fairing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The assembly of claim 5, wherein said fairing comprises a front fairing member and a rear fairing member axially spaced in tandem with said front fairing member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly of claim 5, wherein said fairing comprises a front fairing member and a rear fairing member nested within a rear portion of said front fairing member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The assembly of claim 3, wherein said outlet guide vane assembly is fixedly mounted to said fairing and strut assembly exclusively along said first and second outer annular supports.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The assembly of claim 3, wherein said outlet guide vane assembly is fixedly mounted to said fairing and strut assembly exclusively along said first and second inner annular supports.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said outlet guide vanes are formed as thin, uniformly sectioned solid uncooled vanes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly of claim 1, further comprising afterburner means operatively associated with the turbine assembly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said outlet guide vanes are twisted to accommodate said exhaust gasses having a swirl angle which varies radially.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2928648A
Cited
US2930662A
Cited
US2938336A
Cited
US2919888A
Cited
US2869941A
Cited
US3104525A
Cited
US3261587A
Cited
US3286982A
Cited
US3313105A
Cited
US3403889A
Cited
US3824031A
Cited
US3826088A
Cited
US3902314A
Cited
US4369016A
Cited
US4478551A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-04 | 1994-08-06 | 1995-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-04 | 1998-08-06 | 1999-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-04 | 2002-08-06 | 2003-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |