US5219268A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas turbine engine case thermal control flange
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1992-03-06
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Granted: 1993-06-15
•
Expires: 2012-03-06
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is provided to thermally control a section of engine casing by flowing heat transfer fluid within an axially disposed set of circular flowpaths within a section of engine casing or flange such as a thermal control ring. Flowpaths are preferably arranged in alternating counterflowing directions in the ring such that there is substantially no circumferential gradient in the mass flowrate weighted average temperature of the heat transfer fluid supplied by any two adjacent counterflowing fluid flowpaths. Each flowpath may have two or more circuits having inlets and outlets for flowing the heat transfer fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 David M. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:33
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D25/00; F01D25/08; F01D25/14; F01D11/00; F01D11/08; F01D11/14; F01D11/20; F01D11/24; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A thermal control apparatus for a gas turbine engine casing, said thermal control apparatus comprising: a plurality of axially spaced apart circumferentially disposed heat transfer flowpaths for flowing a heat transfer fluid within an axially extending section of the casing wherein a first set of said heat transfer flowpaths flows said heat transfer fluid in a first direction and a second set of said heat transfer flowpaths flows said heat transfer fluid in a second direction opposite to said first direction and wherein said first set of heat transfer flowpaths are interlaced with said second set of heat transfer flowpaths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A thermal control apparatus for a gas turbine engine casing, said thermal control apparatus comprising: a plurality of axially spaced apart circumferentially disposed heat transfer flowpaths for flowing a heat transfer fluid within an axially extending section of the casing wherein a first set of said heat transfer flowpaths flows said heat transfer fluid in a first direction and a second set of said heat transfer flowpaths flows said heat transfer fluid in a second direction opposite to said first direction and wherein said first set of heat transfer flowpaths are interlaced with said second set of heat transfer flowpaths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said axially extending section of the casing is a thermal control ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a support means tying an annular stator assembly to said thermal control ring such that expansion and contraction of said thermal control ring will cause a corresponding expansion and contraction of said stator assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said stator assembly comprises a segmented annular stator shroud.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said axially extending section of the casing is a thermal control ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a support means tying an annular stator assembly to said thermal control ring such that expansion and contraction of said thermal control ring will cause a corresponding expansion and contraction of said stator assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said stator assembly comprises a segmented annular stator shroud.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said counterflowing heat transfer flowpaths comprise at least two circuits, said circuits having an inlet and an outlet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a support means tying an annular stator assembly to said thermal control ring such that expansion and contraction of said thermal control ring will cause a corresponding expansion and contraction of said stator assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said stator assembly comprises a segmented annular stator shroud.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said circuits are 90 degree circuits wherein said inlets are located in thermal control fluid manifold and said outlets are 90 degrees apart from said inlets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said circuits are 180 degree circuits wherein said inlets are located in thermal control fluid manifold and said outlets are 180 degrees apart from said inlets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
A thermal control apparatus for a gas turbine engine casing, said thermal control apparatus comprising: a plurality of axially spaced apart circumferentially disposed heat transfer flowpaths for flowing a heat transfer fluid within an axially extending section of the casing wherein said axially extending section of the casing is a thermal control ring and wherein said plurality of axially spaced apart circumferentially disposed flowpaths comprising sets of alternating counter-flowing flowpaths such that any two adjacent flowpaths from a set flow of a clockwise and counter-clockwise flowing heat transfer flowpaths.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
A thermal control apparatus for a gas turbine engine casing, said thermal control apparatus comprising: a plurality of axially spaced apart circumferentially disposed heat transfer flowpaths for flowing a heat transfer fluid within an axially extending section of the casing wherein said axially extending section of the casing is a thermal control ring and wherein said plurality of axially spaced apart circumferentially disposed flowpaths comprising sets of alternating counter-flowing flowpaths such that any two adjacent flowpaths from a set flow of a clockwise and counter-clockwise flowing heat transfer flowpaths.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein each of said counterflowing heat transfer flowpaths comprise at least two circuits, said circuits having an inlet and an outlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a support means tying an annular stator assembly to said thermal control ring such that expansion and contraction of said thermal control ring will cause a corresponding expansion and contraction of said stator assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said stator assembly comprises a segmented annular stator shroud.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said circuits are 90 degree circuits wherein said inlets are located in thermal control fluid manifold and said outlets are 90 degrees apart from said inlets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermal control apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said circuits are 180 degree circuits wherein said inlets are located in thermal control fluid manifold and said outlets are 180 degrees apart from said inlets.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-14 | 1996-12-14 | 1997-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-14 | 2000-12-14 | 2001-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-14 | 2004-12-14 | 2005-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |