초록 ▼

A structural frame assembly for use in a gas turbine engine includes an annular inner hub, an annular outer casing and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced and radially extending hollow struts connected to the inner hub and outer casing. Hot gases are extracted from the engine primary flowpath, u

A structural frame assembly for use in a gas turbine engine includes an annular inner hub, an annular outer casing and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced and radially extending hollow struts connected to the inner hub and outer casing. Hot gases are extracted from the engine primary flowpath, using a scoop attached to each strut, and are directed through the struts to the inner hub interior for the purpose of reducing a bulk temperature differential between the outer casing and the inner hub and for providing a uniform temperature distribution within the inner hub. A first portion of the hot gases entering the inner hub flows continuously through passages extending through the inner hub forward wall and scrubs an exterior of the forward wall, using an annular shield attached to the inner hub, before re-entering the engine flowpath. A second portion of the hot gases entering the inner hub exits through passages extending through the inner hub aft wall and is modulated using a thermally actuated valve mounted to the aft wall to match the thermal requirements of the inner hub with the flow of hot gases and to minimize the performance penalty associated with the extraction of the gases. Hot gases exiting the valve scrub an exterior surface of the aft wall, accomplished in part by an annular spring clip attached to the inner hub and resiliently engaging the valve, before discharging to a chamber vented to ambient conditions.

대표청구항 ▼

A structural frame assembly for use in a gas turbine engine, said assembly comprising: a) an annular inner hub made of a material having a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion; b) an annular outer casing concentric with said inner hub about a longitudinal axis of said engine; c) a plural

A structural frame assembly for use in a gas turbine engine, said assembly comprising: a) an annular inner hub made of a material having a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion; b) an annular outer casing concentric with said inner hub about a longitudinal axis of said engine; c) a plurality of radially extending hollow struts extending between and fixedly connected to said inner hub and said outer casing; and d) means for reducing a bulk temperature differential between said inner hub and said outer casing and for providing a uniform temperature distribution of said inner hub; e) said means for reducing and providing comprising: i) scoop means for directing a flow of hot gases from a flowpath of said engine through an interior of each of said struts into an interior of said inner hub; ii) valve means for modulating a portion of the flow of hot gases entering said inner hub through a flow discharge means formed in an aft wall of said inner hub.