General Electric Company

Alexander Martin Sener

David Alan Frey

Jeffrey Douglas Rambo

Kirk Douglas Gallier

Darrell Glenn Senile

Matthew Mark Weaver

Brian Keith

Jamil Darnell Grant

Jason David Shapiro

Aaron Michael Dziech

Monty Lee Shelton

Daniel Patrick Kerns

Douglas Glenn Decesare

Dennis Paul Dry

Brian Gregg Feie

Mark Anthony Holleran

Megan Elizabeth Scheitlin

Gregory Kent Sluyter

Frederick Martin Heise

A variable guide vane assembly is provided for a turbine defining a core air flowpath. The variable guide vane assembly includes an airfoil band defining a flowpath surface and a cavity. The variable guide vane assembly further includes an airfoil including a first end extending at least partially into the cavity of the airfoil band and an opposite second end, the airfoil extending generally along an axis between the first end and the second end and being moveable generally about the axis relative to the airfoil band. The variable guide vane assembly further includes a sealing element operable to form a seal between the first end of the airfoil and the airfoil band.

Variable guide vane sealing

Nozzle segment assemblies for gas turbine engines include an outer band, inner band, and at least one airfoil body between the outer band and inner band. The airfoil body includes an outer end extending through the outer band and having an outer end reinforced wall portion engaging with the outer band and an inner end extending through the inner band and having an inner end reinforced wall portion engaging with the inner band. A thickness of the outer end and inner end reinforced wall portions are each greater than a thickness of a central wall portion of the airfoil body to reduce stresses in the airfoil body. The outer band, the inner band, and the airfoil bodies are ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials. Direct mounting of the airfoil bodies to the inner and outer hangers of the nozzle further reduce stress.

Fabricated CMC nozzle assemblies for gas turbine engines

A nozzle assembly for a gas turbine engine and methods for assembling a nozzle assembly are provided. In one example aspect, the nozzle assembly includes an outer wall and an inner wall radially spaced from the outer wall. The outer wall defines a plurality of mounting openings spaced circumferentially from one another. The inner wall defines a plurality of mounting openings spaced circumferentially from one another. The mounting openings defined by the inner wall are positioned circumferentially between adjacent mounting openings defined by the outer wall. The nozzle assembly includes vanes that are inserted through the mounting openings of the outer wall in a radially inward direction and vanes that are inserted through the mounting openings of the inner wall in a radially outward direction in an alternating manner.

Nozzle assembly with alternating inserted vanes for a turbine engine

Airfoil assemblies for gas turbine engines are provided. For example, an airfoil assembly comprises an airfoil, an inner band defining an inner opening shaped complementary to an inner end of the airfoil, and an outer band defining an outer opening shaped complementary to an outer end of the airfoil. The airfoil inner end is received with the inner opening, and the airfoil outer end is received within the outer opening. A strut extends radially through an airfoil cavity. A first pad is defined at a first radial location within the cavity. A second pad is defined within the cavity at a second, different radial location. In some embodiments, the airfoil assembly inner band includes a first inner flange, through which the inner band is secured to a support structure, and the outer band includes a first outer flange, through which the outer band is secured to a support structure.

Composite airfoil assembly with separate airfoil, inner band, and outer band

A shroud assembly includes a shroud segment and a hanger. In one exemplary aspect, the shroud segment has a shroud body extending substantially along a circumferential direction between a first end and a second end. The shroud body defines a radial centerline along the circumferential direction. A flange is attached to or integral with the shroud body. The flange is pivotally coupled with the hanger at a location spaced from the radial centerline of the shroud body.

Aero loading shroud sealing

A stage of guide vanes for a machine includes a first variable vane assembly including an airfoil. The airfoil of the first variable vane assembly includes a first member and a second member each extending generally along a radial direction and the second member being moveable relative to the first member. The stage of guide vanes also includes a second variable vane assembly including an airfoil, the airfoil of the second variable vane assembly including a first member and a second member each extending generally along the radial direction and the second member being moveable relative to the first member, the second members of the airfoils of the first and second variable vane assemblies being moveable towards one another.

Variable airfoil with sealed flowpath

A shroud retention system may generally include a shroud hanger and first and second hooked components extending from an outer hanger wall of the hanger. The first hooked component may include a first wall extending from the outer hanger wall and a first rail extending from the first wall. The second hooked component may include a second wall extending from the outer hanger wall and a second rail extending from the second wall. In addition, the system may also include a shroud segment having a shroud wall configured to be positioned radially between the outer hanger wall and the first and second rails. Moreover, the system may include a retention spring positioned within a radial space defined between the outer hanger wall and the first and second rails that is configured to apply a radial spring force against the shroud segment.

Shroud retention system with retention springs

A shroud segment assembly for use within a turbine shroud of a gas turbine engine may generally include a forward shroud portion having a forward outer arm and a forward inner arm extending from a forward wall and an aft shroud portion having an aft outer arm and an aft inner arm extending from an aft wall. Additionally, the shroud segment assembly may include a first expansion joint positioned between the forward and aft shroud portions such that the first expansion joint extends circumferentially between the forward outer arm of the forward shroud portion and the aft outer arm of the aft shroud portion and a second expansion joint positioned between the forward and aft shroud portions such that the second expansion joint extends circumferentially between the forward inner arm of the forward shroud portion and the aft outer arm of the aft shroud portion.

Turbine shroud segment assembly with expansion joints

A shroud retention system may include a shroud hanger having an outer hanger wall that defines a clip groove including a narrow groove portion and an enlarged groove portion, with the enlarged groove portion defining a radial height that is greater than a radial height of the narrow groove portion. The system may also include a shroud segment having a shroud wall and a retention clip configured to couple the shroud segment to the shroud hanger. The retention clip may include an inner rail, an outer rail and a clip wall extending radially between the inner and outer rails. The inner rail may be configured to extend along an inner surface of the shroud wall. The outer rail may include a narrow rail portion configured to be received within the narrow groove portion and an enlarged rail portion configured to be received within the enlarged groove portion.

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Alexander Martin Sener