United Technologies Corporation

James T Balkcum, Iii

Jack W Wilson, Jr

The backbone which is a load carrying support member of the aft end of the compressor of a gas turbine engine is fabricated from an annular disk-like element that is generally straight in cross section. The points of attachment permit circumferential thermal growth with radial restraint and snugness at judicious locations for minimizing scrubbing of the case-tied segmented inner stator case.

Backbone support structure for compressor

The after end of each of the segments of a segmented stator at the end of the compressor section of a gas turbine engine is supported to the full hoop outer case by an annular disk-like element that is generally straight in cross-section where each segment is joined to the disk-like element by a single bolt extending axially through a radial flange integrally formed on each of the segments and the bolt is located intermediate the ends of the flange and the flange fits into an annular groove formed in the end of the disk-like element permitting circumferential thermal growth with radial restraint.

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West Palm Beach, FL, United States of America

James T Balkcum, Iii