General Electric Company

Jeffrey P Darnell

Naleen Kumar Verma

Mario Alberto Bolaños Jimenez

Arun Ramachandra

José Torre

Michael E Sandy

A system for spacing and fastening tubular structures, and a related method. The system includes a spacer element configured to engage a plurality of tubular structures, to spatially separate the plurality of tubular structures from one another, and to distribute stress in the plurality of tubular structures. The system further includes a fastening element configured to extend around at least a portion of an outer surface of the plurality of tubular structures, and to fasten the plurality of tubular structures to the spacer element in an adaptively spaced configuration.

System for spacing and fastening tubular structures

A tube spacing and fastening system for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of tubular structures, a wear sleeve, a spacer element, and a fastening element. The plurality of tubular structures provides a fluid flow to a component of the gas turbine engine. The wear sleeve is located around each of the plurality of tubular structures. The spacer element receives the plurality of tubular structures. The fastening element extends around the wear sleeves and is configured to secure the plurality of tubular structures to the spacer element. An interference between the fastening element and wear sleeves is configured to allow the fastening element to slide with respect to the wear sleeves and to provide a damping effect under gas turbine engine vibrations and operating conditions. A method of damping vibrations in the plurality of tubular structures includes allowing the fastening element to slide with respect to the wear sleeve.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Jeffrey P Darnell