United Technologies Corporation

John A Leogrande

Peter L Jalbert

Frederick F Hsing

Edward R Szela

Matthew J Schryver

C Bruce Wood

Richard Levine

Konstantino Kouris

Bruce C Wood

An apparatus includes a blade clearance detection system. A probe is configured to communication detection frequencies from and gather reflected signals for the blade tip detection system. The probe has an end supported relative to the casing. A material provides a reference point. The blade tip clearance detection system is configured to generate a first detection frequency configured to pass through the material to detect the position of a target structure, generate a second detection frequency configured to reflect from and detect the reference point, and determine a position of a surface approximate to the target structure based upon the reference point.

Instrument port seal for RF measurement

A turbine engine includes a target structure, for example, a rotating turbine blade. A probe is arranged near the target structure for communicating a detection frequency relative to the target structure for gathering information such as tip clearance. A housing is arranged adjacent to the target structure. In one example, the housing is a blade outer air seal. The housing includes a structural material that supports a window material. The window material is arranged between the probe and the target structure. The window material is transparent to the detection frequency permitting the detection frequency to pass through the window to the target structure for measurement of its position relative to the housing. The window material prevents probe contamination and provides a seal between the cooling path and turbine gas flow path.

A method of joining a microwave transparent componentto a host componentorincludes the steps of applying a Titanium-Tungsten (TiW) coatingto the microwave transparent component, applying a metal layerover the TiW coating and brazing the microwave transparent component to the host. In a more detailed embodiment, the microwave transparent component is a ceramic component and the host component is a nonceramic component. In an even more detailed embodiment, the nonceramic component is made of a nickel base alloy and the metal layer is a nickel plating. A turbine engine component comprising a microwave nontransparent hostorand a microwave transparent windowbrazed to the host is also described.

Method of joining a microwave transparent component to a host component

A system and method for determining thermal growth of motor or engine parts to thereupon control the clearance of motor or engine fan blades is disclosed herein. In addition, a system and method for monitoring the health of a turbine engine, its components and sub-components is also described herein. The system(s) and method(s) described herein permit continuous monitoring during the life of the engine for radial clearances and blade and rotor vibration problems, which will assist in correcting and retaining performance for a longer on-wing time in operation. In addition, inconsistent engine-to-engine performance variations due to component tolerances, engine operation characteristics, and operation during extremes in ambient temperatures can be eliminated or significantly minimized when employing the system(s) and method(s) described herein.

Systems and methods for monitoring thermal growth and controlling clearances, and maintaining health of turbo machinery applications

The invention is a turbomachinery module (,) whose forwardmost vanes, which are the most damage susceptible vanes in the module, are easily removable and replaceable without substantial disassembly of the module. The module includes a case (,) and a forwardmost array (,V) of vanes. Each vane (,) of the forwardmost array has an axially proximal and distal end (,) relative to the forward end (,) of the case. The distal end of each vane has a foot (,) that abuts but is not connected to a vane guide (,) on the case. The proximal end of each vane has an attachment bracket (,) that can be secured to or disengaged from a vane support (,) on the case. Vane removal is accomplished by disengaging the attachment bracket (,) from the vane support (,) and withdrawing the vane through the forward end of the case. The invention improves upon conventional turbine modules in which the forwardmost vane array is removable only from the aft end of the case after the module has been substantially disassembled. As a result the damage susceptible vanes can be accessed and serviced in less time and at a lower cost than would otherwise be possible.

Turbomachinery module with improved maintainability

A seal means 66 for a blade attachment slot of a rotor assembly 12 is disclosed. Various construction details which adapt the rotor assembly to block the leakage of cooling air from the blade attachment slot 40 as the cooling air is flowed to a rotor blade 22 are developed. In one embodiment, the seal means has a seal plate 68 and baffles 70,72 integral with the seal plate which define a cooling air chamber for receiving cooling air from a passage way 38 in a rotor disk 20. The seal plate extends axially and laterally to block the leakage of cooling air in the radial direction. Baffles extend radially from the plate for blocking the leakage of cooling air in the axial direction.

Seal means for a blade attachment slot of a rotor assembly

A turbine vane for use in a gas turbine engine having high turbine inlet temperatures is disclosed. Film cooling is provided at the leading edge of the vane airfoil by cooling air which flows through leading edge holes from a hollow cavity in the airfoil section. Film cooling air is also provided through wall holes along the suction and pressure sides of the airfoil. A U-shaped insert having a pressure leg and a suction leg is disposed within the hollow cavity to isolate the leading edge holes from the wall holes. When the cavity is pressurized, the legs are each urged against corresponding seal ribs which extend from the cavity wall to effectively isolate the leading edge holes.

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West Hartford, CT, United States of America

John A Leogrande