General Electric Company

Steven A Walters

Ivan H Peterson

Michael A Umney

Christopher Richard Koss

Dale E Hampshire

A coupling assembly for fluid carrying tubes in a gas turbine engine include first and second fittings fixedly joined to respective ones of the tubes. The first and second fittings include respective first and second mating flanges which are joined together by a clamping band which is adjustable therearound. The first and second flanges include oppositely facing first and second flat faces, with the first flange having a counterbore extending inwardly from the first face, and the second flange having a pilot tube extending outwardly therefrom for being inserted into the counterbore. An annular seal is disposed between the first and second fittings for providing a leak-proof coupling upon clamping together of the two fittings by the clamping band.

Coupling assembly

A variable friction force damper utilizes geometric variations in a sliding surface to vary the frictional force. In particular, variation in thickness of the member on which the sliding surface is formed produces a corresponding variation in the displacement of a compression spring. This variation in spring displacement produces a variation in the compression force exerted by the spring, i.e., the force with which the sliding member is pressed against the sliding surface. This in turn causes a variation in the frictional force which the sliding surface exerts on the sliding member. The result is a variable friction force damper having a variable damping capability which allows a controlled response at variable input levels.

Variable friction force damper

A support system for coupling elements of different temperatures while reducing thermal and dynamic stress. The support system couples a fuel manifold to a combustor in a gas turbine engine and includes first and second elongated brackets connected, respectively, to the combustor and to the fuel manifold. Distal ends of each of the brackets are positioned in overlapping relationship. A slot is formed in one of the overlapping distal ends and an aperture formed in the other aligned generally with the slot. A fastener extends through the aperture and slot compressing the ends against each other with a preselected force such that the ends cannot separate but can exhibit a sliding motion in the slot direction. The compressive force is controlled by a spring member positioned between one end of the fastener and an adjacent surface of one of the first and second brackets. A second disk fits around the stud similar to a large flat washer and the spring member fits around the stud between the two disks. A nut on the opposite end of the stud and the opposite side of the bracket ends is tightened to compress the spring member and establish the preselected compressive force on the bracket ends. The abutting surface of the bracket ends may be treated to reduce wear.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Steven A Walters