The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 30, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 16, 1998
Konstantino Kouris, Madison, CT (US);
John A Leogrande, West Hartford, CT (US);
United Technologies Corporation, Hartford, CT (US);
Abstract
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.