Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps – Bearing – seal – or liner between runner portion and static part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-23
2001-07-17
Lopez, F. Daniel (Department: 3745)
Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps
Bearing, seal, or liner between runner portion and static part
C415S191000, C415S200000, C415S209300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261056
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the coupling of ceramic members to metal members. More specifically, the invention relates to a turbomachine including a ceramic nozzle that is coupled to a metal turbine housing.
Turbopumps are typically used for pumping fuel and oxidant to rocket engines. Rocket engine turbopumps are designed to operate at high shaft speeds and high horsepower in order to deliver high flow rates to the rocket engines.
A typical rocket engine turbopump includes a combustor and at least one turbine stage. In the first turbine stage, a nozzle directs hot, expanding gas from the combustor onto a rotor. The directed gas causes the rotor to rotate and create shaft work. The shaft work is used to pump the fuel and oxidant to the rocket engine.
The nozzle, which is secured to a turbine housing, is stationary with respect to the rotor. The nozzle directs the gas onto rotor vanes at an angle that produces maximum torque.
However, directing the gases creates a torque reaction on the nozzle. Torque on the nozzle can become extremely high, approaching several thousand foot-pounds. Such high torque is reacted by the turbine housing. Consequently, securing the nozzle to the turbine housing and keeping the nozzle stationary becomes a problem. Conventional approaches such as clamping the nozzle to the turbine housing and relying on friction to keep the nozzle stationary are ineffective.
Keeping the nozzle stationary becomes even more difficult if the nozzle and turbine housing are made of materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion. If the housing is made of metal and the nozzle is made of ceramic, the nozzle will expand at a different rate than the housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention may be regarded as a nozzle for a turbine of a turbomachine. The nozzle comprises a hub and a ring having a mounting side; a plurality of splines on the mounting side; and a plurality of gas-directing vanes secured to the hub and ring. The hub, the ring, the vanes and the splines are made of a ceramic material. The ceramic splines are integral with the hub and ring.
The ceramic splines may be interlocked with mating splines on a metal structure, such as a turbine housing. The interlocked splines keep the nozzle stationary, even when the nozzle is subjected to thousands of foot-pounds of torque.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4363602 (1982-12-01), Martin
patent: 4579705 (1986-04-01), Matsuoka et al.
patent: 4713206 (1987-12-01), Matsushita et al.
patent: 4783297 (1988-11-01), Ito et al.
patent: 4854025 (1989-08-01), Oda et al.
patent: 4861229 (1989-08-01), Halstead
patent: 5031400 (1991-07-01), Boyd
patent: 5151325 (1992-09-01), Draskovich
patent: 5178519 (1993-01-01), Kawasaki et al.
patent: 5264295 (1993-11-01), Yoshikawa
patent: 5580216 (1996-12-01), Munsch
patent: 5580219 (1996-12-01), Frey et al.
patent: 5775878 (1998-07-01), Maumus et al.
Allied-Signal Inc.
Lopez F. Daniel
McAleenan James M
Zak, Jr. Esq. William J.
LandOfFree
Ceramic turbine nozzle including a radially splined mounting... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ceramic turbine nozzle including a radially splined mounting..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ceramic turbine nozzle including a radially splined mounting... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2449005