Injection tube for connecting a cold plenum to a hot chamber

Details Injection tube for connecting a cold plenum to a hot chamber Injection tube for connecting a cold plenum to a hot chamber

1998-03-23

2001-05-22

Freay, Charles G. (Department: 3403)

Power plants

Combustion products used as motive fluid

C060S039300, C285S261000, C285S263000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06233915

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to turbine engine componentry, specifically to a means for conveying a working fluid from one component to another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In engines of varying types, there is frequently the need for a conduit by which a gas or other fluid is conveyed from one component to another. In gas turbine engines, for example, the air exiting a compressor is collected in a plenum and mixed with fuel. This air-fuel mixture then flows through a venturi or other conduit to a combustion chamber where the mixture is ignited to form a hot gas. Because most engineering materials expand when heated, the hot gas production causes the combustion chamber to enlarge. The plenum, which is not exposed to the hot combustion gases, does not experience thermally-related growth to the extent experienced by the combustion chamber. In gas turbine engine modules such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,862 to Mowill, (“the '862 patent”) the ideal injector tube-chamber configuration is such that the tube enters the chamber in a substantially tangential manner. In addition, the tube must be substantially fixed at both the plenum and combustion chamber ends in order to effectively serve as a conduit. In such an arrangement wherein the thermal growth of the combustion chamber is substantially greater than that of the plenum, the tube will likely experience significant axial and flexural stresses and corresponding strains. In attempting to prevent tube strain induced pressure against the chamber from puncturing the chamber lining, one could theoretically provide clearance at the interfaces between the tube and chamber and the tube and plenum. However, such clearances would necessarily result in air leakage, thereby reducing the efficiency of the engine. Accordingly, what is needed is a conduit connecting one component to another component that is designed to accommodate a substantial disparity in thermal growth between those two components while simultaneously maintaining interface seal integrity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the principles of the present invention, an injection tube or similar conduit includes a first mouth adapted for insertion into a plenum port or other component and a second mouth adapted for insertion into a hot chamber port or other component. To accommodate flexural, axial and torsional forces caused by the differential thermal expansion between the two components, the mouths of the tube are configured to have multiple degrees of freedom within each corresponding port while maintaining port-mouth seal integrity.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first mouth, the entry plane of which may or may not be vertically disposed, includes a fastening element such as an outer surface raised and rounded about the entire perimeter of the mouth and adapted to fit within a cylindrical sleeve incorporated into the plenum port to create what is hereinafter referred to as a spherical slip coupling. The first mouth outer surface shape allows free slip of the first mouth parallel to the first mouth longitudinal axis, as well as rotation of the first mouth about both the first mouth longitudinal axis and a first mouth outer surface transverse axis. The second tube mouth, the exit plane of which may or may not be vertically disposed, is adapted to rotatably engage the chamber port about a transverse axis to create what is hereinafter referred to as an eccentric spherical coupling. Mounted on the outer surface of the tube is a fastening element such as a rocker arm adapted to engage another fastening element such as a pivot mounted on the chamber outer surface or to engage the chamber outer surface itself. The rocker engagement allows rotation of the second mouth about a second mouth transverse axis while constraining axial movement of the tube, thereby preventing disengagement of the second mouth from the chamber port. Alternatively, the second mouth includes an outer surface with a fastening element such as contoured convex and concave portions adapted to rotatably engage a corresponding fastening element such as contoured concave and convex portions incorporated in the chamber port surface. The second mouth outer surface shape allows rotation of the second mouth about a second mouth transverse axis while constraining axial movement of the tube, thereby preventing disengagement of the second mouth from the chamber port.
It is important to note that the utility of the principles of the instant invention is not limited to the engine module disclosed in the '862 patent. The instant invention can be implemented by any combustion-type engine wherein exists differential expansion of one component relative to another.


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