Unitary Flow Path Structure

• Main Authors: Pearson, Shawn Michael, Reynolds, Brandon ALlanson, Mook, Joshua Tyler, Noe, Mark Eugene, Baldiga, Jonathan David
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 23.01.2020
• Subjects: AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; BLASTING; COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION ENGINES; COMBUSTION PROCESSES; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; GENERATING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGHVELOCITY, e.g. GAS-TURBINE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAMTURBINES; STEAM ENGINES; WEAPONS

Gas turbine engines, as well as outer walls and flow path assemblies of gas turbine engines, are provided. For example, an outer wall of a flow path comprises a combustor portion extending through a combustion section, and a turbine portion extending through at least a first turbine stage of a turbine section. The combustor and turbine portions are integrally formed as a single unitary structure that defines an outer boundary of the flow path. As another example, a flow path assembly comprises a combustor dome positioned a forward end of a combustor; an outer wall extending from the combustor dome through at least a first turbine stage; and an inner wall extending from the combustor dome through at least a combustion section. The combustor dome extends radially from the outer wall to the inner wall and is integrally formed with the outer and inner walls as a single unitary structure.