US 11,920,492 B1
Asymmetric spacer to improve flange strength
Jason B. Husband, South Glastonbury, CT (US); and Michael D. Greenberg, Bloomfield, CT (US)
Assigned to RTX CORPORATION, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed by Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed on Mar. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/123,877.
Int. Cl. F01D 25/24 (2006.01)
CPC F01D 25/243 (2013.01) [F05D 2260/31 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
10. A gas turbine engine, comprising:
a first asymmetric spacer comprising a first end with a non-vertical slope, a second end with a vertical slope, and a void passing through a length of the first asymmetric spacer from the first end to the second end;
a second asymmetric spacer comprising a first end with a non-vertical slope, a second end with a vertical slope, and a void passing through a length of the second asymmetric spacer from the first end to the second end; and
a bolt configured to pass through the void of the first asymmetric spacer starting at the first end, through at least one first opening of a first flange, through at least one second opening of a second flange, through the void of the second asymmetric spacer starting at the second end, and to be coupled to a nut, such that, in response to the nut being fastened to the bolt, the bolt bends due to the non-vertical slope of the first asymmetric spacer and the non-vertical slope of the second asymmetric spacer, wherein, in response to the bolt and nut being tightened to a predetermined torque, a center of a bend of the bolt remains at an axial center of the bolt, wherein a first end of the bolt bends away from the axial center of the bolt toward the axial center of first case section of the gas turbine engine, and wherein a second end of the bolt bends away from the axial center of the bolt toward the axial center of second case section of the gas turbine engine.