US 12,270,309 B2
Variable stator vane assembly with magnetic actuation rotor for gas turbine engines
Timothy Unton, Noblesville, IN (US); Andrew Eifert, Indianapolis, IN (US); and Michael Moser, Brownsburg, IN (US)
Assigned to Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed on Oct. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/048,609.
Prior Publication US 2024/0133313 A1, Apr. 25, 2024
Prior Publication US 2024/0229673 A9, Jul. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. F01D 17/16 (2006.01); F04D 29/56 (2006.01)
CPC F01D 17/162 (2013.01) [F04D 29/563 (2013.01); F05D 2240/12 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine, the vane assembly comprising
a casing surrounding a central axis of the gas turbine engine,
a first plurality of vanes arranged within the casing and extending radially outward relative to the central axis, each vane being rotatably coupled to the casing for rotation relative thereto and configured to rotate about a first vane pitch axis that extends radially relative to the central axis, and
a first actuator assembly arranged radially outward of the casing and including
a first annular ring surrounding the casing and coupled to at least one first vane of the first plurality of vanes, the first annular ring including an outer housing having outer housing walls that define and enclose a hollow interior cavity therewithin, wherein the outer housing walls of the outer housing define a main portion that is hollow and a first axial extension that is hollow, wherein the main portion and the first axial extension together define the hollow interior cavity,
a first magnet arranged within the first axial extension of the outer housing, and
a first stator arranged outside of the outer housing walls of the outer housing and spaced apart from the first magnet, the first stator being configured to electromagnetically interact with the first magnet, wherein the first annular ring is configured to rotate the at least one first vane about the corresponding first vane pitch axis in response to rotation of the first annular ring about the central axis and the first stator is configured to selectively rotate the first magnet and first annular ring about the central axis,
wherein the first stator is configured to create a magnetic field which causes annular movement of the first annular ring via interaction with the first magnet, and
wherein the first stator includes a first stator platform axially spaced apart from the first annular ring and extending annularly around the central axis, wherein the first annular ring further includes a plurality of teeth arranged around a circumferential extent of the first annular ring, wherein the first stator further includes a locking plunger arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the first stator platform, and wherein the locking plunger is configured to selectively move in a radial direction toward the plurality of teeth of the first annular ring so as to selectively engage the plurality of teeth in order to hold the at least one first vane at a first rotational position without having to continuously apply current to the first stator.