US 12,291,997 B1
Variable area turbine nozzle assembly
Steven Douglas Johnson, Milford, OH (US); Scott Alan Schimmels, Miamisburg, OH (US); Craig Alan Gonyou, Blanchester, OH (US); and Paul Hadley Vitt, Liberty Township, OH (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Evendale, OH (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Apr. 30, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/650,626.
Int. Cl. F02C 7/042 (2006.01)
CPC F02C 7/042 (2013.01) [F05D 2260/50 (2013.01); F05D 2270/303 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A variable area turbine nozzle assembly, comprising:
a guide vane including an outer centering pin, wherein the outer centering pin includes a tab disposed along an outer surface of the outer centering pin;
an inner support ring spaced radially outward from the guide vane, the inner support ring defining an opening and a protrusion disposed along an inner surface of the inner support ring, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage with the tab of the outer centering pin, wherein the outer centering pin extends through the opening, and wherein the inner support ring has a first coefficient of thermal expansion;
an outer support ring extending circumferentially around the inner support ring and defining an aperture, wherein the outer centering pin extends at least partially through and is rotatable within the aperture, the outer support ring having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the second coefficient of thermal expansion is greater than or less than the first coefficient of the thermal expansion; and
at least one linkage joining the inner support ring to the outer support ring, wherein the at least one linkage is configured to rotate the inner support ring circumferentially about an axial centerline of the variable area turbine nozzle assembly in response to a change in operational temperature of a combustion gas.