Patent ID: 6860716
Filing Date: 2005-03-01
Classification: F01D

Abstract:
1. A turbomachine frame member comprising: a) an annular inner hub for receiving and supporting an anti-friction bearing for rotatably supporting a shaft; b) an annular outer casing surrounding and spaced radially outwardly from the inner hub to define an annular flow passageway therebetween, wherein the outer casing is of conical form; and c) a plurality of substantially radially-extending, circumferentially-spaced struts positioned between and interconnecting the inner hub and the outer casing to provide a substantially rigid turbomachine frame, wherein the struts have an inclined radial outer end surface and are connected with the outer casing by a plurality of connecting bolts that extend inwardly through the outer casing and into bolt-receiving openings formed in the struts, wherein each strut includes at least one bolt-receiving opening extending through the strut outer end surface and a nut-receiving opening extending transversely relative to the strut and in communication with the at least one bolt-receiving opening, and a barrel nut carried within at least one nut-receiving opening of the struts for cooperative engagement with a respective connecting bolt to enable a tight interconnection to be made between radially outer ends of the struts and an inner surface of the outer casing.