Patent ID: 9109448
Filing Date: 2015-08-18
Classification: F01D

Abstract:
1. A vane assembly comprising: an annular shroud having radially spaced apart inner and outer surfaces, said shroud having a plurality of openings extending between said inner and outer surfaces; a plurality of vanes radially extending from said shroud, each vane having an extremity received within a corresponding one of said openings; and a grommet located within each of said openings between each of said vanes and said shroud, said grommet defining a radially extending bore along a central axis thereof adapted to receive said vane extremity therein, the grommet shielding said vane extremity from said shroud, said grommet having formed therein an annular protrusion in contact with a perimeter of said opening in the shroud to form a circumferential seal between said opening perimeter and said vane extremity, the annular protrusion extending in an axial and tangential direction and being deflectable upon application of an axial or tangential load on the grommet by the vane extremity while maintaining said circumferential seal, and an annular restraint element radially spaced apart from said annular protrusion, the annular restraint element extending in an axial and tangential direction a first distance, the first distance being less than a second distance in the axial and tangential direction defined between the radially extending bore of the grommet and the perimeter of the opening perimeter in the annular shroud such that the annular restraint element is spaced apart from, and not in contact with, the opening perimeter of the annular shroud during normal operation of the vane assembly, the annular restraint element limiting at least axial and tangential displacement of said vane extremity relative to said shroud.