Patent ID: 8162603

Claim:
A vane frame for a turbomachine, the vane frame comprising: an inner shroud comprising a plurality of inner shroud segments; an outer shroud circumscribing the inner shroud and comprising a plurality of outer shroud segments; and guide vanes structurally interconnecting the inner and outer shrouds, the guide vanes comprising a plurality of first guide vanes between and connecting first pairs of the inner and outer shroud segments, and a plurality of second guide vanes between and connecting second pairs of the inner and outer shroud segments, the first guide vanes and the first pairs of the inner and outer shroud segments to which they are connected being formed of a first material and the second guide vanes and the second pairs of the inner and outer shroud segments to which they are connected being formed of a second material that is different from the first material, the first material having lower strength and modulus than the second material, and the structural interconnection between the inner and outer shrouds being dominated by the second guide vanes and the second pairs of the inner and outer shroud segments to which they are connected.