Composite Housing with a Metallic Flange for the Compressor of an Axial Turbomachine

Abstract

The present application relates to an annular outer housing of a low-pressure compressor of an axial turbomachine. The housing includes an annular wall of a composite material with an organic matrix. The housing includes an annular array of blades extending radially, the blades including platforms fixed to the annular wall. The housing also includes a radial annular flange having means of mounting configured to allow fitting of the housing in the turbomachine. The annular flange is attached to the annular wall and bounds an annular insertion area for the platforms of the blades. The annular flange is fixed on the annular wall by means of clamping. The present application reduces the manufacturing cost of the housing and supports the transmission of force between the annular flange and the blade platforms, which has the advantage of reducing stresses in the annular wall.

I Claim: 
     
         1 . A housing for a compressor of an axial turbomachine, comprising:
 an annular wall of composite material, the inner surface of which comprises an annular area for inserting platforms of a row of blades which extend radially; and   at least one annular flange extending radially;   wherein the annular flange is attached to the annular wall and bounds the insertion area of the platforms of the blades.   
     
     
         2 . The housing in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the radial section of the annular flange is generally L-shaped, the profile thereof having an axially extending part and a radially extending part, the axially extending part being located mainly radially on the side of the inner surface of the annular wall, and the radially extending part being located mainly radially on the side of the outer surface of the annular wall. 
     
     
         3 . The housing in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the axially extending part of the flange comprises:
 an edge bounding the insertion area of the blade platforms.   
     
     
         4 . The housing in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the annular wall comprises:
 an annular area for inserting an abradable material, the insertion area of the platforms being bounded, on the one side, by the insertion area of the abradable material and, on the other, by the edge of the axially extending part of the flange.   
     
     
         5 . The housing in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the insertion area of the platforms of the blades forms an annular recess, the radial section of the annular recess being substantially rectangular and designed to permit radial insertion of the platforms of the blades. 
     
     
         6 . The housing in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the annular wall and the annular flange are made of different materials, the annular flange being made of a metallic material. 
     
     
         7 . The housing in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the composite annular wall comprises:
 an organic matrix and a preform comprising fibres, the matrix being homogeneously distributed over the annular wall.   
     
     
         8 . The housing in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the annular wall comprises a first means of fixing, the annular flange comprises a second means of fixing, and the blades comprise a third means of fixing, the first means of fixing aligning with the second means of fixing, and/or the third means of fixing aligning with both the first means of fixing and the second means of fixing. 
     
     
         9 . The housing in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the third means of fixing extend radially through the annular wall and the annular flange, the third means of fixing comprising clamping means, possibly reversible. 
     
     
         10 . The housing in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the clamping means are reversible. 
     
     
         11 . The housing in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the contour of each platform includes longitudinal edges and transverse edges, at least one of the edges being in contact with the annular flange, the flange thus ensuring the platforms are locked against rotating. 
     
     
         12 . The housing in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the platforms and the annular flange each comprise a guidance surface designed to guide the flow in a turbomachine, the guidance surfaces of the platforms lying flush with the guidance surface of the annular flange. 
     
     
         13 . The housing in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the annular flange comprises:
 a part which follows an interior surface of the annular wall, the part extending axially over the majority of the insertion area of the platforms of the blades.   
     
     
         14 . The housing in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the annular flange includes radial recesses designed for the insertion of platforms of the blades, the radial recesses being configured to be largely open towards the bodies of the blades. 
     
     
         15 . The housing in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each platform includes a generally disc-shaped central region, and two areas of reduced thickness located axially on either side of the central area, the central area predominantly bearing radially against the annular flange and at least one of the areas of reduced thickness abutting predominantly axially against the annular flange. 
     
     
         16 . An axial turbomachine, comprising:
 a housing having an annular wall of composite material, the inner surface of which comprises an annular area for inserting platforms of a row of blades which extend radially, and at least one annular flange extending radially;   wherein the annular flange is attached to the annular wall and bounds the insertion area of the platforms of the blades; and   wherein the housing forms an external annular housing and comprises:
 an annular flange upstream; and 
 an annular flange downstream.