Object with tear-shaped suspension for annular bodies

Abstract

An object includes an annular outer body having an interior surface; and an annular inner body disposed inside the annular outer body, the annular inner body having an exterior surface defining an annular passage with the interior surface of the annular outer body. A plurality of suspension elements connects the interior surface of the annular outer body to the exterior surface of the annular inner body, each suspension element configured to substantially rigidly locate a position of the annular outer body relative to the annular inner body in axial and lateral directions while permitting controlled deflection in a radial direction. Each suspension element has an at least partially tear-shaped cross-section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An object, comprising:
 an annular outer body having an interior surface;   an annular inner body disposed inside the annular outer body, the annular inner body having an exterior surface defining an annular passage with the interior surface of the annular outer body; and   a plurality of suspension elements connecting the interior surface of the annular outer body to the exterior surface of the annular inner body, each suspension element configured to substantially rigidly locate a position of the annular outer body relative to the annular inner body in axial and lateral directions while permitting controlled deflection in a radial direction, and   wherein each suspension element has an at least partially tear-shaped cross-section.   
     
     
         2 . The object of  claim 1 , wherein each suspension element includes a first end coupled to the annular inner body and a circumferentially spaced, second end coupled to the annular outer body. 
     
     
         3 . The object of  claim 2 , wherein the first end couples to the annular inner body at a first angle between 85° and 95°, and the second end couples to the annular outer body at a second angle between 85° and 95°. 
     
     
         4 . The object of  claim 2 , wherein the annular outer body extends parallel to a centerline axis and each suspension element has an S-shape viewed in the direction of the centerline axis. 
     
     
         5 . The object of  claim 4 , wherein each suspension element extends a distance parallel to the centerline axis. 
     
     
         6 . The object of  claim 4 , wherein the first end of each respective suspension element is within 5° of the circumferentially spaced, second end of an adjacent suspension element as measured relative to the centerline. 
     
     
         7 . The object of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of suspension elements are circumferentially spaced between the interior surface of the annular outer body and the exterior surface of the annular inner body. 
     
     
         8 . The object of  claim 1 , wherein the annular inner body includes an outer, combustible fuel carrying element of a fuel nozzle, and the annular outer body includes a heat shield for the fuel nozzle, and wherein a space between the interior surface of the annular outer body and the exterior surface of the annular inner body carries a coolant therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . A fuel nozzle, comprising:
 an annular outer heat shield having an interior surface;   an annular inner body disposed inside the annular outer heat shield, the annular inner body having an interior for delivering a combustion material and an exterior surface defining an annular passage with the interior surface of the outer heat shield; and   a plurality of suspension elements connecting the interior surface of the outer heat shield to the exterior surface of the annular inner body, each suspension element configured to substantially rigidly locate a position of the outer heat shield relative to the annular inner body in axial and lateral directions while permitting controlled deflection in a radial direction, and   wherein each suspension element has an at least partially tear-shaped cross-section.   
     
     
         10 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 9 , wherein each suspension element includes a first end coupled to the annular inner body and a circumferentially spaced, second end coupled to the outer heat shield. 
     
     
         11 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 10 , wherein the first end couples to the annular inner body at a first angle between 85° and 95°, and the second end couples to the outer heat shield at a second angle between 85° and 95°. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 10 , wherein the outer heat shield extends parallel to a centerline axis and each suspension element has an S-shape viewed in the direction of the centerline axis. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 12 , wherein each suspension element extends a distance parallel to the centerline axis. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 12 , wherein the first end of each respective suspension element is within 5° of the circumferentially spaced, second end of an adjacent suspension element measured relative to the centerline. 
     
     
         15 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of suspension elements are circumferentially spaced between the interior surface of the outer heat shield and the exterior surface of the annular inner body. 
     
     
         16 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 9 , wherein a space between the interior surface of the outer heat shield and the exterior surface of the annular inner body carries a coolant therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The fuel nozzle of  claim 16 , wherein the at least partially tear-shaped cross-section includes a leading edge facing a direction of flow of the coolant. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing code representative of an object, the object physically generated upon execution of the code by a computerized additive manufacturing system, the code comprising:
 code representing the object, the object including:   an annular outer body having an interior surface;   an annular inner body disposed inside the annular outer body, the annular inner body having an exterior surface defining an annular passage with the interior surface of the annular outer body; and   a plurality of suspension elements connecting the interior surface of the annular outer body to the exterior surface of the annular inner body, each suspension element configured to substantially rigidly locate a position of the annular outer body relative to the annular inner body in axial and lateral directions while permitting controlled deflection in a radial direction,   wherein each suspension element has an at least partially tear-shaped cross-section.   
     
     
         19 . The storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein each suspension element includes a first end coupled to the annular inner body and a circumferentially spaced, second end coupled to the annular outer body. 
     
     
         20 . The storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein each suspension element extends a distance parallel to the centerline axis.