Lightweight gas turbine engine frame with free-floating heat shield

摘要

A lightweight rigid turbine engine frame incorporates a one piece annular cast outer casing formed with a circumferential polygonal reinforcing section. The outer casing is separated and spaced from an inner ring by a plurality of radially extending spacer struts. The spacer struts are clamped in compression between the inner ring and outer casing by tensioning members such as bolts. A thermally free floating heat shield is mounted to the bolts in a manner which minimizes thermal stresses by avoiding all undesirable constraint of the heat shield by the engine frame.