Balance assembly for rotary turbine component and method for installing and/or adjusting balance weight

Abstract

A balance assembly for turbine rotating components, such as turbine rotors, as well as method for installing and / or adjusting at least one balance weight in the balance assembly and turbine section having this balance assembly and a radially extending access pathway for accessing this balance assembly. The balance assembly comprises; (a) a balance weight retention member having a circumferential periphery and a slot formed therein along at least a portion thereof, the slot having: (1) a bottom surface; (2) an opening; and (3) a pair of spaced apart and opposed side walls connecting the bottom surface and the opening, the side walls sloping inwardly between the bottom surface and the opening to define a balance weight engaging section; (b) at least one balance weight configured and sized to be insertable through the opening of the slot and to be positionable for movement within the slot and having a pair of spaced apart generally inwardly sloping shoulder surfaces capable of engaging the side walls of the slot at the balance weight engaging section; and (c) a balance weight securing member associated with the at least one balance weight that can be actuated to: (1) move the at least one balance weight away from the bottom surface so that the shoulder surfaces engage the side walls at the balance weight engaging section such that the at least one balance weight is in a secured position within the slot; or (2) move the at least one balance weight towards the bottom surface so that the shoulder surfaces do not engage the side walls at the balance weight engaging section such that the at least one balance weight is in a unsecured position within the slot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to a balance assembly for a rotary turbine component such as a turbine rotor. This invention also relates to a method for installing one or more balance weights in this balance assembly, as well as adjusting the balance weight(s) after installation. This invention further relates to a turbine section having this balance assembly and a radially extending access pathway for accessing this balance assembly. [0002] In the production of turbine engines, the balancing of the rotary turbine components, such as turbine rotors, can be an essential and important step. The turbine rotors are typically balanced initially prior to the actual assembly of the engine. This balancing can be achieved in variety of ways, for example, by the attachment of special weights designed to fit on bolts or within grooves of the rotor or associated components, or by grinding material from specified sections on the rotor. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,220...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020] The balance assembly and method of this invention, as well as the section of the turbine engine having the radially extending access pathway for accessing this balance assembly, provides a number of significant benefits and advantages in the balancing of rotary turbine components such as turbine rotors. The balance assembly, method and section of the turbine engine having the radially extending access pathway for accessing the balance assembly of this invention allows the rotary turbine components to be trim balanced or rebalanced while the turbine engine remains completely or substantially completely assembled. The balance assembly, method and section of the turbine engine having the radially extending access pathway for accessing the balance assembly of this invention allows the balance weight(s) to be located or moved to different positions in the balance assembly to allow for relatively fine adjustment in the balancing of the rotor. The balance weight(s) and associated slot of the balance weight retention member are also sized and configured such that specially formed balance weight access ports or openings are not required for insertion of the balance weight(s) into the slot. The balance assembly and section of the turbine engine having the radially extending access pathway for accessing this balance assembly of this invention also allow for relatively easy readjustment of the balance weight(s) after insertion into the slot for subsequent trim balancing and rebalancing of the rotor.

Problems solved by technology

A problem with certain balancing systems for rotors is that trim balancing or rebalancing of the rotors can require partial or complete disassembly of the engine in order to access the balance weights.

As a result, these balance weights are usually inaccessible without at least partial disassembly of the engine.

Such access ports or openings can cause a lack of symmetry in weight distribution of the balance assembly, as well as creating potential weaknesses in the balance assembly with regard to the concentration of stresses.

Some of these balance systems can require that the balance weight be inserted at a specific location, thus making finer balance adjustments more difficult to achieve.

Images