Gas Turbine Cover Plate Attachment Protrusion Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for attaching a cover plate to a disc in gas turbine engines often require protrusions that occupy space, complicate manufacturing, and limit structural strength due to thin dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A cover plate design featuring a puller protrusion at the tip of an attachment protrusion, inner and outer snaps, and knife edges, which engages with a retaining ring to securely attach to the disc without occupying additional space and enhances structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a protrusion is used to attach the cover plate to the disc, then the attachment strength is improved, but the device complexity and space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment protrusion and puller protrusion are merged into a single integrated structure. The attachment protrusion extends from the cover plate body toward the disc hub, and the puller protrusion is formed at the tip of the attachment protrusion, combining two functions into one component that reduces overall complexity while maintaining attachment strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment protrusion serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for attachment to the retaining ring, and its tip forms the puller protrusion that enables axial pulling operations. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate attachment and pulling mechanisms.
2Reliability
If a retaining ring is used to secure the cover plate, then the reliability of attachment is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The groove geometry is designed to automatically guide and position the retaining ring during installation. The groove extends axially to the axially extending surface of the disc hub and includes a radially extending portion, creating self-aligning features that reduce the need for high-precision manual alignment while ensuring reliable retention.
3Volume of moving object
If the attachment protrusion thickness is reduced to save space, then the volume is decreased, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The thickness of the attachment protrusion is optimized to be equal to or less than the thickness of the cover plate body, achieving space efficiency while maintaining adequate strength through proper dimensional parameter selection and the structural support provided by the integrated puller protrusion at the tip.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
According to one or more embodiments, a cover plate (206; 406; 506; 660) for a gas turbine engine (10) is provided. The cover plate includes a cover plate body that extends from a disc blade attachment (204; 604) radially along an outside surface of a disc web (202; 602) to a disc hub (203; 403; 603) of a disc creating a cavity between the cover plate body and the disc web of the disc, and an attachment protrusion (661) extending from the inner most end of the cover plate body toward the disc hub, and wherein the attachment protrusion is configured to engage with a retaining ring (210; 310; 510; 610).