Assembled Engine Rotor Balancing Through Radial Access Ports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas turbine engine designs lack adjustable balance features for high-speed rotors, requiring significant disassembly and removal from service to correct vibration imbalances, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A balance system with a weight system mounted on a shaft, accessible through inner and outer access ports on the same radial plane, allowing weights to be adjusted circumferentially without disassembly, using a rail and lock structure that can be unlocked and relocked through these ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the engine is disassembled to access the high speed rotor for balancing, then the rotor can be accessed and balanced, but the engine must be removed from service and significant disassembly time is required
Solution Approach 1:
The engine casing is divided into inner and outer cases with access ports that allow isolation and access to specific components (high speed rotor) without disassembling the entire engine. This segmentation enables localized maintenance while the rest of the engine remains assembled and operational.
Solution Approach 2:
Access ports serve as intermediary openings between the external environment and the internal high speed rotor. These ports allow tools and personnel to access balance weights without requiring complete engine disassembly, acting as a mediator that enables partial access while maintaining overall engine integrity.
2Ease of repair
If the engine is disassembled to correct high rotor vibration, then the balance weights can be adjusted, but extensive disassembly of multiple components is required
Solution Approach 1:
The engine is segmented into accessible and non-accessible zones through the use of access ports. The high speed rotor and its balance weights are positioned in a zone that can be accessed through dedicated ports without requiring disassembly of unrelated components such as the low pressure turbine, bearing, mid turbine frame, and high pressure turbine.
Solution Approach 2:
The access ports serve multiple functions: they allow visual inspection, tool insertion for weight adjustment, and potential sensor placement. This multi-functionality enables balance weight adjustment without requiring separate access mechanisms for each maintenance task.
3Manufacturing precision
If the engine is removed from service for balancing, then proper balancing can be performed, but operational availability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The balance weights are designed with preliminary features such as accessible locking mechanisms and positioning features that can be adjusted through access ports. This preliminary design enables balancing to be performed without engine removal, maintaining both precision and availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The engine design incorporates self-service capabilities through access ports that enable operators to perform balance adjustments independently without requiring complete engine disassembly or removal from operational service. The system serves itself for routine balancing maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A balance system for an assembled engine includes a rotor mounted on a shaft for rotation within an engine casing having an inner case and an outer case; and a weight system mounted on the shaft of the rotor and having at least one weight positionable relative to the rotor around a circumference of the shaft; wherein the inner case has an inner access port, the outer case has an outer access port, and the inner access port, the outer access port and the weight system are positioned on the same radial plane of the rotor, whereby the weight system can be accessed through the outer port and the inner port to adjust circumferential position of the at least one weight relative to the rotor.