Impeller Coupling Joint With Integrated Sealing and Torque Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Turbomachinery rotor designs with tie bolts face challenges such as tie bolt resonances and rotor imbalances due to deflection or radial displacement, particularly at high rotational speeds.

Innovation Solution

Improved coupling joints with axially and radially engaging faces, including circumferentially elongated tabs and a spring biasing mechanism, to interconnect and transmit torque between adjacent impeller bodies without Hirth or curvic couplings, enhancing rotor stiffness and sealing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional tie bolt construction is used in turbomachinery rotors, then the rotor can be manufactured with standard components, but tie bolt resonances and rotor imbalances occur due to deflection or radial displacement at high rotational speeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotor balance and resonance resistanceVSAvoidtie bolt deflection and radial displacement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling joint is segmented into multiple engagement faces (axial and radial) distributed around the circumference, with each face contributing to the overall stiffness and balance. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across multiple contact points, reducing deflection and resonance at high speeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling joint uses a composite structure combining axial engagement faces with radial engagement faces, creating a multi-directional constraint system. This composite geometric arrangement provides both stiffness and flexibility, preventing tie bolt resonance while allowing controlled deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Power

If Hirth couplings or curvic couplings are used to interconnect impeller bodies, then torque transmission is achieved, but the device complexity increases and discrete sealing components are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque transmission capabilityVSAvoidcoupling mechanism and sealing components

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling joint merges the torque transmission function with the sealing function into a single integrated structure. The axial and radial engagement faces simultaneously provide torque transmission and fluid sealing, eliminating the need for separate Hirth couplings, curvic couplings, and discrete sealing components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling joint serves multiple functions: it transmits torque axially and radially, provides fluid sealing through the engagement faces, and maintains rotor balance. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by eliminating specialized components for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If axial engagement faces are used to couple impeller bodies, then torque transmission is simplified, but sealing effectiveness decreases and fluid leakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling structure simplicityVSAvoidfluid leakage through sealing interfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling joint adds radial engagement faces to the traditional axial engagement, creating a two-dimensional contact system. This dimensional change provides both axial and radial sealing surfaces, significantly improving sealing effectiveness while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The combination of axial and radial engagement faces creates a composite sealing system that addresses both axial and radial leakage paths. This composite geometric arrangement provides comprehensive sealing without requiring complex sealing components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS20260002546A1Coupling joints to interconnect and transmit rotational torque between adjacent impeller bodies in a turbomachine

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

Improved coupling joints configured to interconnect and transmit torque between adjacent impeller bodies in a turbomachine are provided. A plurality of impeller bodies is stacked on a tie bolt. A respective coupling joint is defined by features in adjacent impeller bodies to couple to one another the adjacent impeller bodies. The coupling joint involves a pair of corresponding axially engaging faces and a pair of corresponding radially engaging faces that define a coupling pilot fit. A torque transmitting arrangement is interposed between the axially engaging faces and radially engaging face. The pair of axially engaging faces in operation defines a compressed joint effective to form a seal between the pair of axially engaging faces to inhibit leakage of a process fluid being processed in the compressor section of the turbomachine. This allows elimination of separate seal arrangements, such as otherwise could involve sleeves with O-rings, etc.