Minidisk Balance Flange Hole Array for Gas Turbine Stress Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine rotor assemblies experience rotational imbalance and stress concentrations due to balancing weights, which can lead to vibration and mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
A minidisk with a balance flange featuring an array of holes, where larger holes are strategically positioned to receive balancing weights and smaller holes are arranged to reduce stress concentrations, providing multiple locations for weight distribution and stress shielding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If balancing weights are coupled to the cover plate, then rotational balance is improved, but stress concentrations are introduced in the cover plate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the balancing system into separate components: a minidisk with balance flange that is coupled to the cover plate, and balancing weights that are coupled to the minidisk. This segmentation isolates the stress concentrations to the minidisk and its hole array, protecting the cover plate from stress concentrations while maintaining rotational balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The minidisk acts as an intermediary component between the cover plate and the balancing weights. It provides a dedicated structure with a hole array specifically designed to accommodate balancing weights, thereby mediating the connection and preventing direct stress transmission to the cover plate.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple holes are provided in the balance flange, then multiple locations for weight distribution are available, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hole array in the balance flange serves multiple functions: it provides multiple locations for balancing weights, acts as stress relief features, and enables versatile balancing configurations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components while achieving adaptability in weight distribution.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A minidisk (112) for a rotor system may comprise a balance flange (120) defining a hole array (150; 180), which may include a first hole (152; 182) having a first width. The first hole (152; 182) may be configured to receive a balance weight (160). A second hole (154a; 184a) and a third hole (154b; 184b) may have a second width. The second hole (154a; 184a) and the third hole (154a; 184b) may be disposed adjacent to the first hole (152; 182). The second width may be greater than the first width.