Nested Balancing Ring Geometry for Compact Aircraft Rotor Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft engine rotor assemblies face challenges in balancing due to limited space within the engine volume envelope, making it difficult to effectively reduce rotational vibrations and compensate for manufacturing imbalances.
Innovation Solution
A rotary parts assembly comprising an annular body with pulling features and a balancing ring that intercalate to save radial space, allowing for compact mounting and balancing of rotor assemblies, with the balancing ring having protrusions and circumferential spaces that accommodate the annular body's features, enabling efficient balancing and reduced radial footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional balancing components are mounted on the shaft, then balancing function is achieved, but radial space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing ring is nested within the annular body, with the balancing ring's outer circumference positioned inside the annular body's inner circumference. This nesting arrangement allows both components to occupy overlapping radial spaces, significantly reducing the overall radial footprint while maintaining both the balancing function and the annular body's structural function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a traditional side-by-side radial arrangement to a concentric overlapping arrangement. By utilizing the axial dimension and allowing radial space overlap, the design achieves compactness without compromising the balancing functionality or the annular body's load-bearing capacity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If balancing ring is added to the shaft assembly, then vibration reduction is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing ring and annular body are merged into a single integrated assembly that mounts together on the shaft. The pulling features on the annular body engage with the balancing ring, creating a unified structure that simplifies installation and maintenance while achieving both structural support and vibration balancing functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular body serves dual functions: providing structural support for the rotor assembly and facilitating the mounting of the balancing ring through its pulling features. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall assembly complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If more balancing components are installed, then balancing precision is improved, but engine volume envelope is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing ring is nested within the radial envelope of the annular body, allowing both components to share the same radial space. This nesting configuration enables precise balancing without increasing the overall engine volume envelope, as the components overlap rather than additively occupy space.
Data Source
AI summary
An annular parts assembly for mounting onto a shaft of an aircraft engine is provided. The assembly comprises a first annular body having a surface defining a plurality of pulling features extending from a remainder of the surface, the pulling features circumferentially spaced apart on the surface. The assembly comprises a second annular body defining a balancing ring, the balancing ring concentric with the first annular body, the balancing ring having a plurality of protrusions and circumferential spaces between adjacent ones of the plurality of protrusions, the circumferential spaces accommodating the pulling features such that the pulling features of the first annular body and the protrusions intercalate.