Gas Turbine Rotor Assembly with Interlocking Balance Weight Bands

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rotor assembly balancing methods in gas turbine engines are labor and time intensive, requiring disassembly and reassembly or hard balancing, which becomes impractical when the assembly is reconfigured.

Innovation Solution

A rotor assembly design featuring a balance weight that interlocks with the rotor components, allowing for circumferential movement and machining of a sacrificial layer without disassembling the rotor components, enabling easier and more precise balancing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional balancing methods are used (disassembly and reassembly), then balance correction can be achieved, but labor and time are significantly increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebalance correction precisionVSAvoidbalancing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The balance weight is segmented into a first portion attached to the first rotor and a second portion attached to the second rotor. This segmentation allows the balance weight to be adjusted or replaced without disassembling the entire rotor assembly, thereby reducing labor and time while maintaining balance correction precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The balance weight is designed with movable portions that can be adjusted relative to each other. The first and second portions can be independently positioned or replaced, enabling dynamic adjustment of the balance weight configuration to achieve precise balancing without complete disassembly of the rotor assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If hard balancing by removing material is used, then balance correction is achieved, but the process becomes irreversible and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebalance correction precisionVSAvoidbalancing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of permanently removing material from the rotors, the invention uses adjustable balance weights that can be removed, repositioned, or replaced. This allows for reversible balance corrections, making the manufacturing process easier and more flexible while achieving the same precision as hard balancing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Adaptability or versatility

If the rotor assembly is reconfigured, then adaptability is improved, but conventional balancing methods become impractical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotor reconfiguration capabilityVSAvoidbalancing operation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented balance weight design allows each portion to be independently adjusted when the rotor assembly is reconfigured. The first and second portions can be repositioned or replaced separately, maintaining ease of operation even when the rotor configuration changes, unlike conventional methods that require complete disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic adjustment capability of the balance weight portions enables the system to adapt to different rotor configurations. The balance weight can be repositioned or replaced to match new operational requirements, maintaining ease of operation across various reconfiguration scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12305528B2Rotor assembly for gas turbine engines with replaceable balance weight bands

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 ROLLS ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A rotor assembly includes a first rotor arranged circumferentially about a central axis. A second rotor is arranged circumferentially about the central axis and couples to the first rotor for rotation therewith. A balance weight is located in a space radially between the first rotor and the second rotor.