Gas Turbine Rotor Disc Torque Transfer and Balance Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in balancing torque transfer features while minimizing weight, as existing solutions often rely on heavy components like flanges and rivets to achieve balance, which can increase overall engine weight.
Innovation Solution
A rotor disc assembly with a disc body, extension members, and a minidisc that includes interlocking fingers and balance rings, allowing for the reception of balance weights and enabling rotational balancing without the need for additional heavy components, thereby optimizing weight distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If heavy components like flanges and rivets are used to achieve balance, then balancing of the gas turbine engine is improved, but the overall engine weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines torque transfer features (splines, flanges) with balance features into a single integrated structure. The torque transfer flange includes notches that receive balance rings, and splines include counterweights, eliminating the need for separate heavy balancing components while achieving both torque transfer and balancing functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The torque transfer features are designed to perform multiple functions: transferring torque between rotating components and providing balancing capability. The flange and spline structures serve dual purposes as both mechanical coupling elements and balance weight carriers, reducing overall component count and weight.
2Force
If torque transfer features are added to the gas turbine engine, then torque transfer capability is improved, but the engine weight increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates balance features directly into the torque transfer structures. The flange and spline components that are necessary for torque transfer also incorporate notches, recesses, and mounting features for balance rings and counterweights, eliminating the need for separate balancing components and reducing overall weight.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A rotor disc assembly (50) includes a rotor disc (52) and a minidisc (54). The rotor disc has a first extension member (62), a first finger (80), and a second finger (82). The first extension member axially extends from a disc body disposed about an axis. The first finger extends axially from the first extension member. The second finger is circumferentially spaced apart from the first finger. The second finger extends axially from the first extension member. Each of the first finger and the second finger has a first portion (240) and a second portion (242) that extends radially from a distal end of the first portion. The minidisc is operatively connected to the rotor disc. The minidisc has an interlocking finger (122) that radially extends from a minidisc body (120) and is disposed between the first finger and the second finger. The interlocking finger, the first portion, and second portion define a ring groove (150).