Gas Turbine Rotor Disk Seal Single Anti-Rotation Tab
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine rotor disk-seal arrangements face challenges in minimizing weight while maintaining anti-rotation coupling, as radially opposed pairs of anti-rotation tabs contribute significantly to the engine's weight and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A disk-seal arrangement featuring a blade-retention disk with a longitudinally opening slot and a seal disk with a single anti-rotation tab and balance slots, along with a split-ring for longitudinal loading reaction, reduces weight by eliminating the need for radially opposed tabs and allows for rotational balance without additional tooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radially opposed pairs of anti-rotation tabs are used, then anti-rotation coupling is achieved, but rotor weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential anti-rotation function by using a single tab instead of radially opposed pairs. The single tab is received in a corresponding slot in the seal disk, providing sufficient anti-rotation coupling without the weight penalty of multiple tabs. This extraction of the minimal necessary element resolves the contradiction between achieving reliable anti-rotation and minimizing rotor weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric design by using a single tab rather than symmetric radially opposed pairs. The single tab is positioned to provide adequate anti-rotation coupling while allowing the rest of the rotor structure to be optimized for weight reduction. This asymmetric approach breaks the conventional symmetry and achieves the dual goal of reliable coupling and weight minimization.
2Reliability
If radially opposed pairs of anti-rotation tabs are used, then anti-rotation coupling is maintained, but engine efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the essential anti-rotation function into a single tab rather than using multiple tabs, the patent reduces unnecessary weight that would otherwise reduce engine efficiency. The single tab maintains adequate anti-rotation coupling while minimizing the mass that the engine must accelerate and manage, thereby improving overall engine efficiency.
3Reliability
If multiple anti-rotation tabs are used, then rotation prevention is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies manufacturing by extracting the anti-rotation function into a single tab and slot arrangement rather than requiring multiple tabs and corresponding slots. This single element approach reduces the number of manufacturing steps, decreases the complexity of assembling multiple components, and lowers the skill level required for fabrication while still achieving reliable rotation prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
A disk-seal arrangement for a gas turbine engine rotor includes a blade retention disk having a longitudinally opening slot therein and a seal disk juxtaposed to said blade retention disk and a single anti-rotation tab received within the blade retention disk slot. The seal disk also includes a pair of balance slots disposed immediately adjacent the antirotation tab to offset the weight thereof for preserving rotor balance. A split ring is disposed longitudinally between the blade retention and seal disks for reacting longitudinal loading therebetween. The ends of the split ring seat against side surfaces of the antirotation between the split ring and the blade retention and seal disks.