Inter-Blade Retaining Clips for Turbine Wheel Damping Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for disassembling bladed wheels of turbine engines face challenges in retaining damping elements during the removal and replacement of retaining rings, especially when the turbine is positioned vertically, as the damping elements risk falling or becoming dislodged without the retaining ring.

Innovation Solution

A retaining device comprising an inter-blade ring sector with radially extending flanks and retaining clips that cooperate with damping elements to securely hold them in place, allowing for the removal and replacement of retaining rings without disassembling the entire turbine engine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the turbine is positioned vertically with the upstream side upward for disassembly, then the retaining ring can be removed and replaced, but the damping elements risk falling or becoming dislodged without the retaining ring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretaining ring replacementVSAvoiddamping element retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a retaining device as an intermediary component between the damping elements and the blade structure. This device includes retaining clips that engage with the damping elements and a support structure that provides temporary retention during disassembly operations, preventing the damping elements from falling when the retaining ring is removed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining device is installed on the blade before the retaining ring is removed. This preliminary action ensures that the damping elements are already secured by the retaining clips and support structure, eliminating the risk of them falling during the subsequent retaining ring removal operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of repair

If the entire turbine engine is disassembled to replace the retaining ring, then all components can be accessed, but time and costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent accessibilityVSAvoiddisassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables segmentation of the disassembly process by allowing the retaining ring to be removed independently without disassembling the entire turbine engine. The retaining device facilitates this by providing localized support for the damping elements, enabling the retaining ring replacement to be performed as a separate, isolated operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the damping element retention function from the retaining ring system. By introducing a dedicated retaining device with clips that independently secure the damping elements, the system allows the retaining ring to be removed and replaced without requiring the presence or absence of other engine components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11440144B2Retaining device for disassembling a bladed wheel of a turbine engine and method employing it

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES SAS

AI summary

The invention relates to a retaining device for disassembling a bladed wheel of a turbine engine.The invention is characterized in that the retaining device (100) includes:an inter-blade ring sector (101),a plurality of retaining clips (105), each retaining clip (105) cooperating with one of the damping elements (40), the retaining clips (105) extending radially while being attached circumferentially to the ring sector (101).