US3572966A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seal plates for root cooled turbine rotor blades
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1969-01-17
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Granted: 1971-03-30
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Expires: 1989-01-17
Abstract
Abstract The invention comprises a structure for cooling the root portions of turbine rotor blades of the side entry type. The root portions are preferably of the serrated or fir-tree type and are received in complementary serrated recesses provided in the periphery of a rotor disc, the recesses extending axially through the disc. The root portions and recesses are formed to mate with each other, but provide clearance passages along the sides of the root which extend from the upstream face thereof to the downstream face thereof. Cooling fluid is directed to and past the roots by plate structures secured in an annular, peripheral channel provided in the disc, the channel and disc being provided with mating inclining surfaces extending in a radially outward direction towards the groove opening. With rotation of the rotor, the plates wedge in the opening to provide a sealed channel for directing the colling fluid from internal passages provided in the rotor to the root portions of the blades.
Inventors
- 👤 James H Borden
- 👤 Augustine J Scalzo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:26
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D5/00; F01D5/02; F01D5/08; F01D5/081; F01D5/30; F01D5/3007; F01D5/3015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In a rotor for an axial flow fluid machine, said rotor comprising at least one rotor disc with axially extending recesses provided in the periphery thereof for receiving the root portions of rotor blades, the improvement comprising: an annular, continuous groove provided in said disc adjacent at least one end of said peripheral recesses, said disc having a ledge portion partially closing said groove to form a relatively narrow entrance portion thereto; said ledge portion having an inclined surface in said groove converging in a radially outward direction towards said entrance portion thereof; a plurality of plate structures each having a foot portion provided with an inclined surface converging in a radially outward direction; said foot portion being disposed in said groove with its inclined surface disposed in substantial matIng engagement with the inclined surface of said ledge; said foot portions of said plates being effective to close the entrance portion of said groove to form a closed annular channel in said disc; the inclined surfaces being effective to wedge said plates in said groove to seal said annular channel when said disc is rotated; and said plates forming an annular coolant chamber with the ends of the blade root portions adjacent said plates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a rotor for an axial flow fluid machine, said rotor comprising at least one rotor disc with axially extending recesses provided in the periphery thereof for receiving the root portions of rotor blades, the improvement comprising: an annular, continuous groove provided in said disc adjacent at least one end of said peripheral recesses, said disc having a ledge portion partially closing said groove to form a relatively narrow entrance portion thereto; said ledge portion having an inclined surface in said groove converging in a radially outward direction towards said entrance portion thereof; a plurality of plate structures each having a foot portion provided with an inclined surface converging in a radially outward direction; said foot portion being disposed in said groove with its inclined surface disposed in substantial matIng engagement with the inclined surface of said ledge; said foot portions of said plates being effective to close the entrance portion of said groove to form a closed annular channel in said disc; the inclined surfaces being effective to wedge said plates in said groove to seal said annular channel when said disc is rotated; and said plates forming an annular coolant chamber with the ends of the blade root portions adjacent said plates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
120 words
The structure described in claim 1 in which the ledge portion of the rotor disc and the plate foot portions are provided with mating slotted portions, said slotted portions in the disc extending in a radial direction between the annular cooling chamber and the inclined surfaces, said slotted portions in the plate foot portion extending in a radial direction between the annular channel and the inclined surfaces, and the rotor being further provided with radially extending, internally formed openings connected in fluid communication with the annular channel for directing a cooling fluid thereto, said slotted portions being effective to direct the cooling fluid from the annular channel to the annular chamber and to the root portions of the turbine blades.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure described in claim 1 in which the plate structure is supported in the annular groove by an indexing bolt extending through a portion of the disc and into the plate structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure described in claim 1 in which the plate structures are disposed on the upstream side of the disc and rotor blades; and apertured plate structures disposed on the downstream side of the disc and rotor blades.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
207 words
In a rotor for an axial flow fluid machine, said rotor comprising at least one rotor disc with axially extending recesses provided in the periphery thereof for receiving the root portions of rotor blades; an annular, continuous groove provided in said disc adjacent at least one end of said peripheral recesses; a groove and lip portion provided in each of the rotor blades in radial alignment with said annular groove; a plurality of plate structures adapted to be disposed and supported between said disc and blades and in said grooves to form an annular array of said plates; said plates and disc having mating portions which when in mating registry allow a radial insertion and removal of said plates into and from said disc, the outer edge of each plate extending to a radial location less than that of the radial edge of said lip portion when said plate is seated in the bottom of the groove in said disc; said mating portions further allowing the circumferential translation of said plates in said groove, to an out-of-registry position; and means for securing said plates in a radially extended position in said grooves, the outer radial edge of each plate extending into said grooves provided in said blades.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
207 words
In a rotor for an axial flow fluid machine, said rotor comprising at least one rotor disc with axially extending recesses provided in the periphery thereof for receiving the root portions of rotor blades; an annular, continuous groove provided in said disc adjacent at least one end of said peripheral recesses; a groove and lip portion provided in each of the rotor blades in radial alignment with said annular groove; a plurality of plate structures adapted to be disposed and supported between said disc and blades and in said grooves to form an annular array of said plates; said plates and disc having mating portions which when in mating registry allow a radial insertion and removal of said plates into and from said disc, the outer edge of each plate extending to a radial location less than that of the radial edge of said lip portion when said plate is seated in the bottom of the groove in said disc; said mating portions further allowing the circumferential translation of said plates in said groove, to an out-of-registry position; and means for securing said plates in a radially extended position in said grooves, the outer radial edge of each plate extending into said grooves provided in said blades.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The structure described in claim 5 in which the mating portions comprise a ledge portion of the disc and foot portions of the plate structure, and further including a plurality of radially extending, circumferentially spaced slots provided respectively in said ledge portion and foot portions, said slots being radially aligned when the plate structures are circumferentially translated to direct cooling air to the blade roots.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The structure described in claim 5 in which the groove in the disc and the portion of the plate disposed in said groove are provided with outwardly converging inclined surfaces within said groove; said inclined surfaces adapted to be in mating engagement when the plate is secured in its extended position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The structure described in claim 5 in which the plate is provided with a foot portion adapted to be disposed in the groove provided in the disc, said foot portion having an axially extending opening therein, and a bolt for securing said plate in a radially extended position in the groove, said bolt extending through a portion of the disc into said opening provided in said foot portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure described in claim 8 in which the foot portion and disc are provided with mating inclined surfaces for wedging the plate in the groove when the rotor is rotated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The structure described in claim 5 in which the plates form an annular continuous chamber with adjacent ends of the blade root portions, and the mating portions comprising radially extending, circumferentially spaced slots provided respectively in the disc and plates, said slots extending between said annular chamber and the annular groove, said slots placing said chamber and groove in fluid communication with each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA590513A
Cited
US2988325A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-29 | 1974-09-28 | 1975-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-29 | 1978-09-28 | 1979-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-29 | 1982-09-28 | 1983-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |