Axial positioner and seal for turbine blades

Claim 2

In a rotor for an axial flow turbine comprising at least one rotor disc with side entry channels provided in the periphery thereof for receiving the root portions of rotor blades, the improvement comprising, a sideplate secured to said rotor in abutment with the upstream side of said root portions for confining the flow of cooling fluid to a passageway underneath each of said root portions, a plurality of radially outwardly extending holes through each of said root portions in communication with said passageways, sealing and locking means supported on the downstream side of said rotor disc and engaging the bottom portions of said root portions for confining the cooling fluid flow through said holes and preventing escape of cooling fluid from said passageways downstream of said disc, a bottom peripheral ledge being provided on the downstream side of said root portions for receiving said sealing means, said sealing means comprising a plurality of arcuate sealing segments of angle cross section having their corner portions seated in said peripheral ledges, said locking means including a plurality of arcuate locking segments received in said sealing segments, and means for spreading said sealing and locking segments apart in said peripheral groove.

Claim 3

The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said last named means comprises a plurality of spaced setscrews extending through and screw threaded to said locking segments and engageable with said sealing segments.

Claim 4

The structure recited in claim 2 wherein each of said sealing and locking segments extends across a plurality of blade roots.

Claim 5

The structure recited in claim 3 together with an integral lip portion provided on the downstream side of said rotor disc and defining one of the sidewalls of said peripheral groove, and a lock screw extending through said lip portion and through registering holes formed in each of said sealing and locking segments.

Claim 6

The structure recited in claim 3 together with an integral lip portion provided on the downstream side of said rotor disc and defining one of the sidewalls of said peripheral groove, and spaced openings provided on the top portion of said lip portion through which openings said setscrews extend.

Claim 7

The structure recited in claim 3 wherein said locking segments are slightly shorter than their corresponding sealing segments.

Claim 8

In a rotor for an axial flow turbine comprising at least one rotor disc with channels provided in the periphery thereof for receiving the root portions of rotor blades, the improvement comprising, means defining a passageway underneath each of said root portions, a disc-shaped sideplate on said rotor having its periphery in sealing abutment with the upstream side of said root portions for confining the flow of cooling fluid to said passageway, said root portions having a plurality of radially outwardly extending holes in communication with said passageway, ledge portions and platform portions extending from said root portions in radially spaced relationship, a plurality of interlocking seal plates supported between said ledge portions and platform portions, grooves being provided in said ledge and platform portions for receiving the top and bottom edges of said seal plates, each of said seal plates having shoulders on opposite side edges facing in the same direction, and wherein said alternate plates are reversed so that adjoining edges are interlocked.

Claim 9

In a rotor for an axial flow turbine comprising at least one rotor disc with channels provided in the periphery thereof for receiving the root portions of rotor blades, the improvement comprising, means defining a passageway underneath each of said root portions, a disc-shaped sideplate on said rotor having its periphery in sealing abutment with the upstream side of said root portions for confining the flow of cooling fluid to said passageway, said root portions having a plurality of radially outwardly extending holes in communication with said passageway, ledge portions and platform portions extending from said root portions in radially spaced relationship, a plurality of interlocking seal plates supported between said ledge portions and platform portions, grooves being provided in said ledge and platform portions for receiving the top and bottom edges of said seal plates, each of said seal plates having shoulders on opposite side edges facing in the same direction, and wherein said alternate plates are reversed so that adjoining edges are interlocked.

Claim 10

Structure as recited in claim 7 wherein each of said sealing plates has a downwardly extending tab which engages the side of the corresponding ledge for orienting the plates relative to their respective rotor blades.

Claim 11

In a rotor for an axial flow turbine comprising at least one rotor disc with side entry channels provided in the periphery thereof, a plurality of rotor blade structures of the side entry type, said blade structures having an airfoil blade portion, a platform portion and a root portion, said root portion being comprised of a radially inNer fir tree portion and a radially outer extended root portion, said blade structures being disposed in said channels of said rotor disc, the improvement comprising in combination: a sideplate secured to said rotor disc in abutment with the upstream side of said root portions for confining the flow of cooling fluid to a passageway underneath each of said root portions, a plurality of radially outwardly extending holes through each of said root portions in communication with each of said passageways, sealing and locking means supported on the downstream side of said rotor disc and engaging at least a portion of the radially inner fir tree portion of said root portions, said sealing and locking means confining the cooling fluid flow through said holes and preventing escape of cooling fluid from each of said passageways downstream of said disc, ledge portions extending from said inner fir tree portion of said root portions, platform portions extending from said root portions in radially spaced relationship, said ledge and platform portions being disposed radially outward relative to said sealing and locking means, and a plurality of interlocking seal plates supported between said ledge portions and platform portions to prevent leakage of motive fluid around the airfoil blade portions.

Claim 12

In a rotor for an axial flow turbine comprising at least one rotor disc with side entry channels provided in the periphery thereof, a plurality of rotor blade structures of the side entry type, said blade structures having an airfoil blade portion, a platform portion and a root portion, said root portion being comprised of a radially inNer fir tree portion and a radially outer extended root portion, said blade structures being disposed in said channels of said rotor disc, the improvement comprising in combination: a sideplate secured to said rotor disc in abutment with the upstream side of said root portions for confining the flow of cooling fluid to a passageway underneath each of said root portions, a plurality of radially outwardly extending holes through each of said root portions in communication with each of said passageways, sealing and locking means supported on the downstream side of said rotor disc and engaging at least a portion of the radially inner fir tree portion of said root portions, said sealing and locking means confining the cooling fluid flow through said holes and preventing escape of cooling fluid from each of said passageways downstream of said disc, ledge portions extending from said inner fir tree portion of said root portions, platform portions extending from said root portions in radially spaced relationship, said ledge and platform portions being disposed radially outward relative to said sealing and locking means, and a plurality of interlocking seal plates supported between said ledge portions and platform portions to prevent leakage of motive fluid around the airfoil blade portions.