Abstract: A device and method for the lubrication of teeth in a meshing gear. A plurality of teeth are formed about a periphery of a toothed wheel. Each tooth is defined by a root portion, an involute profile portion, and a minimal stress portion. The device and method includes the formation of a plurality of fluidic passages, each including an inlet and an outlet, in fluidic communication with a lubricant and the minimal stress portion of at least one of the plurality of teeth. During operation, the lubricant contained flows via centrifugal force to the minimal stress portion of each of the plurality of teeth via the fluidic passages. The fabrication of the outlet of the fluidic passages at a minimal stress portion of at least one of the plurality of teeth eliminates any further stress fabrication on the portion of the tooth structure that is under stress during operation.

Abstract: A rotor assembly or other rotating device having a stack of laminations or laminates that are chemically bonded together. Chemical bond of the laminates may have a strength that approaches the strength of the material of metal laminates. Chemical bonds may be effective in holding the laminates at temperatures when subject to rigorous mechanical operations such as high rotation speed and vibration.

Abstract: Rings having holes with a centerline offset from the centerline of the outer diameter, or other diameter piloting feature of the ring (i.e., non-concentric rings) may be used to align rotating components within their static components. Two non-concentric rings may be used to support a bearing that contains a shaft there through to allow for maximum offsets between a desired centerline of the rotating component and an actual, assembled centerline of the rotating component. Adjustment of the rotor centerline relative to the static structure centerline may be obtained without disassembly of the rotor assembly or static structure assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for balancing stacked components of rotating machinery, such as in a gas turbine engine. Unlike conventional processes and devices for balancing stacked components, the present invention may use a single non-parallel spacer for obtaining an acceptable and repeatable component group balance. The non-parallel spacer may be used to compensate for rotor bow and the associated imbalance of the rotor group. By indexing a spacer with non-parallel faces, situated terminally at the end of the stack adjacent to the nut, rotor balance can be achieved without disassembly of the rotor group and clocking of its individual components. A spacer may also be disposed at any one or more of the interfaces between various components in the stack.

Abstract: The present invention provides for outer diameter piloting of a nut that secures stacked components to a tie-shaft or other threaded components used to axially secure one or more rotating components. Unlike conventional inner diameter piloting methods, machining a precise inner diameter of the nut is not needed. The nut face of the present invention has superior perpendicularity with the tie-shaft and the radial pilot is not lost when the nut is loaded. Outer diameter nut piloting may be conducted by using a nut alone or a nut in combination with a nut spacer, a pocket in the rotor, a nut spacer seat, or a nut piloting insert.

Abstract: A rotor assembly or other rotating device having a stack of laminations or laminates that are chemically bonded together. Chemical bond of the laminates may have a strength that approaches the strength of the material of metal laminates. Chemical bonds may be effective in holding the laminates at temperatures when subject to rigorous mechanical operations such as high rotation speed and vibration.