Abstract: The system for mounting and attaching turbine and compressor prismatic rooted blades includes a mounting sector formed by the elimination of two circumferential flanges provided on the edges of the rim. The length of the sector is about three widths of the blade platform with a stop-blade having two diametrically opposite cut corners and a four-tooth stop-comb. The corresponding mounting procedure consists of turning the stop-blade between the vanes placed in the bottom of the sector and passing its platform above those of the two adjacent blades. The comb is introduced between the platforms of the three blades and the bottom of the sector.

Abstract: A filler member for a rotor of a turbomachine in which the rotor is of the type comprising a body provided with a peripheral groove. Each side of the groove has a flange which has a surface facing radially inwards. A circumferential array of blades, each of which has a root shaped to engage the inward facing surfaces of the flanges and is capable of sliding along the groove. At least one of the flanges has a first recess therein to enable the blades to be loaded into, and removed from the groove. The filler member comprises, a base portion extending along the groove below the roots of one or more of said blades and has at least one tab connected to the base portion extending outwardly therefrom. The tab is movable relative to the base portion between a first position in which the tab is clear of said first recess and thereby allows the filler member to move along the groove and a second position in which the tab is located in the recess and so prevents said filler member from moving along the groove.

Abstract: A plurality of rotatable turbine blades are formed integral with a shroud and platform and a plurality of arcuate plate root portions which are received by circumferential grooves in a rotor and are fastened to the rotor by three pins extending axially through the root portions and the rotor, the shroud and platform portions having a protrusion on one corner to support the trailing edge of one of the blade portions and a notch in the shroud and the platform on the corner opposite the protrusion whereby the protrusions on one group of blades register with the notch on an adjacent group of blades when the groups of blades are disposed in a circular array on the rotor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a fan blade includes an airfoil portion, a platform portion, a shank portion, and a generally axial dovetail portion of a predetermined axial dimension for matingly engaging a generally axial dovetail receiving slot of substantially the same predetermined axial dimension in a fan disk member. Aft cleat means, including a portion having substantially the same cross section as the dovetail portion, is provided and is integral with the dovetail portion and projects generally axially therefrom. The aft cleat means strengthens the dovetail portion. Methods are provided for fabricating such a blade and for strengthening existing blades. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for vibration damping, especially in fans of turbojets. The root engaged inside a rotor support disk slot is kept against the upper walls of the slot under the exertion of pressure acting on the lower side of the blade root due to the present device. The device includes a torsion bar which is placed beneath the root of the blade and of which one of the ends is attached to a cam resting against the base of the root of the blade. The other end of the torsion bar is provided with a cam inserted on said bar against the base of the root of the blade under stress that was previously conveyed to the bar.

Abstract: A rotor assembly and methods for securing rotor blades within and removing rotor blades from rotor assemblies. The rotor assembly comprises a rotor disc defining a plurality of blade grooves, and including a plurality of tenons disposed between the blade grooves and defining a plurality of pin sockets radially extending inward from outside surfaces of the tenons; and a plurality of rotor blades, each blade including a root disposed within a blade groove to secure the blade against radial movement, and a blade platform overlaying a tenon and defining a radially extending pin aperture. The rotor assembly further comprises a plurality of locking pins radially extending through the pin apertures and into the pin sockets to secure the rotor blades against axial movement, each pin including a head and a base to limit radial movement of the pin.

Abstract: Rotor blade and disk structures enabling the disassembly and reassembly of a single rotor blade are disclosed. The concepts are particularly suited to configurations employing interlocking mid-span shrouds which inhibit the withdrawal of a single blade from a disk.In one specific geometry the rotor blade root section (20) and the disk attachment slot (24) are contoured to provide increasing clearance between the bottom of the blade root section and the attachment slot as the blade is withdrawn axially from the slot. Rocking of the blade within the provided clearance enables withdrawal of the blade around the shroud segments (30,32) and airfoil sections (16) of the adjacent blades (12).

Abstract: A dovetail type circumferential slot fixing for retaining blades of a bladed rotor assembly of a turbomachine which requires no additional loading slot. The shape and dimensions of the dovetail roots of the blades and the dovetail blade-retaining slot are such as to allow the blades to be loaded by introducing a flank of each root dovetail into the slot and rolling the blades in an axial direction. The blades are held outwards against radially inward facing faces of the blade-retaining slot by a support means which may be a detachable plate, flange member or nose bullet that engages the blade platforms.

Abstract: A turbine rotor assembly 10 for providing cooling air to a turbine blade 28 is disclosed. An annulus 24 is formed between the rotor disk 12 and a segmented sideplate 20 in which the segments have overlapping ends 22. A thin flexible metal strip 36 having overlapping ends 38 is disposed about the radially inward edge of the sideplate segments to seal the leakage flowpath between the overlapping ends 22 of the sideplate segments 20 as the sideplate segments expand and contract with the supporting disk 12.

Abstract: An improved rotor for fluid flow meters having a rotor hub with a vane hub mounted thereon including spaced inner and outer cylindrical walls. These inner and outer cylindrical walls are provided with grooves and slot respectively that are radially aligned and which are inclined relative to the direction of fluid flow and provide adjacent support surfaces for a plurality of vanes. A cap element assembled on one end of the rotor hub in engagement with the outer cylindrical wall maintains the vanes in operating position and provides a means whereby the vanes can be readily removed or replaced when desired.

Abstract: A variable pitch propeller is controlled by a hydraulic mechanism responsive to forces urging an unsymmetrically mounted propeller towards its maximum pitch. Spring bias means maintains the propeller at minimum pitch under conditions of rest. The propeller is prevented from increasing its pitch by the pressure produced on a closed hydraulic chamber until it reaches a predetermined r.p.m., when a centrifugal valve opens a first port and relieves the pressure in the cylinder and allows the propeller to increase in pitch. The increase in pitch opens a second port communicating with the pressure chamber, but that channel remains closed by a second valve that is normally closed but opens in response to a reduction in the throttle setting. The reduction in throttle setting closes the centrifugal valve so that the only channel from the pressure chamber is through the second port.

Abstract: Device for the locking of blade roots and the fastening of the forward cowl consisting of a fastening piece comprising a parallelepipedic part (16) engaging radial slots (5) of the teeth (4) of the rim, a prismatic part (17), the convergent faces of which are resting against the sides of the groove and a cylindrical part (22) for the fastening of the cowl (24). The parallelepipedic (16) and prismatic (17) parts are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the cylindrical part (22). The cowl (24) has perforated counterbores (25) through which the cylindrical parts (22) are passing, with the ends of the cylindrical parts receiving a screw (27) to fasten the cowl.

Abstract: A rotor assembly and methods for securing rotor blades within and removing rotor blades from rotor assemblies. The rotor assembly comprises a rotor disc defining a plurality of blade grooves, and including a plurality of tenons disposed between the blade grooves and defining a plurality of pin sockets radially extending inward from outside surfaces of the tenons; and a plurality of rotor blades, each blade including a root disposed within a blade groove to secure the blade against radial movement, and a blade platform overlaying a tenon and defining a radially extending pin aperture. The rotor assembly further comprises a plurality of locking pins radially extending through the pin apertures and into the pin sockets to secure the rotor blades against axial movement, each pin including a head and a base to limit radial movement of the pin.

Abstract: A rotor stage assembly 20 of the type adapted for use in an axial flow gas turbine engine is disclosed. The assembly includes a rotor disk 36, at least two rotor blades 42 and a scalloped lock pin 52. The scalloped lock pin has lugs 54. The disk is adapted by a groove 40 and each blade is adapted by a groove 48 to receive the scalloped lock pin. During assembly the scalloped lock pin is alignable with blade attachment slots 44 in the disk to enable insertion of the blades and is slidable in the grooves 40, 48 to bring each lug 54 on the scalloped pin into engagement with a corresponding groove in a rotor blade.

Abstract: In a dynamically balanced turbine wheel wherein a plurality of turbine blades are secured to a turbine disc by conventional fir tree mounting arrangements, a retaining assembly is provided to positively restrain movement of the turbine blades in an axial direction forward or aft of the wheel. A tang is machined in the leading edge of the root of each blade and bears against the forward face of the disc to prevent axial movement of the blade in the aft direction. To restrain each blade from axial movement in the forward axial direction, a radial groove is machined into the aft side of the disc and the trailing edge of the root of each blade for accommodating a wire-type retainer which is held in place by a generally cylindrical plate. The latter is piloted on the disc and secured by means of a split retainer ring which is accommodated in opposed continuous slots provided in the plate and the disc.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bladed rotor for a gas turbine engine which comprises a disc having blade carrying slots in its periphery. In order to seal the spaces between the blade platforms and the disc an annular array of sealing plates is provided. The plates are supported directly from the disc by a rivet, pin or the like which passes through the disc in between the blade carrying slots, in this way avoiding any additional loading on the blades themselves.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching blades to a compressor rotor for a turbojet including a rotor drum in which holes are provided which extend radially and into which the blades are inserted. The blades include successive platform portions by means of which such draw support from the wall portion of the holes, such blades being locked radially to the drum by means of a cotter pin engaged between foot portions of two adjacent blades and pressing against the interior surface of the drum.

Abstract: A rotor sideplate for inhibiting the leakage of fluid mediums across a blade and disk assembly of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. Techniques for preventing the leakage of working medium gases across the assembly beneath the platforms and for preventing the leakage of turbine cooling air are developed. Various construction details which enhance the fatigue performance of the sideplate are developed. The sideplate is supported from the rotor disk at more than one support point.

Abstract: A turbine disc for a bladed rotor assembly includes a rim, a plurality of generally axially extending slots in the rim adapted to receive the roots of rotor blades, the radially innermost surfaces of all of said slots lying at a first radius, a continuous circumferential flange projecting axially from the rim of the disc on at least one side face thereof, said flange providing a continuous circumferentially extending surface at a radius less than said first radius and being connected to the disc at a radius greater than said first radius, and a continuous circumferentially extending cooling air channel open towards the radially inner side of the flange, and extending radially outwardly between the flange and the side face of the disc to an extent sufficient to intersect the bottom and a portion of at least one of the flanks of each of the blade root-receiving slots.

Abstract: An improved turbomachinery blade retaining assembly for locking the dovetail of a radially extending blade and a spring spacer means into a dovetail slot on a rotor includes axial retention means disposed within radially extending aligned slots within the rotor blade dovetail, the spring spacer means and the dovetail slot. Radial retention means disposed between the radial interior of the blade dovetail and the dovetail slot extend through one or more slots within the axial retention means to retain the axial retention means in place within the aligned radially extending notches.

Abstract: The rim of a turbine disc is provided with a circular collar upon which is ngaged the heel of an annular flange having a U-shaped cross section with unequal sectors, i.e., a principal piece forming a circlip and a smaller piece forming a key which completes the flange following the installation of the circlip; the key is retained in its position by cuts of the ends of said key.

Abstract: A shrouded blade for insertion into an axial disk slot and having a radial spacer and a circumferential groove is provided with a segmented retainer bar which fits into the circumferential groove to axially retain the blade. The retainer bar includes flanges which extend radially inward on either side of the spacer such that the spacer provides positive placement for the retainer bar in both the radial and circumferential directions.

Abstract: In a turbine rotor assembly wherein ceramic blades are secured to slots provided in the periphery of a metallic rotor disc, a metallic jacket is interposed between each blade root and disc slot, and ceramic potting material is, in turn, interposed between the metallic jacket and the ceramic blade root. The metallic jacket also includes locking means to prevent upstream or downstream axial movement of the blade in the disc slot, with the resulting assembly effectively isolating the ceramic root from high localized loads and permitting a more uniform stress distribution on the critical root load bearing surfaces.

Abstract: Both the disk and the blade retainer have a radially inward extending flange which axially abuts the other. A U-clip ring with its open side disposed radially outward is placed over the two flanges to hold them axially together and means is provided to maintain the U-clip ring in its holding position. In a preferred embodiment, the ring is constructed with its side farthest from the disk having a substantially greater radial height than that of the side closest the disk, and the circumferential length of the U-clip is so sized that there is a relatively small gap between its ends when it is in the installed position. With these features, the ring will remain in its assembled position without any other holding means. Removal can be effected by first radially moving one end of the ring inwardly with respect to the other and then axially moving it until it clears the other end.

Abstract: Improved attachment structure for connecting ceramic blades to the rotor disk of a gas turbine rotor. The structure includes a plurality of metallic attachment pieces having roots inserted into respective grooves in the outer periphery of the rotor disk. Each attachment piece has an outer peripheral groove for receiving the root of a corresponding turbine blade formed of ceramic material. Specific embodiments of an attachment piece and a blade are disclosed, the blade having a base which engages the outer peripheral face of the corresponding attachment piece. The blade base and the corresponding attachment piece have aligned, spaced grooves at the opposed ends thereof for receiving ceramic plates which cover the adjacent parts of the attachment piece. Certain ends of the ceramic plates define recesses for receiving metallic plates which extend radially of the rotor disk and transmit torque from the blade to the attachment piece and thereby to the rotor disk.

Abstract: An improved rotor for a gas turbine engine wherein the rotor has a plurality of ceramic turbine blades coupled by attachment pieces of high-temperature metal to a rotor disk. Each attachment piece has a root received in a corresponding groove in the outer periphery of the rotor disk. Also, each attachment piece is made to couple a pair of turbine blades to the rotor disk, the attachment piece having a pair of axially spaced, radially extending walls, each wall having a hole therethrough and the holes of the walls being aligned with each other. The roots of the two blades for each attachment piece are positioned between its spaced wall and the roots have cooperating projecting parts which engage each other and form a recess through which a pin extends when the ends of the pin are in the holes of the end walls. The roots of the blades of adjacent attachment pieces abut each other to keep the blades from moving laterally relative to respective attachment pieces.

Abstract: A variable pitch blade and blade mount which is suitable for propellers, fans and the like and which has improved impact resistance. The invention is particularly directed to composite fan blades and blade mounting arrangements wherein the blades are permitted to pivot relative to a turbine hub about an axis generally parallel to the centerline of the engine upon impact of a large foreign object, such as a bird. By thus providing for the pivoting of the blades upon impact, centrifugal force recovery becomes the principal energy absorbing mechanism and a blade having improved impact strength is obtained.

Abstract: A turbomachinery rotor comprising a rotatable hub and a composite blade attached to the periphery thereof. The blade comprises a plurality of bonded filament laminates extending between, and wrapped around, a pair of hollow, semicylindrical inserts at the blade root. The laminates are bonded to the inserts so as to form a cylindrical blade root profile for insertion into a complementary cylindrical groove in the periphery of the hub. A slotted pin is positioned within the inserts to prevent the root from collapsing under loadings and to retain the blade in the hub.

Abstract: A retaining assembly is provided for locking radially extending blades in a rotor disc associated with a gas turbine engine. The assembly includes a pair of spaced apart lugs axially extending from one side of the disc to form an access gap for insertion of a blade tang into a dovetail slot in the rotor disc. A pair of axially aligned inwardly facing recesses are disposed in the lugs. A retaining member resides in the recesses and extends across the gap to preclude egress of the blade tang from the dovetail slot. The retaining member includes at least one axially extending protrusion adapted to radially overlap and abuttingly engage a radially inwardly facing abutment surface on the lugs.

Abstract: The invention comprises sealing structure between a seal plate, a rotor, and a blade, for sealing the root portion of a rotor and blade assembly to provide a sealed chamber adjacent the base of the root into which radially directed passageways in the blade open for transmitting the cooling fluid, delivered to the chamber, through the blade to the tip end thereof to cool the blade. The seal is perfected through a wedging action caused by centrifugal force moving the base or foot of the plate, disposed below the blade root, into sealing engagement with the rotor disk, and an intermediately disposed seal bar extending arcuately just radially outwardly of the radially innermost portion of the root and generally in the vicinity of the innermost loaded root projection with the loaded root providing the axial seal and the sealing bar and seal plate foot providing the radial seals to define a cooling fluid chamber adjacent the base of the root.

Abstract: In order to prevent axial movement of blades with respect to their rotor, a locking ring is provided which abuts the blades and is mounted from the disc by a bayonet connection. The blades engage with the ring to prevent its rotation with respect to the disc and consequent disconnection.

Abstract: A turbine wheel assembly having an improved disk and sideplate construction is disclosed. A multiplicity of turbine blades is conventionally mounted on a turbine disk which includes a plurality of sideplate retaining lugs along the periphery of the disk. A plurality of segmented sideplates is affixed to the side of the disk and each blade has a root section which engages a correspondingly shaped slot in the disk. The lugs include an arcuate surface to engage a corresponding bearing surface on one of the sideplates and to radially retain the sideplate during rotation of the wheel assembly. Additionally, the rotation of the wheel assembly urges the sideplate axially against the side of the disk to seal the interface between the blade root sections and the corresponding disk slots.

Abstract: A gas turbine disk design having a sideplate construction which prevents the leakage of hot gas across the turbine disk is disclosed. The sideplates are segmented and facilitate cooling of the turbine blades. Slidably mounted studs hold the sideplates in surface contact with the disk and prevent the buildup of stress concentrations in either the plates or the attaching members.

Abstract: A blade locking device, for locking radially projecting blades on a rotor includes a pair of retaining pins having enlarged forward and aft end portions or lugs. The retaining pins are inserted into a radial space between the blade tang and the bottom of the rotor slot. Spacer means maintain the retaining pins circumferentially spaced apart and further maintain the end lugs in confronting and overlapping relationship with forward and aft abutment surfaces on the sides of the rotor and with forward and aft end faces on each end of the blade tang. The spacer means are fixed against axial movement relative to said retaining members. Resilient biasing means can be provided to bias the rotor blade radially outward.