US3632228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for locking turbomachinery blades
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1970-07-29
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Granted: 1972-01-04
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Expires: 1990-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A unitary assembly is inserted into a space between a blade tang and the bottom of a dovetail slot. A bolt is rotated relative to the spacer so that its head overlies the side of the rotor and the blade tang. A nut threaded on the opposite end of the bolt is tightened to clamp a plate against the other side of the rotor and the blade tang.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald C Acres
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:06
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D5/00; F01D5/30; F01D5/32; F01D5/323; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A blade-locking device for locking radially projecting blades on a rotor where each blade has a dovetail tang at its inner end and the rotor has dovetail slots extending across its peripheral face from one side to the other thereof, each blade being received in a slot with a spacing between the tang and the bottom of the groove, said blade-locking device comprising a spacer having a height approximating the spacing between the blade tang and the bottom of the rotor slot, a bolt having a length greater than that of the spacer and a head at one end and a threaded portion at the other end, said bolthead having a height no more than the height of said spacer and a width greater than the height of said spacer and less than the maximum width of the rotor slot, said spacer having a passageway along its length through which the bolt extends and within which the bolt is rotatable, a plate telescoped over the threaded portion of said bolt, and a nut threaded onto said threaded portion to form a unitary assembly which may be slipped into the spacing between the tang and the bottom of the groove, the bolt rotated to register its head with both the tang and one side of the rotor and the nut tightened to clamp the latter against tang and the other side of the rotor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A blade-locking device for locking radially projecting blades on a rotor where each blade has a dovetail tang at its inner end and the rotor has dovetail slots extending across its peripheral face from one side to the other thereof, each blade being received in a slot with a spacing between the tang and the bottom of the groove, said blade-locking device comprising a spacer having a height approximating the spacing between the blade tang and the bottom of the rotor slot, a bolt having a length greater than that of the spacer and a head at one end and a threaded portion at the other end, said bolthead having a height no more than the height of said spacer and a width greater than the height of said spacer and less than the maximum width of the rotor slot, said spacer having a passageway along its length through which the bolt extends and within which the bolt is rotatable, a plate telescoped over the threaded portion of said bolt, and a nut threaded onto said threaded portion to form a unitary assembly which may be slipped into the spacing between the tang and the bottom of the groove, the bolt rotated to register its head with both the tang and one side of the rotor and the nut tightened to clamp the latter against tang and the other side of the rotor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A blade-locking device as in claim 1 further including means, acting between said spacer and bolt, for locking the bolt against rotation relative to the spacer when the bolthead is in a selected position to engage the blade tang and the one side of the rotor and when the bolthead is drawn into close proximity to the spacer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
A blade-locking device as in claim 1 wherein the spacer in noncircular in cross section, the plate has an outline greater than that of the space between the blade tangs and rotor slots, and means acting between said bolt and plate, are provided for locking said plate in overlying position relative to said spacing when the nut is fully threaded on the threaded portion of the bolt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
181 words
A clocking device as in claim 1 wherein the spacer comprises upper and lower, relatively thin strips having a length approximating that of the rotor slots and spaced apart by integral, vertical, transverse ribs, said spacer further having wings projecting laterally from one of said strips, which are engageable with the sides of said slot to position the spacer centrally thereof, said ribs have aligned holes therethrough forming the passageway for said bolt, a short lug is formed on the bolt underneath said head, said lug being receivable between the ends of the spacer strips when the bolthead is rotated to a selected position to engage the blade tang and the one side of the rotor and when the bolthead is drawn into close proximity to the spacer, the plate has an outline greater than that of the space between the blade tangs and the bottom of the rotor slot, and has a lug engageable with the spacer for positioning said plate in overlying relation to said spacing when said bolt is fully threaded on the threaded portion of said bolt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
A locking device as in claim 4 for a locking blade in a slot which is angled relative to the axis of the rotor and angled from a square relation relative to the sides of the rotor, wherein the inner surfaces of the bolthead and the plate have the same angular relationship for flush engagement with the sides of the rotor disc and the blade tangs, and the portion of the outer surface of the plate surrounding the bolt is normal to the bolt for effective clamping action when the nut is threaded thereagainst.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-03 | 1975-07-05 | 1976-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-03 | 1979-07-05 | 1980-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-03 | 1983-07-05 | 1984-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |