US3841794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snap-on lock for turbomachinery blades
Assignee: RTX Corp
•
Filing: 1974-03-06
•
Granted: 1974-10-15
•
Expires: 1994-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A snap-on lock for turbomachinery blade including a spring snapon member shaped to engage a circumferential slot in the blade root and to overlap the disc surface when so engaged and to further frictionally engage the side surfaces of the blade root so as to prevent axial movement of the blade within the disc retaining slot and which will be acted upon by centrifugal force to be more securely retained in the blade root circumferential slot.
Inventors
- 👤 R Bergmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:40
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D5/00; F01D5/30; F01D5/32; F01D5/326
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
388 words
A turbomachinery rotor including in combination: A. a sUpport disc member concentric about an axis and having: 1. a rim portion extending circumferentially around the outer periphery of said disc member and having substantially radial surfaces at the axial ends thereof, 2. a plurality of substantially axially extending and circumferentially spaced disc slots in said disc rim portion and extending for the full axial dimension of the rimmed portion and opening into said radial surfaces and being of selected cross-sectional shape to be greater in circumferential dimension at a station nearer the axis than at a station farther from the axis, B. a plurality of blade members each received in one of said disc slots and having: 1. a root section of substantially the same axial dimension as said disc rim portion so that the axial ends of each blade root section so positioned in its disc slot will substantially align with the rim portion radial surfaces and being of selected cross-sectional shape so as to be matingly received in said disc slot to prevent radial movement of the blade relative to the disc member and having circumferentially spaced side surfaces when so positioned in its disc slot, C. stop means operative to prevent said blade member from moving in a first axial direction within said disc slot, D. a retaining slot defining member located at an axial end of the blade root section and shaped to define a substantially circumferentially extending retaining slot opening toward the axis and being of selected axial dimension and having a first wall thereof extending substantially radially and in alignment with the rim portion radial surface at that radial end of the disc rim portion and having a second wall in selected axial spaced relation to the first wall to define the retaining slot axial dimension therebetween, and further being shaped to define circumferential projections radially outward of the slot, E. a snap-on lock member shaped to snap over said circumferential projections and to be wedged into said retaining slot and to abuttingly engage the disc radial surface so as to prevent movement of the blade within the disc slot in an axial direction opposite to said first axial direction and so that centrifugal force will apply a retaining force on the snap-on lock member in said retaining slot during rotor rotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
388 words
A turbomachinery rotor including in combination: A. a sUpport disc member concentric about an axis and having: 1. a rim portion extending circumferentially around the outer periphery of said disc member and having substantially radial surfaces at the axial ends thereof, 2. a plurality of substantially axially extending and circumferentially spaced disc slots in said disc rim portion and extending for the full axial dimension of the rimmed portion and opening into said radial surfaces and being of selected cross-sectional shape to be greater in circumferential dimension at a station nearer the axis than at a station farther from the axis, B. a plurality of blade members each received in one of said disc slots and having: 1. a root section of substantially the same axial dimension as said disc rim portion so that the axial ends of each blade root section so positioned in its disc slot will substantially align with the rim portion radial surfaces and being of selected cross-sectional shape so as to be matingly received in said disc slot to prevent radial movement of the blade relative to the disc member and having circumferentially spaced side surfaces when so positioned in its disc slot, C. stop means operative to prevent said blade member from moving in a first axial direction within said disc slot, D. a retaining slot defining member located at an axial end of the blade root section and shaped to define a substantially circumferentially extending retaining slot opening toward the axis and being of selected axial dimension and having a first wall thereof extending substantially radially and in alignment with the rim portion radial surface at that radial end of the disc rim portion and having a second wall in selected axial spaced relation to the first wall to define the retaining slot axial dimension therebetween, and further being shaped to define circumferential projections radially outward of the slot, E. a snap-on lock member shaped to snap over said circumferential projections and to be wedged into said retaining slot and to abuttingly engage the disc radial surface so as to prevent movement of the blade within the disc slot in an axial direction opposite to said first axial direction and so that centrifugal force will apply a retaining force on the snap-on lock member in said retaining slot during rotor rotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
a plurality of substantially axially extending and circumferentially spaced disc slots in said disc rim portion and extending for the full axial dimension of the rimmed portion and opening into said radial surfaces and being of selected cross-sectional shape to be greater in circumferential dimension at a slot base station nearer the axis than at a station farther from the axis, B. a plurality of blade members each received in one of said disc slots and having:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
a plurality of substantially axially extending and circumferentially spaced disc slots in said disc rim portion and extending for the full axial dimension of the rimmed portion and opening into said radial surfaces and being of selected cross-sectional shape to be greater in circumferential dimension at a slot base station nearer the axis than at a station farther from the axis, B. a plurality of blade members each received in one of said disc slots and having:
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
means defining a circumferentially extending slot in the blade root in alignment with the disc surface adjacent that end of the root and including circumferentially extending projections at the base of the circumferential slot,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
means defining a circumferentially extending slot in the blade root in alignment with the disc surface adjacent that end of the root and including circumferentially extending projections at the base of the circumferential slot,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
a plurality of substantially axially extending and circumferentially spaced disc slots in said disc rim portion and extending for the full axial dimension of the rimmed portion and opening into said radial surfaces and being of selected cross-sectional shape to be greater in circumferential dimension at a station nearer the axis than at a station farther from the axis, B. a plurality of blade members each received in one of said disc slots and having:
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
a plurality of substantially axially extending and circumferentially spaced disc slots in said disc rim portion and extending for the full axial dimension of the rimmed portion and opening into said radial surfaces and being of selected cross-sectional shape to be greater in circumferential dimension at a station nearer the axis than at a station farther from the axis, B. a plurality of blade members each received in one of said disc slots and having:
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A rotor according to claim 1 wherein said stop means is attached to one end of said root section and is shaped to present a substantially radially extending surface dimensioned to abut the disc rim radial surface when the blade root section is so inserted into said disc slot to prevent further movement of the blade in the direction of insertion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
means defining a circumferentially extending slot in the blade root in alignment with the disc surface adjacent that end of the root and including circumferentially extending projections at the base of the circumferential slot, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
means defining a circumferentially extending slot in the blade root in alignment with the disc surface adjacent that end of the root and including circumferentially extending projections at the base of the circumferential slot, and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
snap-on lock means shaped to snap over said circumferential projections and to frictionally engage the sides of the blade root and to be snugly received into said circumferential slot and so as to be more firmly retained in said slot in response to the centrifugal force generated by disc rotation and, further, to overlap the disc surface so aligned with the slot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
snap-on lock means shaped to snap over said circumferential projections and to frictionally engage the sides of the blade root and to be snugly received into said circumferential slot and so as to be more firmly retained in said slot in response to the centrifugal force generated by disc rotation and, further, to overlap the disc surface so aligned with the slot.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
134 words
A rotor according to claim 1 wherein said disc slot and said blade root section are shaped in cross section to be symmetric about a radially extending line extending through the circumferential midpoint thereof and to mushroom circumferentially at their radially inner ends and to present converging surfaces extending between the mushroom portion and for a selected radial distance outwardly thereof to provide abutting blade-to-disc blade retention surfaces in opposition to centrifugal force, and wherein said retaining slot extends circumferentially in said mushroom portion of said blade root section and terminates at its outer radial end radially inwardly of said root section side surfaces so that the blade root section presents circumferentially extending projections at the station of the retaining slot projecting circumferentially from opposite circumferential sides of the blade root section side surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
means defining an axially extending slot in the blade root and opening onto the base thereof,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
means defining an axially extending slot in the blade root and opening onto the base thereof,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
a retainer member shaped to be matingly received in the blade root axial slot and having aligned circumferentially extending recesses projecting toward each other from the opposite circumferentially spaced and axially extending sides thereof and positioned in alignment with the blade root circumferentially extending slot,
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
a retainer member shaped to be matingly received in the blade root axial slot and having aligned circumferentially extending recesses projecting toward each other from the opposite circumferentially spaced and axially extending sides thereof and positioned in alignment with the blade root circumferentially extending slot,
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
A rotor according to claim 3 wherein said snap-on lock is a spring-rod member shaped to snap over said blade root section circumferential projections and into said blade root section retaining slot, and is further shaped to project over and abut said rim portion radial surfaces and further to engage the base of said retaining slot and to engage the side surfaces of said root section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
87 words
A rOtor according to claim 4 wherein said snap-on lock member is shaped to include a first loop which overlaps one of the radial surfaces of the rim portion of the disc, two circumferentially outwardly extending loops which overlap the blade root section circumferential projections, and two circumferentially inwardly directed loops which have less unsprung circumferential separation that the circumferential separation between said blade root section side surfaces and which snap over said root section circumferential projections and which frictionally engage the blade root section side surfaces.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
71 words
snap-on lock means shaped to snap over said circumferential projections and to frictionally engage the sides of the blade root and to be snugly received into said blade root circumferential slot and said retainer member recesses and so as to be more firmly retained in said slot and recesses in response to the centrifugal force generated by disc rotation and, further, to overlap the disc surface so aligned with the slot.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
71 words
snap-on lock means shaped to snap over said circumferential projections and to frictionally engage the sides of the blade root and to be snugly received into said blade root circumferential slot and said retainer member recesses and so as to be more firmly retained in said slot and recesses in response to the centrifugal force generated by disc rotation and, further, to overlap the disc surface so aligned with the slot.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
A rotor according to claim 5 wherein said snap-on lock member is concentric about a radially extending line extending through the mid-circumferential station of said blade root portion when so snapped into position and including straight sections on opposite sides of said radial line engaging the retaining slot base.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
90 words
A turbomachinery rotor including: A. a disc having an axis and adapted to be mounted for rotation thereabout, B. a plurality of vanes adapted to be connected to the outer periphery of the disc, C. dovetail connecting means connecting each blade to the disc periphery so as to position the blades circumferentially on the disc to be radially extending and restrained during rotation and so as to permit axial movement of the blade into position and for disassembly from the disc when unrestrained, and D. blade axial retention means including:
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
90 words
A turbomachinery rotor including: A. a disc having an axis and adapted to be mounted for rotation thereabout, B. a plurality of vanes adapted to be connected to the outer periphery of the disc, C. dovetail connecting means connecting each blade to the disc periphery so as to position the blades circumferentially on the disc to be radially extending and restrained during rotation and so as to permit axial movement of the blade into position and for disassembly from the disc when unrestrained, and D. blade axial retention means including:
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A turbomachinery rotor including in combination: A. a support disc member concentric about an axis and having:
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A turbomachinery rotor including in combination: A. a support disc member concentric about an axis and having:
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
A rotor according to claim 8 wherein the stop means is a projection extending from the retaining member and shaped to engage the disc radial surface opposite the disc radial surface engaged by the snap-on lock member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
90 words
A turbomachinery rotor including: A. a disc having an axis and adapted to be mounted for rotation thereabout, B. a plurality of vanes adapted to be connected to the outer periphery of the disc, C. dovetail connecting means connecting each blade to the disc periphery so as to position the blades circumferentially on the disc to be radially extending and restrained during rotation and so as to permit axial movement of the blade into position and for disassembly from the disc when unrestrained, and D. blade axial retention means including:
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
90 words
A turbomachinery rotor including: A. a disc having an axis and adapted to be mounted for rotation thereabout, B. a plurality of vanes adapted to be connected to the outer periphery of the disc, C. dovetail connecting means connecting each blade to the disc periphery so as to position the blades circumferentially on the disc to be radially extending and restrained during rotation and so as to permit axial movement of the blade into position and for disassembly from the disc when unrestrained, and D. blade axial retention means including:
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
A rotor according to claim 10 wherein the stop means is a projection extending from the retaining member and shaped to engage the disc surface opposite the disc surface engaged by the snap-on lock member.
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) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |