US3853425A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Turbine rotor blade cooling and sealing system
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1973-09-07
•
Granted: 1974-12-10
•
Expires: 1993-09-07
Abstract
Abstract An assembly for sealing the root portions of gas turbine rotor blades of the side entry type into a rotor. The assembly also provides cooling for the blades. A radially directed three-sided channel disposed on the upstream side of the rotor near its periphery forces cooling fluid radially outward to a chamber beneath each blade root. The rotor, when rotating, causes the channel to act as a pump due to centrifugal force imparted to the cooling fluid. The coolant fluid is forced out the channel and into the chamber, then the coolant fluid is discharged radially through the blade root. A chamber sealing plate prevents axial leakage of the coolant past the downstream side of the blade root. The chamber sealing plate is fitted into a groove on the periphery of the rotor radially inwardly of and near the downstream end of the blade root. The sealing plate is notched, and interlocks with a corresponding tab in the downstream base of the blade root, which prevents the seal plates from moving circumferentially during turbine operation. The seal plate is further restrained axially by contact with an exhaust sealing and locking plate that is mounted in another peripheral groove downstream of the chamber sealing plate. The exhaust plate seals the downstream side of the blade entry channels, and locks the blades into the rotor.
Inventors
- 👤 A Scalzo
- 👤 L Mclaurin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:46
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D5/00; F01D5/30; F01D5/3007; F01D5/3015; F01D5/12; F01D5/14; F01D5/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
316 words
A rotor assembly for an axial flow gas turbine comprising: a plurality of rotor blades, each blade having an airfoil portion, a root portion, and a platform therebetween, at least one rotatable turbine rotor or disc having a plurality of side entry channels spaced on the periphery thereof for receiving the root portions of blades, a chamber axially disposed radially inwardly of and adjacent the root portions of the blades, a plurality of radially directed cooling fluid flow passageways extending from the root portion through the airfoil portion of the blade, said passageways being in fluid communication with said axially disposed chaMber, a generally radially directed groove disposed on the upstream side of the rotor, said groove being in fluid communication with said axially disposed chamber, said groove comprising a pumping means during rotor rotation to draw cooling fluid from a source, forcing said fluid through said axially disposed chamber and into said radially directed passageways, said fluid being discharged from the radially outermost end of said passageways in the airfoil portions of the blade, plate means for sealing the chamber downstream, said plate means being notched to interlock with a mating tab on the downstream end of the blade root, said plate means being disposed in a peripheral groove near the downstream side of said disc, exhaust sealing and locking plate means disposed on the downstream side of the blade root, said exhaust sealing and locking plate means being supported inwardly by a peripheral groove on the downstream edge of the disc and supported outwardly by an inwardly facing groove in an extension of the blade platform, said sealing and locking plate means being in restraining contact with said chamber sealing plate means, said locking plate means preventing axial movement of said blade and said chamber sealing plate means, said exhaust sealing and locking plate means sealing the downstream portion of said side entry channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
316 words
A rotor assembly for an axial flow gas turbine comprising: a plurality of rotor blades, each blade having an airfoil portion, a root portion, and a platform therebetween, at least one rotatable turbine rotor or disc having a plurality of side entry channels spaced on the periphery thereof for receiving the root portions of blades, a chamber axially disposed radially inwardly of and adjacent the root portions of the blades, a plurality of radially directed cooling fluid flow passageways extending from the root portion through the airfoil portion of the blade, said passageways being in fluid communication with said axially disposed chaMber, a generally radially directed groove disposed on the upstream side of the rotor, said groove being in fluid communication with said axially disposed chamber, said groove comprising a pumping means during rotor rotation to draw cooling fluid from a source, forcing said fluid through said axially disposed chamber and into said radially directed passageways, said fluid being discharged from the radially outermost end of said passageways in the airfoil portions of the blade, plate means for sealing the chamber downstream, said plate means being notched to interlock with a mating tab on the downstream end of the blade root, said plate means being disposed in a peripheral groove near the downstream side of said disc, exhaust sealing and locking plate means disposed on the downstream side of the blade root, said exhaust sealing and locking plate means being supported inwardly by a peripheral groove on the downstream edge of the disc and supported outwardly by an inwardly facing groove in an extension of the blade platform, said sealing and locking plate means being in restraining contact with said chamber sealing plate means, said locking plate means preventing axial movement of said blade and said chamber sealing plate means, said exhaust sealing and locking plate means sealing the downstream portion of said side entry channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said groove is disposed only on the radially outward portion of the upstream surface of said disc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said exhaust plates is fixedly attachable to the downstream side of its adjacent blade root.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, including an inlet rotor bell having an axially directed circumferential slot, a flexible band slidably disposed in said circumferential slot, an extension on the upstream radially inward portion of the blade root, and an intermittent groove on the upstream surface of the disc near its periphery, said blade root extension and said intermittent groove being slidably disposed over the flexible band, said band providing a seal between the inlet bell and the blades mounted in said rotating disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said fixedly attachable plate is beveled on its radially inward upstream edge to permit access to the radially inward support groove in the disc periphery.
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) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |