Abstract Apparatus for balancing a rotating body in which the body is mounted for rotation and operatively coupled with a mechanism for rotating the body. Sensor means coupled to the rotating body transmit an unbalance signal in response to unbalance of the body to control means which compute the amount and location of compensating material required to be removed from the body in order to balance the body. Machining means for removing the computed amount of compensating material comprises a laser positioned to direct a laser beam at a rotating mirror synchronized to the rotational speed of the rotating body. An annular stationary reflector is positioned coaxially with the rotating mirror and is adapted to reflect the laser beam received from the rotating mirror to the rotating body thereby ablating the compensating material from the body. Indexing means coupled to the rotating mirror and operatively controlled by signals from the control means control the angular phase difference of the rotating mirror relative to the rotating body so that compensating material may be ablated by the laser beam at any angular position on the rotating body.
Apparatus for balancing a rotating body comprising: means for rotatably mounting said body, means for rotating said body, means for detecting unbalance of said body and for generating an unbalance signal in response thereto, control means for computing the amount and location of compensating material to be removed from said body in response to said unbalance signal in order to balance said body, and machining means for removing said amount of compensating material at said location, said machining means further comprising an angled mirror and means for rotating the mirror coaxially with the rotating body, a laser positioned to direct a laser beam axially toward the rotating mirror whereby the mirror reflects the laser beam radially outwardly from the rotational axis of the mirror, means for synchronizing the rotational speed of said mirror to the rotational speed of said body, a stationary annular reflector disposed radially outwardly from and coaxially with said mirror, whereby said mirror reflects said laser beam to said reflector which in turn reflects said laser beam axially toward said rotating body so that said laser beam impinges substantially perpendicularly on said rotating body to thereby remove said compensating material therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
Apparatus for balancing a rotating body comprising: means for rotatably mounting said body, means for rotating said body, means for detecting unbalance of said body and for generating an unbalance signal in response thereto, control means for computing the amount and location of compensating material to be removed from said body in response to said unbalance signal in order to balance said body, and machining means for removing said amount of compensating material at said location, said machining means further comprising an angled mirror and means for rotating the mirror coaxially with the rotating body, a laser positioned to direct a laser beam axially toward the rotating mirror whereby the mirror reflects the laser beam radially outwardly from the rotational axis of the mirror, means for synchronizing the rotational speed of said mirror to the rotational speed of said body, a stationary annular reflector disposed radially outwardly from and coaxially with said mirror, whereby said mirror reflects said laser beam to said reflector which in turn reflects said laser beam axially toward said rotating body so that said laser beam impinges substantially perpendicularly on said rotating body to thereby remove said compensating material therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and including indexing means responsive to said control means for controllably varying the angular phase of said rotating mirror relative to said rotating body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotating body is a turbine wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotating mirror is a flat angled mirror having its plane angled with respect to the axis of rotation of said mirror.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotating body is rotated in a low pressure chamber.