Coupling system comprising self locking joint
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsThomas A. Mariano, Jason Arnold
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a coupling system comprising joints configured to friction lock under compressive pressure via tapered teeth for joining rotating components, which may be rotating components of a gas turbine, or other engine. The coupling system provides the alignment orientation for the joined components, and eliminates the need for extraneous fasteners, bolts, interference fits and/or keying arrangements. The coupling system further enables material optimization by allowing for use of different materials throughout different engine sections, depending on the operating parameters.
Claims10
A coupling method for joining rotating components comprising:
- stacking the rotating components to form a rotating stack aligned along a central axis, wherein the rotating components are supported on joints wherein the rotating stack is formed by adjacently aligning the joints, and wherein each of the joints comprises tapered teeth which are configured to intermesh with the tapered teeth of an adjacent joint, wherein each tooth of the tapered teeth comprises tapered side walls;
- and
- applying a compressive force to the rotating stack to cause the joints to friction interlock with one another due to the frictional forces between the tapered side walls;
- wherein:
- the joints comprise a first joint having a first annular structure and a second joint having a second annular structure;
- the tapered teeth comprise a first set of teeth extending from the first annular structure and a second set of teeth extending from the second annular structure;
- first wells are defined between adjacent first teeth of the first set of teeth;
- second wells are formed between adjacent second teeth of the second set of teeth;
- the stacking the rotating components to form the rotating stack comprises aligning the first joint with the second joint such that first set of teeth are received between the adjacent second teeth and within the second wells and the second set of teeth are received between the adjacent first teeth and within the first wells;
- the applying the compressive force comprises applying a compressive mechanical load at opposite ends of the rotating stack to cause frictional forces between the tapered side walls of the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth to friction interlock with one another;
- a circumferential span of top portions of the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth is greater than a circumferential span of bottom portions of the first well and the second wells in which the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth are received within.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.