Speed-controlled conditioning valve for high pressure compressor

A gas turbine engine, comprising:

• a compressor and a turbine;
• a rotor that includes:
• a first rotor disk and a second rotor disk,
• an interstage flange that extends in an axial direction from the first rotor disk to a flange end portion, the flange end portion having an axial end surface and first radial outer and inner surfaces,
• a circumferential groove, formed in the flange end portion and extending axially from the axial end surface toward the first rotor disk,
• radial outer and inner slots are respectively formed in the first radial outer and inner surfaces along the circumferential groove, respectively radially extending through the first radial outer and inner surfaces, and
• a valve member disposed within the circumferential groove, the valve member being secured within the circumferential groove between the flange end portion and the second rotor disk;
• and
• when the rotor is rotating below a predetermined speed, the valve member is in a first deflected state, the radial outer and inner slots being unsealed when the valve member is in the first deflected state, and
• when the rotor is rotating above the predetermined speed, the valve member is in a second deflected state, the radial outer slot being sealed by the valve member when the valve member is in the second deflected state.

A method of directing conditioning air through a rotor of a gas turbine engine,

• wherein the rotor includes:
• a first rotor disk and a second rotor disk;
• an interstage flange that extends in an axial direction from the first rotor disk to a flange end portion, the flange end portion having an axial end surface and first radial outer and inner surfaces,
• a circumferential groove, formed in the flange end portion and extending axially from the axial end surface toward the first rotor disk,
• radial outer and inner slots respectively formed in the first radial outer and inner surfaces along the circumferential groove, respectively radially extending through the first radial outer and inner surfaces, and
• a valve member disposed within the circumferential groove, the valve member being secured within the circumferential groove between the flange end portion and the second rotor disk;
• the method comprising:
• rotating the rotor below a predetermined speed so that the valve member located in the circumferential groove formed in the rotor is in a first deflected state and the radial outer and inner slots respectively formed in the first radial outer and inner surfaces surrounding the circumferential groove are unsealed;
• and
• rotating the rotor above the predetermined speed so that the valve member is in a second deflected state and the radial outer slot is sealed by the valve member.