# US 12,000,301 B2 · Simultaneously disassembling rotor blades from a gas turbine engine rotor disk > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,301 B2 - Document ID: US12000301B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/891,784 - Filed: 2022-08-19 - Published: 2024-02-22 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-08-19 - Assignees: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. - Applicants: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. - Inventors: Robert West; Howard Mah; Sowriraja Krishnasamy; Dean-Andrew Michalagas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000301B2 ## CPC - F01D 25/285: {Temporary support structures, e.g. for testing, assembling, installing, repairing; Assembly methods using such structures} - F01D 5/3007: {of axial insertion type} - F01D 11/006: {Sealing the gap between rotor blades or blades and rotor} - F05D 2230/70: Disassembly methods - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A method is provided for disassembling a rotor of a gas turbine engine. During this method, the rotor is provided which includes a rotor disk and a plurality of rotor blades arranged circumferentially about an axis. The rotor blades include a plurality of airfoils and a plurality of attachments that mount the rotor blades to the rotor disk. Each of the rotor blades includes a respective one of the airfoils and a respective one of the attachments. A press is arranged against the rotor. The press axially engages each of the rotor blades. The press moves axially along the axis to simultaneously push the rotor blades and remove the attachments from a plurality of slots in the rotor disk. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for disassembling a rotor of a gas turbine engine, comprising: providing the rotor that includes a rotor disk and a plurality of rotor blades arranged circumferentially about an axis, the plurality of rotor blades including a plurality of airfoils and a plurality of attachments that mount the plurality of rotor blades to the rotor disk, and each of the plurality of rotor blades including a respective one of the plurality of airfoils and a respective one of the plurality of attachments; arranging a press against the rotor, the press axially engaging each of the plurality of rotor blades; and moving the press axially along the axis to simultaneously push the plurality of rotor blades and remove the plurality of attachments from a plurality of slots in the rotor disk wherein the press includes a sleeve and an actuator; wherein the sleeve extends circumferentially around the axis, and the sleeve simultaneously axially engages each of the plurality of rotor blades; and wherein the moving of the press axially along the axis comprises pushing the sleeve using the actuator to simultaneously push the plurality of rotor blades with the sleeve and remove the plurality of attachments from the plurality of slots in the rotor disk. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the rotor further includes a plurality of seal elements; and each of the plurality of seal elements is disposed within a respective cavity formed by and between a respective circumferentially neighboring pair of the plurality of rotor blades. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising removing each of the plurality of seal elements from the respective cavity subsequent to the removal of the plurality of attachments from the plurality of slots. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of seal elements comprise a first seal element; and the first seal element includes a base and a plurality of tabs connected to and projecting out from the base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of tabs projects radially inward from the base to a distal tab end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the rotor disk further comprises a plurality of lugs; each of the plurality of slots is formed by and between a respective circumferentially neighboring pair of the plurality of lugs; a first of the plurality of lugs projects radially outward to a distal lug end including a first end surface and a second end surface recessed radially inward from the first end surface; and a first of the plurality of tabs is operable to radially engage the first end surface and a second of the plurality of tabs is operable to radially engage the second end surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the press is disposed on top of the rotor; and the moving of the press axially along the axis comprises moving the press axially downward along the axis to simultaneously push the plurality of rotor blades and remove the plurality of attachments from the plurality of slots. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rotor blades further include a plurality of platforms, and each of the plurality of rotor blades further includes a respective one of the plurality of platforms; and a planar annular surface of the press is abutted axially against axial edges of the plurality of platforms. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating a member of the press circumferentially about the axis as the press moves axially along the axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: supporting the plurality of rotor blades on top of a blade support structure as the press simultaneously pushes the plurality of rotor blades; the blade support structure axially engaging each of the plurality of rotor blades; and the plurality of rotor blades axially between the blade support structure and the press. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein a planar annular surface of the blade support structure is abutted axially against axial sides of the plurality of attachments. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: arranging the rotor with a disk support structure; the blade support structure slidable along and circumscribing the disk support structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: arranging the rotor with a disk support structure; the press slidable along and circumscribing the disk support structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the rotor disk comprises a turbine disk of the gas turbine engine; and the plurality of rotor blades comprise a plurality of turbine blades of the gas turbine engine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, during the moving of the press axially along the axis, a member of the actuator axially engages the sleeve and rotates about the axis relative to the sleeve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: supporting the rotor disk axially between a first member of a disk support structure and a second member of the disk support structure during the disassembling of the rotor; and supporting the plurality of rotor blades using a blade support structure during the disassembling of the rotor, the blade support structure circumscribing and slidable against an outer periphery of the first member, the blade support structure extending axially along the axis to a planar annular blade support structure surface, and the planar annular blade support structure surface axially engaging the plurality of rotor blades; wherein the press circumscribes and is slidable against an outer periphery of the second member, and the press extends axially along the axis to a planar annular press surface that engages the plurality of rotor blades. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises an actuator member; the actuator member is attached to the disk support structure by a threaded post; and a connection between the actuator member and the threaded post is configured to translate rotational movement of the actuator member about the axis into axial movement of the actuator member along the axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein a guide is connected to the disk support structure and projects radially into a slot in the sleeve; and at least a portion of the slot extends longitudinally within the sleeve axially along the axis and circumferentially about the axis.