US 12,060,808 B2 · Balancing weight entry port for turbine rotor

Abstract

A turbine rotor includes a rotor body and a balancing weight slot defined in an exterior circumference of the body. The balancing weight slot has a first axial width and a first radially outward facing surface at a first radial distance from a rotor axis. The rotor also includes a balancing weight entry port defined in a portion of the exterior circumference of the rotor body and aligned with the balancing weight slot. The balancing weight entry port has a second axial width greater than the first axial width and a second radially outward facing surface at a second radial distance from the axis of the rotor body that is smaller than the first radial distance. A method may include machining the entry port into the rotor with a tool. The method may be applied to a new rotor, or to remove cracks initiating from a previous entry port.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of forming a balancing weight entry port for a balancing weight slot defined in a rotor body of a turbine rotor and extending circumferentially about the rotor body, the method comprising:

performing a first plunge machining radially partially into the rotor body, modifying the balancing weight slot at a first circumferential position;
and
performing one of:
a) a circumferential translation after the first plunge machining;
and
b) performing a second plunge machining radially partially into the rotor body;
modifying the balancing weight slot at a second circumferential position different than the first circumferential position, wherein an opening created by the second plunge machining is co-extensive with an opening created by the first plunge machining;
and
performing a third plunge machining radially partially into the rotor body, modifying the balancing weight slot at a third circumferential position different than the first and second circumferential positions, wherein an opening created by the third plunge machining is co-extensive with openings created by the first and second plunge machining,
wherein each plunge machining and the circumferential translation removes a portion of the rotor body within or adjacent the balancing weight slot.

7 more elements

A method of forming a balancing weight entry port for a balancing weight slot defined in a rotor body of a turbine rotor and extending circumferentially about the rotor body, comprising:

performing a first plunge machining radially partially into the rotor body, modifying the balancing weight slot at a first circumferential position;
performing a second plunge machining radially partially into the rotor body;
modifying the balancing weight slot at a second circumferential position different than the first circumferential position, wherein an opening created by the second plunge machining is co-extensive with an opening created by the first plunge machining;
and
performing a third plunge machining radially partially into the rotor body, modifying the balancing weight slot at a third circumferential position different than the first and second circumferential positions, wherein an opening created by the third plunge machining is co-extensive with openings created by the first and second plunge machining,
wherein each plunge machining and the circumferential translation removes a portion of the rotor body within or adjacent the balancing weight slot.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Balancing weight entry port for turbine rotor

Life of this patent

Balancing weight entry port for turbine rotor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17