US 2004/0165989 A1 · Axial entry turbine bucket dovetail with integral anti-rotation key

Abstract

Axial entry dovetails on buckets are installed axially into generally complementary-shaped female dovetails about the rim of the turbine wheel. The buckets include bucket covers having an interference fit such that upon installation, the buckets tend to rotate, which causes radial inward displacement of the buckets. To eliminate the bucket rotation and radial displacement, the male dovetails mount an anti-rotation key for reception in a generally complementary-shaped recess at the base of the female dovetail. The anti-rotation key in the slot eliminates rotation and radial displacement of the bucket, maintaining the buckets on radii and enables the bucket covers to be machined to proper diameters.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A rotor wheel assembly comprising:

a rotor wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axial entry, female dovetail-shaped slots about a margin of the wheel;
a plurality of buckets, each having an axial entry male-shaped dovetail generally complementary to said female dovetail-shaped slot for reception in said female dovetail-shaped slot;
each said slot including a base having a recess radially inwardly of the base and opening through at least one end face of the wheel and radially outwardly into the female dovetail-shaped slot;
each said male-shaped dovetail having a key projecting radially inwardly from a base of said male-shaped dovetail and received in said recess, said key and walls defining said recess in said base being cooperable to preclude rotation of said bucket generally about a radius of the wheel passing through the bucket.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Axial entry turbine bucket dovetail with integral anti-rotation key

Life of this patent

Axial entry turbine bucket dovetail with integral anti-rotation key

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13