# US 2014/0190181 A1 · Rotor cover plate

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- Number: US 2014/0190181 A1
- Document ID: US20140190181A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/737,093
- Filed: 2013-01-09
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09
- Assignees: United Technologies Corporation
- Applicants: United Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Mark Borja; Ehren B. Holt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190181A1

## CPC

- F01D 5/3069: {between two discs or rings}
- F01D 5/3015: {with side plates}
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)

## Abstract

A cover plate for a rotor disk in a gas turbine machine includes a cylindrical body having multiple outward facing snaps and multiple inward facing snaps.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gas turbine machine comprising:
a compressor section;
a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section;
a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor section;
a shaft defining an axis and interconnecting said compressor section and said turbine section;
a plurality of rotors within said turbine section and said compressor section, wherein each of said rotors is connected to said shaft;
at least one cover plate connected to each of said plurality of rotors, wherein each of said cover plates includes:
an outside surface snap contacting a radially inward facing surface relative to said axis of the corresponding rotor;
an inside surface snap contacting a radially outward facing surface relative to said axis of the corresponding rotor; and
wherein said outside surface snap and said inside surface snap are not radially aligned.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine machine of claim 1, wherein each of said rotors comprises at least one rotor arm protruding axially away from said rotors, and wherein said rotor arm interfaces with a corresponding cover plate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The gas turbine machine of claim 2, wherein said rotor arm interfaces with said cover plate via a fastener.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The gas turbine machine of claim 3, wherein said fastener protrudes through said cover plate and said rotor arm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The gas turbine machine of claim 2, wherein said radially outward facing surface is a surface on said rotor arm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine machine of claim 1, wherein said cover plate further comprises an flexing portion operable to be flexed during installation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine machine of claim 1, wherein said cover plate comprises at least one sealing feature.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The gas turbine machine of claim 7, wherein said at least one sealing feature is a knife edge seal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine machine of claim 1, wherein said inside surface snap tightens as the cover plate cools.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine machine of claim 1, wherein said outside surface snap tightens as the cover plate heats.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine machine of claim 1, wherein said cover plate and a corresponding rotor are constructed of different materials having different thermal expansion rates.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine machine of claim 1, further comprising a second cover plate corresponding to each of said rotors.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine machine of claim 1, wherein said cover plate is a single cylindrical piece including a central opening.

### Claim 14

A cover plate for a rotor disk in a gas turbine machine comprising:
a cylindrical body defining an axis;
an opening in said cylindrical body wherein said opening is centered on said axis;
a plurality of outwardly facing snaps having a contact surface facing radially outward relative to said axis; and
a plurality of inwardly facing snaps having a contact surface facing radially inwards relative to said axis.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The cover plate for a gas turbine machine of claim 14, wherein said outwardly facing snaps and said inwardly facing snaps are not axially aligned.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The cover plate for a gas turbine machine of claim 14, wherein said cylindrical body further comprises a spring region operable to be flexed during installation.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The cover plate for a gas turbine machine of claim 14, wherein said cover plate comprises at least one sealing element.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The cover plate for a gas turbine machine of claim 17, wherein said sealing element is a knife edge seal.