Bolted joint for rotor disks and method of reducing thermal gradients therein

Abstract

Bolt hole stress in rotor disks having bolted joints is reduced by passing relatively hot secondary flow path air (such as compressor discharge air) through each bolt hole to heat the disk from inside the bolt hole. In doing so, the temperature distribution in the area of the bolt hole is made more uniform and the stress is dramatically reduced. The bolted joint includes a bolt hole formed in a first rotor disk and a bolt disposed in the bolt hole such that a channel is defined between the bolt and the bolt hole. A first nut or abutment is attached to a first end of the bolt, and a second nut or abutment is attached to a second end of the bolt. A first passage associated with the first abutment provides fluid communication with the channel, and a second passage associated with the second abutment provides fluid communication with the channel, thereby allowing the relatively hot fluid to pass through the channel during engine operation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.