Methods and apparatus for operating gas turbine engines

1. A method of assembling a gas turbine engine, said method comprising:

providing a rotor assembly including a rotor shaft, an air duct, and a rotor disk that includes a mounting arm that extends radially inward from the rotor disk towards the rotor shaft; and

coupling a rotor impeller assembly to the mounting arm, wherein the rotor impeller assembly includes a cater and a plurality of bleed tubes that each extend outwardly from the carrier and are configured to receive bleed air, said coupling a rotor impeller assembly to the mounting arm further comprising coupling the rotor impeller assembly such that the carrier is positioned radially inward from the at least one rotor disk.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein coupling a rotor impeller assembly to the mounting arm further comprises coupling the rotor impeller assembly to the mounting arm by an annular coupling nut.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein coupling a rotor impeller assembly to the mounting arm further comprises coupling the rotor impeller assembly to the mounting arm such that the coupling nut substantially seals with the air duct.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein coupling a rotor impeller assembly to the mounting arm further comprises coupling the rotor impeller assembly to the mounting arm such that the plurality of bleed tubes are each positioned in flow communication with the air duct.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein coupling a rotor impeller assembly to the mounting arm further comprises coupling the rotor impeller assembly cater to the mounting arm without utilizing any bolt openings formed within the carrier.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing a rotor assembly including a rotor disk further comprises coupling the plurality of bleed tubes to the carrier such that the bleed tubes extend radially outward from and are spaced circumferentially around the carrier.

7. A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine including a centerline axis of rotation, said rotor assembly comprising:

a rotor shaft;

at least one rotor disk coupled to said rotor shaft and comprising an integral mounting arm extending radially inward towards said rotor shaft; and

a rotor impeller assembly coupled to said mounting arm, and said rotor impeller assembly and comprising a carrier that is radially inward from said at least one rotor disk and a plurality of bleed tubes extending radially outward from said carrier, each of said plurality of bleed tubes configured to receive bleed air.

8. A rotor assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said carrier circumscribes said rotor shaft and comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, said first portion coupled to said mounting arm to secure said rotor assembly thereto, said second portion coupled in sealing arrangement with an air duct extending along said rotor shaft, said third portion coupled to said plurality of bleed tubes.

9. A rotor assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said carrier further comprises a plurality of openings circumferentially-spaced around said cater in flow communication with said plurality of bleed tubes.

10. A rotor assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said mounting arm further comprises an arm portion extending radially inward towards said rotor shaft and an attachment portion extending substantially parallel to said rotor shaft, said attachment portion is coupled to said carrier by an annular coupling nut.

11. A rotor assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said carrier is coupled to said at least one rotor disk without utilizing any bolt openings formed within the carrier.

12. A gas turbine engine comprising a rotor assembly comprising a rotor shaft, at least one rotor disk, and a rotor impeller assembly, said at least one rotor disk coupled to said rotor shaft and comprising a mounting arm, said rotor impeller assembly coupled to said mounting arm, and said rotor impeller assembly and comprising a carrier that is radially inward from said at least one rotor disk and a plurality of bleed tubes extending radially outward from said carrier, each of said plurality of bleed tubes configured to receive bleed air.

13. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 12 wherein said rotor impeller assembly further comprises an annular coupling nut, said annular coupling nut is radially inward from said at least one rotor disk and configured to couple said carrier to said mounting arm.

14. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 13 wherein said mounting aim further comprises an arm portion extending radially inward towards said rotor shaft and an attachment portion extending substantially parallel to said rotor shaft, said attachment portion is coupled to said carrier by said annular coupling nut.

15. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 12 wherein said carrier circumscribes said rotor shaft and comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, said first portion coupled to said mounting arm to secure said rotor assembly thereto, said second portion coupled in sealing arrangement with an air duct extending along said rotor shaft, said third portion coupled to said plurality of bleed tubes.

16. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 12 wherein said carrier further comprises a plurality of openings circumferentially-spaced around said carrier in flow communication with said plurality of bleed tubes.

17. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 12 wherein said carrier has a low profile such that said carrier facilitates positioning said rotor impeller assembly at a desired location within said rotor assembly.

18. A gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 12 wherein said carrier is to said at least one rotor disk without utilizing any bolt openings formed within the carrier.