IP Library Granted Patent US 10,364,688
Granted Patent B2
US 10,364,688 · App. 15/343,965 · Granted Jul 30, 2019

Minidisk balance flange

Inventors: Raymond S Hummel (South Windsor, CT); Steven D Porter (Wethersfield, CT); Julian Partyka (Springfield, CT)
Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
F01D9/02F01D5/027F01D5/3015F01D25/04F04D29/662G01M1/32G01M1/36F05B2260/966F05D2220/32F05D2260/96
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,364,688
App. No.
15/343,965
Granted
Jul 30, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A minidisk for a rotor system may comprise a balance flange defining a hole array, which may include a first hole having a first width. The first hole may be configured to receive a balance weight. A second hole and a third hole may have a second width. The second hole and the third hole may be disposed adjacent to the first hole. The second width may be greater than the first width.

Claims (40)

1. A minidisk for a rotor system, comprising:

a body having an annular shape and an axial surface; and

a balance flange extending axially from the axial surface, the balance flange defining a plurality of hole arrays, each hole array in the plurality of hole arrays comprising:

a first hole having a first width, the first hole configured to receive a balance weight, and

a second hole having a second width being greater than the first width and a third hole having the same width as the second width, the second hole and the third hole disposed immediately adjacent to the first hole;

a fourth hole having a fourth width, the fourth hole disposed immediately adjacent to the second hole and opposite to the first hole, wherein the fourth width is the same as the first width; and

a fifth hole having a fifth width, the fifth hole disposed immediately adjacent to the third hole and opposite to the first hole, wherein the fifth width is the same as the first width,

wherein a first circumferential distance between immediately adjacent hole arrays is greater than a second circumferential distance between the first hole and the second hole.

2. The minidisk of claim 1 , wherein the first hole, the second hole and the third hole are arranged linearly along a circumference of the minidisk, and wherein the first hole is disposed between the second hole and the third hole.

3. The minidisk of claim 1 , wherein the second width is between 1.1 and 1.3 times the first width.

4. The minidisk of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first hole and the second hole is between 0.5 to 1.5 times at least one of the first width or the second width.

5. The minidisk of claim 1 , wherein the first hole, the second hole, the third hole, the fourth hole and the fifth hole each have a circular shape.

6. The minidisk of claim 1 , wherein the balance flange extends axially from the minidisk and a centerline of the first hole extends radially through the balance flange.

7. A gas turbine engine, comprising:

a turbine section including a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly comprising:

a disk, and

a minidisk coupled to the disk, the minidisk having a balance flange defining a plurality of hole arrays, each hole array in the plurality of hole arrays comprising:

a first hole having a first width, the first hole configured to receive a balance weight,

a second hole disposed immediately adjacent to the first hole and having a second width, wherein the second width is greater than the first width, and

a third hole disposed immediately adjacent to the first hole and having a third width, which is the same as the second width, wherein the first hole is disposed between the second hole and the third hole;

a fourth hole disposed immediately adjacent to the second hole and having a fourth width, which is the same as the first width, and

a fifth hole having a fifth width, which is the same as the first width, wherein the third hole is disposed between the first hole and the fifth hole,

wherein a first circumferential distance between immediately adjacent hole arrays is greater than a second circumferential distance between the first hole and the second hole.

8. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein the first hole, the second hole and the third hole are arranged linearly along a circumference of the minidisk.

9. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein the balance flange extends axially from the minidisk and a centerline of the first hole extends radially through the balance flange.

10. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein the second width is between 1.1 and 1.3 times the first width.

11. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein a distance between the first hole and the second hole is between 0.5 to 1.5 times at least one of the first width or the second width.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein the first hole, the second hole, the third hole, the fourth hole and the fifth hole each have a circular shape.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the fourth hole or the fifth hole is configured to receive the balance weight.

14. A minidisk for a rotor system, comprising:

a body having an annular shape and an axial surface; and

a balance flange extending axially from the axial surface, the balance flange defining a plurality of hole arrays, each hole array in the plurality of hole arrays comprising:

a first hole having a first width, the first hole configured to receive a balance weight,

a second hole having a second width being greater than the first width and a third hole having the same width as the second width, the second hole and the third hole disposed immediately adjacent to the first hole; and

a fourth hole and a fifth hole having the same width as the first width, the second hole disposed between the first hole and the fourth hole, and the third hole disposed between the first hole and the fifth hole,

wherein a first circumferential distance between immediately adjacent hole arrays is greater than a second circumferential distance between the first hole and the second hole.

15. The minidisk of claim 14 , wherein a distance between the first hole and the second hole is between 0.5 to 1.5 times at least one of the first width or the second width.

16. The minidisk of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the third hole or the fifth hole is configured to receive the balance weight.

17. The minidisk of claim 14 , wherein the first hole, the second hole, the third hole, the fourth hole and the fifth hole each have a circular shape.

18. The minidisk of claim 14 , wherein the balance flange extends axially from the minidisk and a centerline of the first hole extends radially through the balance flange.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2016
From: HUMMEL, RAYMOND S; PORTER, STEVEN D; PARTYKA, JULIAN
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040228/0803 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180128119A1 · May 10, 2018