IP Library Granted Patent US 10,907,477
Granted Patent B2
US 10,907,477 · App. 16/011,056 · Granted Feb 2, 2021

Clip and pin balance for rotor

Inventor: Nicholas Waters Oren (Marlborough, CT)
Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
F01D5/027F04D29/662F05D2220/32F05D2230/10F16F15/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,907,477
App. No.
16/011,056
Granted
Feb 2, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A balancing assembly for a rotating component of a gas turbine engine includes a balance pin configured for insertion into an opening in the rotating component, a balance clip configured for installation to the rotating component over the balance pin to retain the balance pin in the opening via exertion of a retention force on the balance pin. A method of correcting an imbalance of a rotating assembly includes inserting a balance pin into a balancing opening in a rotating component of the rotating assembly, and installing a balance clip at the balancing opening over the balance pin to retain the balance pin in the balancing opening via exertion of a retention force by the balance clip on the balance pin.

Claims (13)

1. A balancing assembly for a rotating component of a gas turbine engine, comprising: a balance pin configured for insertion into an opening in the rotating component, the rotating component of the gas turbine engine including a disc, a platform extending from the disc, and a balancing flange extending from the platform, the opening disposed in the balancing flange; and a balance clip configured for installation to the balancing flange over the balance pin to retain the balance pin in the opening via exertion of a retention force on the balance pin; wherein the balance clip includes two clip arms extending from a clip base, the clip arms configured to extend along opposing sides of the balancing flange; and wherein a distance between the clip arms in a free state is less than a distance between the opposing sides of the balancing flange.

2. The balancing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a curved clip arm tip to improve insertion of the balance clip onto the balancing flange.

3. The balancing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the balance pin includes a pin protrusion receivable into a clip opening in the balance clip.

4. The balancing assembly of claim 3 , wherein a pin shoulder is defined in the balance pin at the pin protrusion.

5. The balancing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more grooves or scallops in the balance pin.

6. A rotating assembly of a gas turbine engine, comprising: one or more rotating components including one or more balancing openings, the rotating component of the gas turbine engine including a disc, a platform extending from the disc, and a balancing flange extending from the platform, the balancing opening disposed in the balancing flange; and a balancing assembly disposed at a balancing opening of the one or more balancing openings, including: a balance pin inserted into the balancing opening in the balancing flange; and a balance clip installed to the balancing flange over the balance pin to retain the balance pin in the balancing opening via exertion of a retention force on the balance pin; wherein the balance clip includes two clip arms extending from a clip base, the clip arms configured to extend along opposing sides of the balancing flange; and wherein a distance between the clip arms in a free state is less than a distance between the opposing sides of the balancing flange.

7. The rotating assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a curved clip arm tip to improve insertion of the balance clip onto the balancing flange.

8. The rotating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the balance pin includes a pin protrusion receivable into a clip opening in the balance clip.

9. The rotating assembly of claim 8 , wherein a pin shoulder is defined in the balance pin at the pin protrusion.

10. The rotating assembly of claim 6 , further comprising one or more grooves or scallops in the balance pin.

11. The rotating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the one or more rotating components includes a turbine rotor.

12. A method of correcting an imbalance of a rotating assembly of a gas turbine engine, comprising: inserting a balance pin into a balancing opening in a rotating component of the rotating assembly, the rotating component of the gas turbine engine including a disc, a platform extending from the disc, and a balancing flange extending from the platform, the balancing opening disposed in the balancing flange; and installing a balance clip at the balancing opening over the balance pin to retain the balance pin in the balancing opening via exertion of a retention force by the balance clip on the balance pin; wherein the balance clip includes two clip arms extending from a clip base, the clip arms configured to extend along opposing sides of the balancing flange; and wherein a distance between the clip arms in a free state is less than a distance between the opposing sides of the balancing flange.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising inserting a pin protrusion of the balance pin into a clip opening of the balance clip to retain the balance clip at the balance pin.

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 Jun 18, 2018
From: OREN, NICHOLAS WATERS
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 046121/0113 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190383144A1 · Dec 19, 2019