Two piece retractable engine center body for balancing
A gas turbine engine includes a propulsor having a rotor with blades, and an adapter connecting the rotor to a drive line at a connection. The drive line is connected to an accessory. The drive line and the accessory are received within a static center body. Bolts secure the adapter to the rotor. The center body has a rear end closely spaced from the connection, such that the center body limits access to the connection of the adapter to the rotor. The center body is formed with a forward portion and a separate rear portion defining the rear end. The forward portion and the rear portion are secured together. The rear portion is selectively slidable relative to the forward portion such that the rear portion can be moved away from the connection to provide access to change balance members. A method is also disclosed.
1 . A method of balancing rotating members in a gas turbine engine comprising the steps of:
1) providing a propulsor having a rotor and blades, and an adapter connecting the rotor to a drive line, the drive line received within a static center body having a forward portion and a separate rear portion, there being bolts securing the adapter to the rotor, the center body having a rear end closely spaced from the connection, such that the center body limits access to the connection;
2) moving the separate rear portion toward the forward portion and away from the connection with the forward portion remaining static;
3) changing balance members to balance at least some rotating members; and
wherein the separate rear portion moves away from the connection by moving radially inwardly of the forward portion.
2 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein there is a forward groove formed in the forward portion and a rear groove formed in the rear portion, and a securement member is received in the forward and rear grooves to secure the forward portion and the rear portion together, and step 2) including moving the securement member out of the forward groove.
3 . The method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein there is at least one hole through an outer surface of the forward portion, and a tool is inserted into the at least one hole to move the securement member out of the forward groove and such that the rear portion can be moved away from the bolts.
4 . The method as set forth in claim 3 , wherein a securement member is a clip.
5 . The method as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the clip is a snap ring having circumferentially spaced ends such that the snap ring does not extend around 360 degrees of an axis of rotation of the propulsor.
6 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the drive line drives an accessory that is spaced from the propulsor.
7 . The method as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the accessory is a generator.
8 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bolts are changed as the balance members.
9 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the balance members are adjacent the connection, and is an element other than the bolts.