IP Library Granted Patent US 9,410,428
Granted Patent B2
US 9,410,428 · App. 13/726,946 · Granted Aug 9, 2016

Turbomachine with clamp coupling shaft and rotor hub together

Inventors: James L. Lucas (Hamden, CT); Matthew B. Kennedy (Vernon, CT); John E. Holowczak (S. Windsor, CT); William K. Tredway (Manchester, CT); Aavo Anto (Bridgeport, CT)
Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
F01D5/025F01D5/066F01D5/284F01D5/34F05D2260/37F05D2300/175
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,410,428
App. No.
13/726,946
Filed
Dec 26, 2012
Granted
Aug 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3745
USPC
416/1
Abstract

A turbomachine includes a rotor hub that has a central opening there through. A shaft extends through the central opening. A clamp is coupled with the shaft and the rotor hub such that the rotor hub is rotatable with the shaft.

Claims (26)

1. A turbomachine comprising:

a rotor hub extending between a first and second axial side, the rotor hub including a lip extending around a central opening there through;

a shaft extending through the central opening; and

a clamp coupled with the shaft and the rotor hub, the clamp including a first clamp member arranged on the first axial side of the rotor hub and a second clamp member arranged on the second axial side of the rotor hub, the first clamp member and the second clamp member engaging the lip such that the rotor hub is rotatable with the shaft, wherein the first clamp member has a first engagement surface and the second clamp member has a second engagement surface, the first engagement surface sloping at a first oblique angle with respect to an axis of rotation of the rotor hub and the second engagement surface sloping at a second oblique angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor hub, and the first oblique angle is unequal to the second oblique angle.

2. The turbomachine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the clamp is frictionally coupled with the rotor hub.

3. The turbomachine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rotor hub is non-metallic and the shaft is metallic.

4. The turbomachine as recited in claim 3 , wherein the rotor hub is a ceramic material and the shaft is a superalloy material.

5. The turbomachine as recited in claim 4 , further including a compliant layer between the rotor hub and the clamp, and the compliant layer is selected from the group consisting of platinum metal, gold metal and combinations thereof.

6. The turbomachine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lip is axially-flared around the central opening.

7. The turbomachine as recited in claim 1 , further including an axially-extending passage between the rotor hub and the shaft.

8. The turbomachine as recited in claim 7 , wherein the clamp includes cooling passages in fluid communication with the axially-extending passage.

9. The turbomachine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rotor hub includes a plurality of blades on an outer periphery thereof.

10. An integrally bladed rotor hub and attachment for a turbomachine, comprising:

a non-metallic rotor hub extending between a first and second axial side, the non-metallic rotor hub including a lip extending around central opening;

a metallic shaft extending through the central opening; and

a clamp coupled with the shaft, the clamp including a first clamp member arranged on the first axial side of the non-metallic rotor hub and a second clamp member arranged on the second axial side of the non-metallic rotor hub, the first clamp member and the second clamp member engaging the lip such that the non-metallic rotor hub is rotatable with the metallic shaft, wherein the first clamp member has a first engagement surface and the second clamp member has a second engagement surface, the first engagement surface sloping at a first oblique angle with respect to an axis of rotation of the non-metallic rotor hub and the second engagement surface sloping at a second oblique angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor hub, and the first oblique angle is unequal to the second oblique angle.

11. The integrally bladed rotor hub and attachment as recited in claim 10 , wherein the non-metallic rotor hub is a ceramic material and the metallic shaft is a superalloy material.

12. The integrally bladed rotor hub and attachment as recited in claim 10 , wherein the first oblique angle and the second oblique angle are, independently of each other, less than 50°.

13. The integrally bladed rotor hub and attachment as recited in claim 10 , wherein the lip is axially-flared.

14. A method of operating a turbomachine, the method comprising:

providing a rotor hub including a central opening there through, a shaft extending through the central opening, and a clamp coupled with the shaft and the rotor hub, wherein

the rotor hub extends between a first and second axial side and includes a lip that extends around the central opening, and

the clamp includes a first clamp member arranged on the first axial side of the non-metallic rotor hub and a second clamp member arranged on the second axial side of the non-metallic rotor hub, the first clamp member and the second clamp member engaging the lip, wherein the first clamp member has a first engagement surface and the second clamp member has a second engagement surface, the first engagement surface sloping at a first oblique angle with respect to an axis of rotation of the rotor hub and the second engagement surface sloping at a second oblique angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor hub, and the first oblique angle is unequal to the second oblique angle;

rotating one of the shaft or the rotor hub to produce a rotational force; and

transferring the rotational force through the clamp to the other of the rotor hub or the shaft to co-rotate the rotor hub and the shaft.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the transferring of the rotational force includes frictionally transferring the rotational force.

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 Apr 4, 2013
From: LUCAS, JAMES L.; KENNEDY, MATTHEW B.; HOLOWCZAK, JOHN E.; TREDWAY, WILLIAM K.; ANTO, AAVO
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030150/0474 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140178196A1 · Jun 26, 2014