Retention device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016251973-A1
Application number	US-201615040326-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides a retention device for applying a radial force to a component (e.g. a rotor blade) within a slot (e.g. on a rotor disc). The device comprises a body having an outer surface for facing the component. The outer surface comprises a recess having a recess base with a first ramped surface extending from a lower end proximal a first lateral end of the body to an upper end. The device further comprises a spring element having a contact surface for contacting the component and a first mounting portion for mounting the spring element on the first ramped surface such that the first mounting portion is slidable along the first ramped surface towards the upper end to increase the spacing of the contact surface above the outer surface of the body.

First claim

1 . A retention device for applying a radial force to a component within a slot, said device comprising:
a body having an outer surface for facing the component, the outer surface comprising a recess having a recess base; and a spring element having a contact surface for contacting the component and a first mounting portion for mounting the spring element within the recess, wherein the recess base comprises a first ramped surface extending from a lower end proximal a first lateral end of the body to an upper end and wherein the first mounting portion is for mounting the spring element on the first ramped surface such that the first mounting portion is slidable along the first ramped surface towards the upper end to increase the spacing of the contact surface above the outer surface of the body.

2 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the recess base further comprises a second ramp surface having lower and upper ends and the spring element further comprises a second mounting portion for mounting the spring element on the second ramp surface such that the second mounting portion is slidable along the second ramped surface towards its upper end.

3 . A device according to claim 2 wherein the first and second ramp surfaces extend axially/laterally within the recess.

4 . A device according to claim 3 wherein the first and second ramp surfaces are axially aligned and wherein the lower end of the second ramp surface is proximal the upper end of the first ramp surface.

5 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the recess comprises a transversely-enlarged portion proximal the first lateral end of the body.

6 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the recess is defined by lateral recess walls each comprising a laterally extending transverse undercut in at least one or both of the lateral recess walls proximal the first lateral end of the body and wherein the spring element comprises opposing transverse lugs for location and sliding within the undercuts.

7 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second ramp surfaces extend parallel to one another across the recess with both lower ends of the ramp surfaces proximal the first lateral end of the body.

8 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the or each mounting portion is a downwardly extending leg, the or each leg extending from a surface of the spring element opposing the contact surface.

9 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the contact surface is substantially convex.

10 . A device according to claim 1 further comprising an actuator for effecting movement of the spring element over the ramp surface(s).

11 . A device according to claim 10 wherein the actuator is an elongated actuator having a first axial end for cooperation with the spring element and wherein a first lateral end of the spring element comprises a retainer for retaining the first axial end of the elongated actuator.

12 . A device according to claim 11 wherein the retainer is a clamp portion for clamping the first axial end of the actuator.

13 . A device according to claim 12 wherein the actuator comprises an annular recess proximal its first axial end and the clamp portion comprises clamping arms for location within said recess.

14 . A device according to claim 10 wherein the actuator comprises a threaded portion and the body comprises a threaded hole extending from the first lateral end of the body into the recess.

15 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the spring element is movable from a first position in which the contact surface is within the recess to a second position in which the contact surface is spaced above the outer surface of the body.

16 . A rotor assembly having rotor blade mounted within a slot in a rotor disc, said slot further housing a retention device according to claim 1 , wherein the contact surface of the spring element applies a radial force to the rotor blade.

17 . A rotor assembly according to claim 16 further comprising a support ring for applying an axial force to the actuator.

18 . A rotor assembly according to claim 17 wherein the support ring comprises an axially-extending flange and a locking aperture for cooperation with the actuator is provided in the flange.

19 . A gas turbine engine having a rotor assembly according to claim 16 .

20 . A method of retaining a component within a slot comprising:
providing a retention device according to claim 15 with the spring element in a first position in which the contact surface is within the recess; inserting the retention device into said slot with the outer surface of the body facing the component; and moving the spring element to a second position in which the contact surface is spaced above the outer surface of the body.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Plc

Inventors

• Evans Dale
• VILLANUEVA Alfonso

Classifications

• F01D5/323 Primary

  Locking of axial insertion type blades by means of a key or the like parallel to the axis of the rotor · CPC title

• F01D5/3007

  of axial insertion type · CPC title

• F01D5/326 Primary

  Locking of axial insertion type blades by other means · CPC title

• F01D5/12

  Blades ({specially adapted for radial flow machines or engines F01D5/04}; blade roots F01D5/30; rotors with blades adjustable in operation F01D7/00; stator blades F01D9/02) · CPC title

• F05D2260/30

  Retaining components in desired mutual position · CPC title