Turbine engine coupling stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9371863-B2
Application number	US-201314060653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2013
Priority date	Jul 30, 2010
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

Abstract

An example coupling stack includes a first rotating member and a second rotating member. A plurality of aligned slots is defined in the first rotating member and the second rotating member. A tab lock is provided having an annular body with an axial front side, an axial back side, and a radial inner periphery. Tabs are formed on the axial back side and inserted into the plurality of aligned slots. The annular body of the tab lock also includes a plurality of openings extending into the radial inner periphery. A plurality of flanges is provided on the axial back side of the annular body adjacent to the plurality of openings.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling stack comprising:
a first rotating member;
a second rotating member;
a plurality of aligned slots defined in the first rotating member and the second rotating member; and
a tab lock having an annular body with an axial front side and an axial back side, the annular body including:
a plurality of openings extending into a radial inner periphery of the annular body,
a plurality of circumferentially extending flanges on the axial back side of the annular body adjacent to the plurality of openings, and
a plurality of tabs, each tab formed adjacent a circumferential end of one of the plurality of flanges, wherein at least a portion of each tab is inserted into one of the plurality of aligned slots.

2. The coupling stack of claim 1 , wherein the first rotating member is an input coupling and the second rotating member is a tie-bolt.

3. The coupling stack of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tabs each extend from one of the plurality of flanges.

4. The coupling stack of claim 1 , wherein a nut provides pressure on the tab lock such that the tabs are biased into the slots.

5. The coupling stack of claim 4 , wherein the nut is threaded to the second rotating member, wherein the second rotating member is a tie-bolt.

6. The coupling stack of claim 1 , wherein a number of the plurality of slots is greater than a number of the plurality of tabs.

7. The coupling stack of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slots are equally circumferentially spaced apart.

8. The coupling stack of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings are equally circumferentially spaced apart around the annular body.

9. The coupling stack of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of flanges are equally circumferentially spaced apart around the annular body.

10. The coupling stack of claim 1 , wherein the tab lock includes at least four tabs.

11. The coupling stack of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flanges are adjacent the inner radial periphery of the annular body.

12. A coupling stack comprising:
a first rotating member;
a second rotating member;
a plurality of aligned slots defined in the first rotating member and the second rotating member; and
an annular interlocking mechanism, having:
at least one opening extending into a radial inner periphery of the interlocking mechanism;
at least one circumferentially extending flange on an axial back side of the interlocking mechanism adjacent the at least one opening; and
at least one tab spaced apart from a circumferential end of the at least one flange, wherein at least a portion of the at least one tab is inserted into one of the plurality of aligned slots; and wherein

the interlocking mechanism contacting the first rotating member and the second rotating member and configured to prevent rotation between the first rotating member and the second rotating member.

13. The coupling stack of claim 12 , wherein the annular body includes an axial front side, wherein the at least one flange extends in an axial direction opposite the axial front side.

14. The coupling stack of claim 12 , wherein an axial length of the flange is less than an axial length of the corresponding tab.

15. The coupling stack of claim 12 , wherein each of the at least one flange is circumferentially adjacent a corresponding opening of the at least one opening.

16. A method for assembling a coupling stack comprising:
providing a tab lock with an annular body, the annular body having:
a plurality of openings extending into a radial inner periphery of the annular body;
a plurality of flanges on an axial back side of the annular body adjacent the at least one opening; and
a plurality of tabs each formed adjacent a circumferential end of a corresponding one of the plurality of flanges;

aligning the plurality of openings with a plurality of lips on a tool;
rotating the tab lock relative to the tool to a locked position such that the plurality of lips are locked against the axial back side of the annular body;
moving the tab lock into the coupling stack using the tool;
aligning a plurality of tabs on the tab lock with a plurality of slots defined between a first rotating member and a second rotating member;
inserting the plurality of tabs into the plurality of slots;
rotating the tool relative to the tab lock to an unlocked position such that the plurality of lips are aligned with the plurality of openings; and
withdrawing the tool, the tab lock remaining in place.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of inserting a nut to hold the tabs in the slots.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of providing preload pressure to the tab lock through the nut.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Juh Christopher M
• Laureano Pedro

Classifications

• Y10T403/7033

  including a lock or retainer · CPC title

• Y10T403/70

  Interfitted members · CPC title

• F05D2260/32

  by means of magnetic or electromagnetic forces · CPC title

• F16D1/0876

  with axial keys and no other radial clamping · CPC title

• Y10T403/60

  Biased catch or latch · CPC title