Method of disassembly for a gas turbine engine
First Claim
1. In a method of disassembling an axial flow gas turbine engine having a rotor shaft, a rotor blade assembly, an outer case, a bearing supported from the outer case which is adapted to engage an annular second shaft and to support only said rotor shaft and said annular second shaft, and an annular second shaft which is joined to the rotor blade assembly, wherein the annular second shaft engages the bearing to support only the rotor blade assembly and said rotor shaft, and wherein the annular second shaft is capable of movement in the axial direction with respect to the rotor shaft, and is coupled to the rotor shaft in the axial and circumferential directions, an improvement comprising the steps of:
- uncoupling the rotor shaft and the annular second shaft-rotor blade assembly;
separating the rotor shaft and the rotor blade assembly by relative movement between the shafts in the axial direction to provide access to the interior of the engine;
supporting the rotor blade assembly from the outer case through the annular second shaft after separating the second shaft and the rotor shaft to avoid relative radial movement between the outer case and the rotor blade assembly during disassembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rotor assembly 22 for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The engine has a compression section 12 and a turbine section 16. Various construction details which enable the modular disassembly of the turbine section are developed. The rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft 42 extending between the compression section and the turbine section. An annular shaft 66 engages a bearing 64, is joined to a rotor blade assembly 74, and rotatably supports the rotor shaft 42.
51 Citations
10 Claims
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1. In a method of disassembling an axial flow gas turbine engine having a rotor shaft, a rotor blade assembly, an outer case, a bearing supported from the outer case which is adapted to engage an annular second shaft and to support only said rotor shaft and said annular second shaft, and an annular second shaft which is joined to the rotor blade assembly, wherein the annular second shaft engages the bearing to support only the rotor blade assembly and said rotor shaft, and wherein the annular second shaft is capable of movement in the axial direction with respect to the rotor shaft, and is coupled to the rotor shaft in the axial and circumferential directions, an improvement comprising the steps of:
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uncoupling the rotor shaft and the annular second shaft-rotor blade assembly; separating the rotor shaft and the rotor blade assembly by relative movement between the shafts in the axial direction to provide access to the interior of the engine; supporting the rotor blade assembly from the outer case through the annular second shaft after separating the second shaft and the rotor shaft to avoid relative radial movement between the outer case and the rotor blade assembly during disassembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a method of disassembling an axial flow gas turbine engine having a turbine section, an outer case having a casing in the turbine section, a low pressure turbine in the turbine section which includes a low rotor shaft, a first rotor blade assembly, a first bearing supported from the outer case, and an annular second shaft in the turbine section which is joined to the first rotor blade assembly, wherein the annular second shaft engages the bearing to support the rotor blade assembly, is capable of movement in the axial direction with respect to the rotor shaft and is coupled to the rotor shaft in the axial and circumferential directions, the engine further having a high pressure turbine which includes a high rotor shaft radially outward of and circumferentially disposed about the low rotor shaft, a second rotor blade assembly, and an annular third shaft which is joined to the second rotor blade assembly, wherein the annular third shaft is capable of movement in the axial direction with respect to the high rotor shaft and is coupled to the high rotor shaft in the axial and circumferential directions, the engine further having a second bearing which is supported from the outer case of the engine and which is adapted to engage one of said shafts in the high pressure turbine, the improvement which comprises the steps of:
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uncoupling the low rotor shaft from the annular second shaft; separating the low rotor shaft and the second shaft- first rotor blade assembly by relative movement between the shafts in the axial direction; supporting the first rotor blade assembly from the outer case through the annular second shaft after separating the second shaft and the low rotor shaft; withdrawing the low rotor shaft from the low pressure turbine to provide access to the coupling between the high rotor shaft and the annular third shaft; uncoupling the high rotor shaft from the annular third shaft; supporting the second rotor blade assembly from the outer case; detaching the casing from the adjacent portion of the outer case; separating the turbine section of the engine as a modular unit from the adjacent portion of the engine by relative movement between the casing, the annular third shaft-second rotor blade assembly and the adjacent portion of the engine in the axial direction. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. In a method of disassembling an axial flow gas turbine engine having a compression section, a turbine section, a rotor shaft extending between the compression section and the turbine section, and an outer case spaced radially from the rotor shaft which extends axially through the sections of the engine, the turbine section including a rotor blade assembly, a rear bearing supported from the outer case of the engine and a rear annular second shaft which is joined to the rotor blade assembly, wherein the rear annular shaft engages the bearing to support the rotor blade assembly, is capable of movement in the axial direction with respect to the rotor shaft and is coupled to the rotor shaft in the axial and circumferential directions, the compression section including a forward bearing supported from the outer case of the engine and a forward annular shaft which is joined to a second rotor blade assembly, wherein the forward annular shaft engages the bearing to support the rotor blade assembly, is capable of movement in the axial direction with respect to the rotor shaft and is coupled to the rotor shaft in the axial and circumferential directions, the improvement which comprises the steps of:
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uncoupling the low rotor shaft from the rear annular shaft; uncoupling the low rotor shaft from the forward annular shaft; separating the low rotor shaft and the engine by relative axial movement between the low rotor shaft and the annular shafts to remove the rotor shaft from the interior of the engine; supporting the rotor blade assemblies from the outer case through the annular shafts after separating the rotor shaft and the annular shafts to avoid relative radial movement between the outer case and the rotor blade assembly.
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Specification