Thermally insulating turbine coupling

• US 8,840,359 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Government Of The United States Of America, As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Vick, Michael J., Pullen, Keith R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lambert, Wayne A
• Application Number:
  US13/272,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20120093661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 415/177, 415/178, 415/179, 415/180, 415/216.1, 415/122.1, 415/140, 415/1
• US Class Current: 415/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/025 Fixing blade carrying members on shafts attachment of a member on a shaft in general F16D1/06; for non-positive displacement pumps F04D29/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/026 Shaft to shaft connections
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/04 the pump being fluid-driven pumps driven by exhaust gases F02B37/00, F02B39/00; turbochargers F02C6/12
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/054 Arrangements for joining or assembling shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/231 Preventing heat transfer

Abstract

A rotor assembly, including at least one driven member, e.g., a compressor rotor, and at least one driving member, e.g., a turbine. At least one rotating thermal insulator rigidly attached to either the driven member or the driving member. A coupling feature that includes mating geometric surfaces on the driven member and the driving member, wherein the geometric surfaces are configured to allow radial sliding, relative centering, torque transmission, and axial constraint between the driven member and the driving member.

Claims

1. A rotor assembly, comprising:

at least one driven member;

at least one driving member;

at least one rotating thermal insulator rigidly attached to the driven member, wherein the rotating thermal insulator is made from a ceramic material; and

a coupling feature comprising mating geometric surfaces on the driven member and the driving member, wherein the geometric surfaces are configured to allow radial sliding, relative centering, torque transmission, and axial constraint between the driven member and the driving member.

2. The rotor assembly of claim 1, wherein the driven member is a compressor rotor.

3. The rotor assembly of claim 1, wherein the driven member is a generator rotor.

4. The rotor assembly of claim 1, wherein the driving member is a turbine.

5. The rotor assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling feature is a taper bore and hex coupling mechanism.

6. The rotor assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling feature is a Hirth serration coupling mechanism.

9. The rotor assembly of claim 1, wherein the ceramic material of the rotating thermal insulator comprises one of zirconia, yttria-stabilized zirconia, or mullite.

7. A method of reducing heat transfer in a rotor assembly, comprising the steps of:

rigidly attaching a rotating thermal insulator to a driven member or a driving member, wherein the rotating thermal insulator is made from a ceramic material; and

coupling the driven member to a driving member with a coupling feature, wherein the coupling feature is configured to allow radial sliding, relative centering, torque transmission, and axial constraint between the driven member and the driving member.

8. A rotor assembly, comprising:

at least one driven member;

at least one driving member;

at least one rotating insulator rigidly attached to the driven member, wherein the rotating thermal insulator is made from a ceramic material;

a coupling feature comprising mating geometric surfaces on the driven member and the driving member, wherein the geometric surfaces are configured to allow the driven member and the driving member to thermally expand and contract at different rates, maintain relative centering, and prevent relative rotation;

and means to maintain an axial force between the driven member and the driving member.