United Technologies Corporation

Trevor S Smith

Changsheng Guo

Brian J Schwartz

Robert E Erickson

Robert A Charbonneau

A method for cutting a blade root retention slot in a turbine engine disk element includes forming a precursor slot in the element. The precursor slot has first and second sidewalls and a base. A rotating bit is passed through the precursor slot to machine the base. The bit rotates about an axis off-normal to a direction of passing. A cutting performance of the rotating bit is modeled reflecting a chip trapping intensity parameter and a heat intensity parameter. At least one parameter of the bit and its passing is selected so as to avoid tool loading where removed chips/swarf stick onto the bit.

Slot machining

A method is provided for machining a slot having a slot base in a turbine engine rotor disk. The method includes forming a preform slot that extends along a longitudinal axis through the rotor disk. The preform slot includes a preform slot endwall connected laterally between a first slot sidewall and a second slot sidewall. A cutting tool is rotated about its axial centerline, which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The preform slot endwall is machined with the rotating cutting tool to form the slot base.

Method for machining a slot in a turbine engine rotor disk

A rotor blade assembly includes a slot for mounting a rotor blade that extends partially through a rotor disk and a continuous uninterrupted hoop seal that extends about the circumference of the rotor disk. The rotor disk includes an integrally formed seal that includes at least one knife edge disposed concentrically about the rotor disk. The slot receives a root portion of a rotor blade but does not extend through the seal. As the seal remains an uninterrupted full hoop about the circumference of the rotor disk, additional rigidity and strength are realized. The increased rigidity and strength provided by the full hoop structure provides for the reduction in material and physical dimensions without compromising desired performance of the seal.

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East Hampton, CT, United States of America

Trevor S Smith