GB867600A - Improvements in the rotor and stator construction of gas turbine engines - Google Patents

Abstract

867,600. Turbine disc couplings. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. Oct. 24, 1958 [Nov. 13, 1957], No. 34074/58. Class 80 (2). [Also in Groups XXVI and XXXIV] In a rotor and stator construction for a gas turbine engine, a rotor comprises a plurality of axially aligned and axially spaced wheels which are interconnected by a flexible torque transmitting means, and the rotor is supported by air bearings. In Fig. 1, wheel discs 14 are flexibly connected by transmitting members 21 and 22 which are fastened on opposite sides of each wheel disc. Circumferentially spaced spokes 23 on one of the members 21, 22 engage in axial slots provided in the other member. This construction permits each wheel to adjust itself relative to an adjacent wheel during operating conditions. Each rotor wheel is supported around its shroud 28 by air bearings 25 in the stator casing 18. These air bearings each comprise annular recesses 26 provided with pressurized air through line 27 from a source such as the compressor itself. Axial thrust is counteracted due to the extension of the shroud 28 into the recess 26 providing a side air bearing 29 which acts as a thrust bearing for each wheel. Fig. 3 illustrates a modification wherein air bearings are arranged at the inner ends of the stator vanes. An extension 31 near the periphery of each wheel disc 14 has a load-supporting peripheral surface 32 co-operating with an annular recess 33 at the inner ends of stator vanes 34 the recess being pressurized by air as before. When the gas turbine engine is started from rest an auxiliary air supply or self-lubricating bearings is provided.