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EP-4311911-B1 - FUSED ROTOR

EP4311911B1EP 4311911 B1EP4311911 B1EP 4311911B1EP-4311911-B1

Inventors

  • CLAVETTE, Jeremy
  • GURVICH, MARK R.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230718

Claims (15)

  1. A rotor comprising: a base member (64) including a first side (66), a second side (68) opposite the first side, and a central opening (70) passing through the first side and the second side, the second side including an outer circumferential edge (76) and the central opening having an inner circumferential edge (72); a plurality of blades (80) extending outwardly from the first side, the plurality of blades extending about the central opening; characterised in having: a fuse element (86, 102, 112, 154, 170) taking the form of a groove with a uniform cross-section formed in the second side and extending along one of a radial direction and a circumferential direction, the fuse element forming a built-in failure mechanism, the fuse element causing a crack to propagate across the base member when the rotor is operated above a selected design speed.
  2. The rotor according to claim 1, wherein the fuse element (86) includes a first end (94) positioned at the inner circumferential edge (72), a second end (96) positioned at the outer circumferential edge (74), and an intermediate portion (98).
  3. The rotor according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate portion (98) is linear.
  4. The rotor according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate portion (98) extends along a radius of the second side (68); or wherein the intermediate portion (98) extends at an angle relative to a radius of the second side (68).
  5. The rotor according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate portion (98) is curvilinear.
  6. The rotor according to claim 1, wherein the fuse element (86) includes a first end (94) positioned at the inner circumferential edge (72) and a second end (96) that is spaced from the outer circumferential edge (74); or wherein the fuse element (102) includes a first end (106) spaced from the inner circumferential edge (72) and a second end (108) that extends to the outer circumferential edge (74).
  7. The rotor according to claim 1, wherein the fuse element (102) includes a first end (106) spaced from the inner circumferential edge (72), a second end (108) that is spaced from the outer circumferential edge (74).
  8. The rotor according to claim 1, wherein the fuse element (102) includes a first fuse element (102A) and a second fuse element (102B) extending along a radius of the second side (68).
  9. The rotor according to claim 8, wherein each of the first fuse element (102A) and the second fuse element (102B) is spaced from the inner circumferential edge (72) and the outer circumferential edge (74); and optionally wherein the first fuse (102A) element is spaced from the second fuse element (102B).
  10. The rotor according to claim 9, wherein the first fuse element (102A) and the second fuse (102B) element are co-linear.
  11. The rotor according to claim 1, wherein the fuse element (154, 170) includes a first end (158, 174), a second end (160, 175), and a curvilinear intermediate portion (162, 178), the fuse element extending along a circumference of the second side (68) between the inner circumferential edge (72) and the outer circumferential edge (74).
  12. The rotor according to claim 11, wherein the first end (158) is spaced from the inner circumferential edge (72) a first distance in a radial direction and the second end (160) is spaced from the inner circumferential edge a second distance in the radial direction, the second distance being equal to the first distance; or wherein the first end (174) is spaced from the inner circumferential edge a first distance in a radial direction and the second end (176) is spaced from the inner circumferential edge a second distance in the radial direction, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
  13. The rotor according to claim 1, wherein the fuse element includes a first fuse element extending along a radius of the second side and a second fuse element extending along a circumference of the second side.
  14. An aircraft comprising: a fuselage defining a cockpit and a passenger cabin; an air conditioning unit configured to direct conditioned air into one of the cockpit and the passenger cabin, the air conditioning unit including a rotor according to claim 1.
  15. The aircraft according to claim 14, wherein the fuse element includes a first end positioned at the inner circumferential edge, a second end positioned at the outer circumferential edge, and an intermediate portion; or wherein the fuse element includes a first end, a second end, and a curvilinear intermediate portion, the fuse element extending along a circumference of the second side between the inner circumferential edge and the outer circumferential edge.

Description

BACKGROUND The invention relates to rotating machinery and, more particularly, to a fused rotor for a rotating machine. Rotating machines, particularly those that are designed to move air, may include a rotor that supports a number of blades. The rotor is driven to generate an airflow. In certain installations, the rotor may be fused to control a maximum functioning operating speed, i.e., the burst speed. The fuse, which may take the form of an annular notch or a groove, creates an internal stress concentration leading to a built-in failure mechanism at a certain level of load due to rotational inertia. At a certain operating speed or speed range, the stress concentrations in the rotor will generate a fracture at the fuse. Without the built-in failure mechanism, the structure surrounding the rotor would need to be much heavier and potentially more expensive since the size and material properties of the surrounding structure would need to contain the rotor at higher operating speeds. The ability of such fuses to generate the fracture with a desired accuracy for a specified speed can be still a challenge. Conventional fuses have relatively simple shapes (e.g., full 360 deg circumferential groove) and therefore lack the desired accuracy to react to specified burst speeds. Therefore, advanced designs of fused rotors with capabilities of enhanced sensitivity of the fracture event to the rotational speed can be an important improvement for such components (rotors) with respect to both performance under service and weight/cost reduction. KR20130122832A and EP2960463A1 relate to rotor fuse elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION A rotor according to claim 1 is provided. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the fuse element includes a first end positioned at the inner circumferential edge, a second end positioned at the outer circumferential edge, and an intermediate portion. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the intermediate portion is linear. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the intermediate portion extends along a radius of the second side. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the intermediate portion extends at an angle relative to a radius of the second side. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the intermediate portion is curvilinear. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the fuse element includes a first end positioned at the inner circumferential edge and a second end that is spaced from the outer circumferential edge. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the fuse element includes a first end spaced from the inner circumferential edge and a second end that extends to the outer circumferential edge. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the fuse element includes a first end spaced from the inner circumferential edge, a second end that is spaced from the outer circumferential edge. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the fuse element includes a first fuse element and a second fuse element extending along a radius of the second side. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, each of the first fuse element and the second fuse element is spaced from the inner circumferential edge and the outer circumferential edge. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the first fuse element is spaced from the second fuse element. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the first fuse element and the second fuse element are co-linear. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the fuse element includes a first end, a second end, and a curvilinear intermediate portion, the fuse element extending along a circumference of the second side between the inner circumferential edge and the outer circumferential edge. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the first end is spaced from the inner circumferential edge a first distance in a radial direction and the second end is spaced from the inner circumferential edge a second distance in the radial direction, the second distance being equal to the first distance. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples the first end is spaced from the inner circumferential edge a first distance in a radial direction and the second end is spaced from the inner circumferential edge a second distance in the radial direction, the second distance being greater than the first distance. Additionally, or alternatively, in this or other non-limiting examples, the fuse element includes a first fuse element extending along a radius of the second side and a second fuse element extending along a circumference of the second side. A