Replaceable hirth coupling component

Abstract

An end element for rotating equipment that is driven through a Hirth coupling is manufactured independently of the Hirth coupling halves. In that manner, in the event maintenance or repair is required to the Hirth coupling halves or the end element such as a turbine wheel or compressor impeller, only the structure needing maintenance or repair needs to be worked on rather than the entire assembly. End elements that previously came integrated to a half of a Hirth coupling can be retrofitted to mount a removable Hirth coupling half. In the process of machining away material from the end element to reduce running stresses, a boss can be created to mount the Hirth coupling half.

1 . A rotating equipment assembly, comprising: 
 a Hirth coupling having two engaging halves;    an end component separately constructed and connected to one of said engaging halves.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said engaging half is shrink fit to said end component.    
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said engaging half is pinned to said end component.    
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said end component comprises a boss and said engaging half is mounted to said boss.    
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said engaging half is shrink fit to said boss.    
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said engaging half is pinned to said boss.    
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said end component is initially made integrally with one of said engaging halves and is then modified to produce a boss onto which a replacement engaging half can be mounted.    
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said engaging half is removably mounted to said end component.    
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said engaging half is removably mounted to said boss.    
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said engaging half is removably mounted to said boss.    
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said end component further comprises at least one curved surface extending from said boss.    
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said end component further comprises at least one curved surface extending from said boss.