Turbine engine rotor blades and rotor wheels

Abstract

A rotor wheel and a rotor blade for use in a turbine engine, the rotor wheel and the rotor blade being configured to comprise a connection formed between a root of the rotor blade and an outer radial portion of the rotor wheel that secures the rotor blade to the rotor wheel during operation of the turbine engine; wherein the connection comprises two or more tangential dovetails.

1 . A rotor wheel and a rotor blade for use in a turbine engine, the rotor wheel and the rotor blade being configured to comprise a connection formed between a root of the rotor blade and an outer radial portion of the rotor wheel that secures the rotor blade to the rotor wheel during operation of the turbine engine;
 wherein the connection comprises two or more tangential dovetails.   
     
     
         2 . The rotor wheel and rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tangential dovetail comprises a dovetail connection between the rotor blade and rotor wheel that is substantially engaged by sliding the rotor blade tangentially in relation to the rotor wheel; and   the dovetail connection comprises a male projection that interlocks within a female groove.   
     
     
         3 . The rotor wheel and rotor blade of  claim 2 , wherein the connection comprises a plurality of internal dovetails, the internal dovetails comprising two or more female grooves formed in the rotor wheel engaging the same number of corresponding male projections formed on the root of the rotor blade. 
     
     
         4 . The rotor wheel and rotor blade of  claim 3 , wherein the female grooves are grooves that, depth wise, extend radially inward into an outer radial surface of the rotor wheel, width wise, extend axially a relatively short distance, and, length wise, extend circumferentially around most of the circumference of the rotor wheel in a continuous manner. 
     
     
         5 . The rotor wheel and rotor blade of  claim 2 , wherein the connection comprises a plurality of external dovetails, the external dovetails comprising two or more male projections formed on the rotor wheel engaging the same number of corresponding female grooves formed in the root of the rotor blade. 
     
     
         6 . The rotor wheel and rotor blade of  claim 5 , wherein the male projections are projections that, height wise, extend radially outward from an outer radial surface of the rotor wheel, width wise, extend axially a relatively short distance, and, length wise, extend circumferentially around most of the circumference of the rotor wheel in a continuous manner. 
     
     
         7 . The rotor wheel and rotor blade of  claim 2 , wherein the interlock is formed via portions of the male projection that overlap in axial and radial direction with portions of the female groove. 
     
     
         8 . The rotor wheel and rotor blade of  claim 7 , wherein the rotor wheel further comprises a closure section along a relatively narrow section of the circumference of the rotor wheel, the closure section being configured such that the interlock of the dovetail connection is not present. 
     
     
         9 . The rotor wheel and rotor blade of  claim 2 , wherein the male projection comprises at least one hook that engages at least one hook in the female grove, thereby forming the interlock of the dovetail connection. 
     
     
         10 . The rotor wheel and rotor blade of  claim 9 , wherein the male projection comprises a substantially symmetrical tree shape, the tree shape having at least two hooks on each side. 
     
     
         11 . A rotor blade for use in a turbine engine, the rotor blade being configured to make a connection with a rotor wheel, the connection being formed between a root of the rotor blade and an outer radial portion of the rotor wheel and securing the rotor blade to the rotor wheel during operation of the turbine engine;
 wherein the connection comprises two or more tangential dovetails.   
     
     
         12 . The rotor blade of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the tangential dovetail comprises a dovetail connection between the rotor blade and rotor wheel that is substantially engaged by sliding the rotor blade tangentially in relation to the rotor wheel; and   the dovetail connection comprises a male projection that interlocks within a female groove.   
     
     
         13 . The rotor blade of  claim 12 , wherein the connection comprises a plurality of internal dovetails, the internal dovetails comprising two or more female grooves formed in the rotor wheel that engage the same number of corresponding male projections formed on the root of the rotor blade. 
     
     
         14 . The rotor blade of  claim 12 , wherein the connection comprises a plurality of external dovetails, the external dovetails comprising two or more male projections formed on the rotor wheel that engage the same number of corresponding female grooves formed in the root of the rotor blade. 
     
     
         15 . The rotor blade of  claim 12 , wherein the interlock is formed via portions of the male projection that overlap in the axial and radial direction with portions of the female groove. 
     
     
         16 . The rotor blade of  claim 15 , wherein the male projection comprises at least one hook that engages at least one hook in the female grove, thereby forming the interlock of the dovetail connection. 
     
     
         17 . A rotor wheel for use in a turbine engine, the rotor wheel being configured to make a connection with a plurality of rotor blades, the connection being formed between a root of the rotor blades and an outer radial portion of the rotor wheel and securing the rotor blades to the rotor wheel during operation of the turbine engine;
 wherein the connection comprises two or more tangential dovetails.   
     
     
         18 . The rotor wheel of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the tangential dovetail comprises a dovetail connection between the rotor blades and rotor wheel that is substantially engaged by sliding the rotor blades tangentially in relation to the rotor wheel; and   the dovetail connection comprises a male projection that interlocks within a female groove.   
     
     
         19 . The rotor wheel of  claim 18 , wherein the connection comprises a plurality of internal dovetails, the internal dovetails comprising two or more female grooves formed in the rotor wheel that engage the same number of corresponding male projections formed on the root of the rotor blades. 
     
     
         20 . The rotor wheel of  claim 19 , wherein the female grooves are grooves that, depth wise, extend radially inward into an outer radial surface of the rotor wheel, width wise, extend axially a relatively short distance, and, length wise, extend circumferentially around most of the circumference of the rotor wheel in a continuous manner. 
     
     
         21 . The rotor wheel of  claim 18 , wherein the connection comprises a plurality of external dovetails, the external dovetails comprising two or more male projections formed on the rotor wheel that engage the same number of corresponding female grooves formed in the root of the rotor blades. 
     
     
         22 . The rotor wheel of  claim 21 , wherein the male projections are projections that, height wise, extend radially outward from an outer radial surface of the rotor wheel, width wise, extend axially a relatively short distance, and, length wise, extend circumferentially around most of the circumference of the rotor wheel in a continuous manner. 
     
     
         23 . The rotor wheel of  claim 18 , wherein the interlock is formed via portions of the male projection that overlap in the axial and radial direction with portions of the female groove. 
     
     
         24 . The rotor wheel of  claim 23 , wherein the male projection comprises at least one hook that engages at least one hook in the female grove, thereby forming the interlock of the dovetail connection, and
 wherein the rotor wheel further comprises a closure section along a relatively narrow section of the circumference of the rotor wheel, the closure section being configured such that the interlock of the dovetail connection is not present.