Patent ID: 8167566
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: F01D,F05D

Abstract:
1. A loading arrangement adapted for radially loading steam turbine buckets on a drum rotor comprising: a drum rotor of a steam turbine formed with an annular bucket retaining groove configured as a female dovetail slot about the periphery of the wheel including a radially outer wide groove portion, a radially inner wide groove portion, and an intermediate narrow groove portion; a root portion of a steam turbine bucket with a male dovetail including a radial inner projection and a radial outer projection, spaced by a narrow neck adapted for engaging the female dovetail slot; an undersurface of the narrow groove portion adapted for engaging with an upper surface of the radial inner projection formed on the male dovetail, adapted for retaining the male dovetail within the female dovetail slot; and an undersurface of the radial outer projection of the male dovetail closely engaging an upper surface of the radially outer wide groove portion, adapted for loading the bucket radially against the undersurface of the narrow groove portion, wherein the undersurface of the narrow groove portion is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the radially outer wide groove portion.