Patent ID: 7344359
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: F01D,F05D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method of assembling a plurality of buckets on a rotor wheel wherein each bucket includes an airfoil terminating at opposite ends in a shroud and a dovetail, respectively, comprising the step of pre-twisting the shroud and airfoil of each bucket in a rotational direction about a generally radial axis in response to applying a tangential assembly force to interference fit shroud contacting surfaces thereby imparting a rotational bias to the airfoil enabling subsequent rotation of the bucket into final assembly with the shroud edges of adjacent buckets in contact with one another and dovetail faces of adjacent buckets in contact with one another wherein pre-twisting of the shroud and airfoil of each bucket is carried out to a level of rotation exceeding the level of rotation created by the interference fit between adjacent shroud contact surfaces.