Patent GB-1453304-A (GB)
Title: Modular gas turbine engines
IPC: F01D9/02
Filed: 1973-12-11
Abstract: 1453304 Gas turbine engine of modular construction GENERAL ELECTRIC CO 11 Dec 1973 [26 Dec 1972] 57327/73 Heading F1G The invention relates to a gas turbine engine of modular construction which permits ready dismantling and re-assembly of the engine. The engine shown comprises a compressor 16, combustion equipment 28 and a turbine 36 connected to drive the compressor through shaft 38, the rotating assembly being mounted in a bearing 48 at the forward end of the compressor rotor, and in a bearing 50 at the rearward end of the shaft 38 adjacent the turbine rotor assembly 52, 54, the latter assembly being overhung. The compressor casing 12 is connected to the casing 12' of the combustion equipment and the turbine casing 100 which is part of the turbine module 36 is secured to the cold module casing 12' by means of bolts 110. The turbine rotor assembly comprises two discs 52, 54 which are secured together by a plurality of axially-extending bolts 56 each having a threaded nut 58, the rotor discs being engaged for torque transmission by means of a toothed coupling 60. The rotor disc assembly 52, 54 is secured to a radial flange 112 of the shaft 38 by means of a series of axially-extending bolts 114 which extend through the rotor discs 52, 54 and engage lock nuts 114' adjacent the shaft flange 112 and are secured by lock nuts 115 adjacent the rotor disc 54. The inlet nozzle guide vane assembly comprises a series of arcuate members each comprising a number of guide vanes 118, an arcuate portion 120 of an inner shroud ring, and an arcuate portion 122 of an outer shroud ring, the portion 120 comprising a flange 124 and the flanges of the plurality of arcuate portions being secured to a flange 127 of a channelsection ring 126, the other flange 129 of which is secured to the frame structure 46 by a series of through bolts 134, a flange 135 of the combustion liner 31 being secured between the flange 129 and the frame structure 46. The flanges 124 of the inner shroud portions 120 and the flange 127 of the channel section ring 126 are secured together by a series of through-bolts 128. The gas flow passage through the turbine is defined outwardly by the outer shroud ring 122 of the guide vane assembly 118, by the shroud ring 96 around the turbine rotor blades 62, by the outer shroud ring 86 of the inter-stage guide vane assembly 82, and by the shroud ring 98 around the turbine rotor blades 70. The shroud parts 96, 86, 98 are secured to the turbine stator casing 100. Upon removal of the bolts 110 securing the casing parts 12' and 100 together and removal of the nuts 115 of the through bolts 114, the rotor assembly 52, 54 and the stator assembly 100 with the shroud portions 96, 86, 98 may be removed axially as a turbine module, the rotor disc assembly sliding over the assembly of through bolts 114 which remain secured to the shaft flange 112, the toothed coupling 116 separating. Upon release of the bolts 134 from the nuts 135' the inlet nozzle guide vane assembly 118 may then be removed, the member 144 disengaging from the downstream end of the combustion liner 31.  The combustion liner 31 may then be removed by axial movement, the sleeve member 146 which is secured to the liner disengaging from the frame structure 46.