Abstract:
A wheel disk assembly, having a wheel disk, a plurality of blade devices, which are fastened along the outer circumference of the wheel disk, and a plurality of sealing plates, which are retained in two annular grooves radially spaced apart from each other, the first annular groove in the wheel disk and bounded axially outward by an annular projection, and the second annular groove defined by a plurality of annular-groove segments arranged adjacently, which are in the individual blade devices. At least one opening extends axially through the annular projection, the minimum width of which opening in the circumferential direction is greater than the width of the sealing plates at the inside diameter such that a sealing plate is axially insertable between the annular grooves through the opening and moveable in the circumferential direction while guided by the annular grooves. A method assembles such a wheel disk assembly.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is the US National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2015/057053 filed Mar. 31, 2015, and claims the benefit thereof. The International Application claims the benefit of European Application No. EP14166363 filed Apr. 29, 2014. All of the applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a wheel disk arrangement having a wheel disk, multiple blade devices which are fastened along the outer circumference of the wheel disk, and multiple sealing plates which are held in two annular grooves spaced radially apart from each other, wherein the first annular groove is provided in the wheel disk and delimited axially outward by an annular projection, and wherein the second annular groove is defined by multiple annular groove segments which are arranged adjacent to one another and provided in each case in the individual blade devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    Wheel disk arrangements of the type mentioned at the beginning are known from the prior art in different embodiments. During the mounting, the blade devices are pushed into grooves of the wheel disk, wherein the sealing plates are also inserted successively into the two annular grooves. In order to be able to install the last two blade devices, all the sealing plates must already be mounted and moved so far over their overlapping regions in the annular grooves that the blade devices can be installed in the associated grooves of the wheel disk. The sealing plates are then moved again in the circumferential direction back into their proper position and suitably secured against displacement. 
         [0004]    A disadvantage of the known wheel disk arrangements consists in it being possible to dismount the sealing plates for servicing only with difficulty because two adjacent blade devices need to have been removed first, which in practice incurs considerable expense. 
         [0005]    A further wheel disk arrangement is disclosed in the document GB 905 582 A. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0006]    Starting from this prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a wheel disk arrangement of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which the sealing plates can be dismounted and remounted easily. 
         [0007]    In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a wheel disk arrangement of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which at least one recess extending axially through the annular projection is provided, the minimum width of which in the circumferential direction is greater than the width of the sealing plates at the internal diameter such that a sealing plate can be inserted axially through the recess between the annular grooves and guided in the circumferential direction by the latter. By virtue of such a recess, the sealing plates can be threaded easily into the associated annular grooves, even when all the blade devices are already mounted on the wheel disk, as a result of which the mounting takes a very flexible form. The individual sealing plates can also be removed again for servicing without any problem through the recess without great expense. According to the invention, at least one closing piece is provided which is designed to be fastened detachably to the wheel disk in order to close the at least one recess. Such a closing piece ensures that the sealing plates arranged in the region of the recess cannot move axially during operation. 
         [0008]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, two recesses are provided which are designed to be positioned opposite each other in the wheel disk. Owing to a circumferential offset of the recesses, in particular by 180°, the mounting and dismounting of the sealing plates are on the one hand facilitated. Moreover, a potential imbalance is compensated by the provision of a second recess arranged opposite the first recess. 
         [0009]    At least one closing piece is advantageously provided which can be fastened detachably to the wheel disk in order to close a recess. Such a closing piece ensures that the sealing plates arranged in the region of the recess cannot move axially during operation. 
         [0010]    The closing piece advantageously has projections which engage in correspondingly designed pockets of the recess in the properly configured state. In this way, the closing piece is fixed axially or radially in the recess in the properly configured state. 
         [0011]    According to an alternative of the present invention, the pockets extend axially through the whole annular projection and form undercuts in the radial direction. The closing piece can correspondingly be inserted axially into the recess when the projections are introduced into the associated pockets. 
         [0012]    For the purpose of axially fixing the closing piece in its proper position, said closing piece can be caulked to the wheel disk by, for example, material of the closing piece being deformed into cutouts provided for this purpose adjoining the recess. 
         [0013]    According to a further alternative of the present invention, the pockets extend from that side of the recess which faces the first annular groove in the properly configured state, axially through a part of the annular projection, and form undercuts in the radial direction. A closing piece with correspondingly designed projections can then be inserted radially into the first annular groove provided on the wheel disk and then be moved axially toward the annular projection with the projections introduced into the associated pockets until the projections come to bear against the walls delimiting the pockets. 
         [0014]    For the purpose of axial fixing, according to the invention a filling piece can be provided which is arranged adjacent to the closing piece in the properly configured state and defines a part of the groove base of the first annular groove. In the properly configured state, the filling piece is secured radially by a sealing plate and prevents axial movement of the closing piece. 
         [0015]    According to a further alternative of the present invention, the pockets extend radially through the annular projection and form undercuts in the axial direction, wherein the closing piece has a filling piece portion which, in the properly configured state, defines a part of the groove base of the first annular groove. A closing piece with correspondingly designed projections is then, in the properly configured state, secured axially by the projections received in the pockets and radially by a sealing plate which is arranged between the filling piece portion and the second annular groove. 
         [0016]    Moreover, the present invention provides a method for mounting a wheel disk arrangement according to the invention, in which, in a first step, all the blade devices are fastened on the outer circumference of the wheel disk in their proper positions and, in a subsequent step, the sealing plates are mounted. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clear with the aid of the following description of multiple embodiments of wheel disks according to the invention with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wheel disk arrangement according to a first embodiment of the present invention in the completely mounted state; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective partial view of a wheel disk of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 , which partial view shows a region of the wheel disk which is provided with a recess; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective partial view of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 1  in the partially mounted state; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a closing piece of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 1  which serves to close the recess shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective partial view of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 1  in the completely mounted state; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  shows an enlarged perspective view of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 5  in the region of the recess closed with the closing piece; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective partial view of a wheel disk arrangement according to a second embodiment of the present invention in the completely mounted state; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective partial view of a wheel disk of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 7 , which shows a region of the wheel disk provided with a recess; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a perspective partial view of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 7  in the partially mounted state; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a closing piece of the wheel disk shown in  FIG. 7  which serves to close the recess shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a filling piece of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a perspective partial view of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 7  in the completely mounted state; 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a perspective cutaway partial view of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 7  in the completely mounted state, wherein the plane of section extends through the recess; 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a wheel disk arrangement according to a third embodiment of the present invention in the completely mounted state; 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is a perspective partial view of a wheel disk of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 14  which shows a region of the wheel disk which is provided with a recess; 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is a perspective partial view of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 14  in the partially mounted state; 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a closing piece of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 14  which serves to close the recess shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 18  is a partial view in cross-section of the wheel disk arrangement shown in  FIG. 14  in the completely mounted state; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of an alternative closing piece. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0037]      FIGS. 1 to 6  show a wheel disk arrangement  1  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The wheel disk arrangement  1  comprises a wheel disk  2 , multiple blade devices  3  which are fastened along the outer circumference of the wheel disk  2 , and multiple sealing plates  4  which are held between the wheel disk  2  and the blade devices  3  in two annular grooves  5  and  6  spaced apart from each other radially. The first annular groove  5  is here provided in the wheel disk  2  and is delimited axially outward by an annular projection  7 . The second annular groove  6  is defined by multiple annular groove segments which are arranged adjacent to one another and formed in each case in the blade devices  3 . 
         [0038]    In order to facilitate the mounting of the sealing plates  4 , the wheel disk  2  comprises at least one recess  8  which extends axially through the annular projection  7  and the minimum width of which in the circumferential direction is greater than the width of the sealing plates  4  at the internal diameter. A sealing plate  4  can correspondingly be inserted axially through the recess  8  between the annular grooves  5  and  6  and moved in the circumferential direction, guided by the latter, as indicated in  FIG. 3  by the arrows A and B. The recess  8  comprises two laterally arranged pockets  9  which extend axially through the whole annular projection  7  and form undercuts in the radial direction. 
         [0039]    In order to close the recess  8 , the wheel disk arrangement  1  moreover comprises a closing piece  10  which can be fastened detachably on the wheel disk. The closing piece  10  has projections  11  which protrude laterally and are formed correspondingly with the pockets  9  of the recess  8 . The closing piece  10  can correspondingly be introduced axially into the recess  8 , wherein the projections  11  engage in the associated pockets  9 , as a result of which radial fixing of the closing piece  10  received in the recess  8  is obtained. 
         [0040]    In order to axially fix the closing piece  10  in its proper position, it can be caulked onto the wheel disk  2  by material of the closing piece  10  being deformed, when force is exerted, into cutouts  12  provided for this purpose adjoining the recess  8 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . For this purpose, depressions  13  are provided at the edges on the top of the closing piece  10  in order to receive a caulking tool. 
         [0041]    In order to mount the wheel disk arrangement  1  shown in  FIG. 1 , in a first step all the blade devices  3  are fastened in a known fashion to the wheel disk  2 . The individual sealing plates  4  of the row are then introduced axially through the recess  8  into the annular grooves  5  and  6  and then moved in the circumferential direction into their proper position. Those sealing plates  4  which are intended to be arranged in their proper position in the region of the recess  8  are thus positioned directly adjacent to the recess  8 . After the insertion of all the sealing plates  4 , the closing piece  10  is inserted axially into the recess  8 . A caulking tool is introduced into the depressions  13 , whereupon material of the closing piece is deformed, when subjected to force, into the cutouts  12 . The closing piece  10  is now secured radially and axially on the wheel disk  2 . In a further step, the last sealing plates  4  are also moved into their proper position, whereupon the individual sealing plates  4  are fixed with suitable means in their proper position in order to prevent undesired movement in the circumferential direction. 
         [0042]    It should be clear that the wheel disk arrangement  1  can also have multiple recesses  8  with associated closing pieces  10 . Thus, for example, two recesses  8  can be provided in the wheel disk  2  which are designed opposite each other, offset by 180°. In this way, on the one hand, the mounting or dismounting of the sealing plates  4  can be simplified and, on the other hand, imbalances can be eliminated. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 7 to 13  show a wheel disk arrangement  14  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The wheel disk arrangement  14  comprises a wheel disk  15 , multiple blade devices  16  which are fastened along the outer circumference of the wheel disk  15 , and multiple sealing plates  17  which are held between the wheel disk  15  and the blade devices  16  in two annular grooves  18  and  19  spaced apart radially from each other. The first annular groove  18  is here provided in the wheel disk  15  and is delimited axially outward by an annular projection  20 . The second annular groove  19  is defined by multiple adjacently arranged annular groove segments which are each designed in the blade devices  16 . 
         [0044]    In order to facilitate the mounting of the sealing plates  17 , the wheel disk  15  comprises at least one recess  21  extending axially through the annular projection  20  and the minimum width of which in the circumferential direction is greater than the width of the sealing plates  17  at the internal diameter. Correspondingly, a sealing plate  17  can be inserted axially through the recess  21  between the annular grooves  18  and  19  and moved in the circumferential direction, guided by the latter, as indicated in  FIG. 9  by the arrows A and B. The recess  21  comprises two laterally arranged pockets  22  which, starting from that side of the recess which faces the groove in the properly configured state, extend axially through a part of the annular projection  20  and form undercuts in the radial direction. 
         [0045]    In order to close the recess  21 , the wheel disk arrangement  14  moreover comprises a closing piece  23  which can be fastened detachably to the wheel disk  15 . The closing piece  23  has projections  24  which protrude laterally and are designed so that they correspond with the pockets  22  of the recess  21 . The closing piece  10  can correspondingly be inserted radially into the first annular groove  18  and be introduced in an axial direction into the recess  21 , the projections  24  engaging in the associated pockets  22 , as a result of which radial fixing of the closing piece  23  received in the recess  21  is achieved. 
         [0046]    In order to axially fix the closing piece  10  in its proper position, a filling piece is provided which, in the properly configured state, is arranged adjacent to the closing piece and defines a part of the groove base of the first annular groove  18 . The filling piece is in the present case designed in the form of a circular ring segment and has a rectangular cross-section. 
         [0047]    In order to mount the wheel disk arrangement  14  shown in  FIG. 7 , in a first step all the blade devices  16  are fastened in a known fashion to the wheel disk  15 . The individual sealing plates  17  of the row are then introduced axially through the recess  21  into the annular grooves  18  and  19  and then moved in the circumferential direction into their proper position. Those sealing plates  17  which are intended to be arranged in their proper position in the region of the recess  21  are thus positioned directly adjacent to the recess  21 . After the sealing plates  17  have been inserted, the closing piece  23  is inserted radially into the first annular groove  18  and then pushed axially into the recess  21 . The filling piece is then inserted radially into the first annular groove  18 . In a further step, the last sealing plates are moved into their proper position, whereupon the individual sealing plates  17  are fixed with suitable means in their proper position, in order to prevent undesired movement in the circumferential direction. The closing piece  23  is now fixed radially and axially. 
         [0048]    It should be clear that the wheel disk arrangement  14  can also have multiple recesses  21  with associated closing pieces  23  and filling pieces  25 . Thus, for example, two recesses  21  can be provided which are designed in the wheel disk  15  opposite each other, offset by 180°. In this way, on the one hand, the mounting or dismounting of the sealing plates  17  can be simplified and, on the other hand imbalances can be eliminated. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 14 to 18  show a wheel disk arrangement  26  according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The wheel disk arrangement  26  comprises a wheel disk  27 , multiple blade devices  28  which are fastened along the outer circumference of the wheel disk  27 , and multiple sealing plates  29  which are held between the wheel disk  27  and the blade devices  28  in two annular grooves  30  and  31  spaced apart radially from each other. The first annular groove  30  is here provided in the wheel disk  27  and is delimited axially outward by an annular projection  32 . The second annular groove  31  is defined by multiple adjacently arranged annular groove segments which are each designed in the blade devices  28 . 
         [0050]    In order to facilitate the mounting of the sealing plates  29 , the wheel disk  27  comprises at least one recess  33  extending axially through the annular projection  32  and the minimum width of which in the circumferential direction is greater than the width of the sealing plates  29  at the internal diameter. Correspondingly, a sealing plate  29  can be inserted axially through the recess  33  between the annular grooves  30  and  31  and moved in the circumferential direction, guided by the latter, as indicated in  FIG. 16  by the arrows A and B. The recess  33  comprises two laterally arranged pockets  34  which, starting from the top of the annular projection  32 , extend radially through the annular projection  32  and form undercuts in the axial direction. 
         [0051]    In order to close the recess  33 , the wheel disk arrangement  26  moreover comprises a closing piece  35  which can be fastened detachably to the wheel disk  27 . The closing piece  35  has projections  36  which protrude laterally and are designed so that they correspond with the pockets  34  of the recess  33 . The closing piece  35  can correspondingly be introduced in a radial direction into the recess  33 , the projections  36  engaging in the associated pockets  34 , as a result of which axial fixing of the closing piece  35  received in the recess  33  is achieved. The closing piece  35  moreover has a filling piece portion  37  which, in the properly configured state, defines a part of the groove base of the first annular groove  30 . 
         [0052]    In order to mount the wheel disk arrangement  26  shown in  FIG. 14 , in a first step all the blade devices  28  are fastened in a known fashion to the wheel disk  27 . The individual sealing plates  29  of the row are then introduced axially through the recess  33  into the annular grooves  30  and  31  and then moved in the circumferential direction into their proper position. Those sealing plates  29  which are intended to be arranged in their proper position in the region of the recess  33  are positioned directly adjacent to the recess  33 . After all the sealing plates  29  have been inserted, the closing piece  35  is inserted radially into the recess  33 . The last sealing plates are then also moved into their proper position, whereupon the individual sealing plates  29  are fixed with suitable means in their proper position, in order to prevent undesired movement in the circumferential direction. 
         [0053]    It should be clear that the wheel disk arrangement  26  can also have multiple recesses  33  with associated closing pieces  35 . Thus, for example, two recesses  33  can be provided which are designed in the wheel disk  27  opposite each other, offset by 180°. In this way, on the one hand, the mounting or dismounting of the sealing plates  29  can be simplified and, on the other hand, imbalances can be eliminated. 
         [0054]      FIG. 19  shows an alternative closing piece  38  which, instead of the closing piece  35 , can be used with a correspondingly designed recess (not shown in detail). The only difference between the closing pieces  38  and  35  is that the position of the projections  39  is selected so that it is not central like that of the projections  36  but situated on the inside. 
         [0055]    By virtue of the recesses according to the invention, in the abovedescribed embodiments the sealing plates can be simply threaded into the associated annular grooves, even when all the blade devices are already mounted on the wheel disk, as a result of which the mounting is very flexibly designed. If service is required, the individual sealing plates can also be removed again through the recess easily and without great expense. 
         [0056]    Although the invention was described and illustrated in detail by the preferred exemplary embodiment, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed and other variants can be derived by a person skilled in the art without going beyond the scope of the invention.