Fan for a turbomachine

Abstract

The invention proposes a fan, in particular for a turbomachine of small size such as a jet engine, having a hub ratio which corresponds to the ratio of the diameter of the inner limit of the incoming air stream at the radially inner ends of the leading edges of the fan blades, divided by the diameter of the circle around which the outer ends of the fan blades pass, having a value of between 0.20 and 0.265.

Claims

1. A fan of a jet engine, the fan comprising at an intake for an air flow: fan blades; an annular casing; and a hub adapted to rotate around an axis and bearing the fan blades, wherein each fan blade has a leading edge and extends radially to said axis in an annular stream for the air flow, the annular stream being locally delimited, radially to said axis: internally by inter-blade platforms interposed circumferentially between the fan blades, and externally by the annular casing, wherein the hub comprises a fan disc constructed in one piece with the fan blades, wherein said fan has an intake diameter corresponding to the diameter of a circle comprising radially outer ends of the fan blades at the leading edges of the fan blades, of a value of between 900 mm and 1550 mm, wherein said fan has a hub ratio, which corresponds to a ratio of a diameter of an inner limit of said annular stream at radially inner ends of the leading edges of the fan blades, divided by the intake diameter, of a value of between 0.20 and 0.265, and wherein the fan disc comprises: a minimum internal diameter between 120 mm and 140 mm, and an external diameter where the fan disc radially flushes with the inter-blade platforms at the leading edges of the blades.

2. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the fan disc comprises titanium alloy.

3. The fan according to claim 2, wherein the titanium alloy is TA6V, TU 7, or TA5CD4.

4. A jet engine comprising: a fan according to claim 1, wherein said axis is also an axis of the jet engine; and a drive shaft centered on the axis, wherein the fan disc comprises an annular row of axial splines that interact with an annular row of axial splines of the drive shaft centered on said axis, so as to ensure a torque transmission between the fan disc and the drive shaft, and wherein a nut is disposed on a thread of an outer surface of an upstream end of the drive shaft and forms an axial abutment from the upstream direction on a stop of the fan disc, in order to maintain the stop clamped axially between said nut and a shoulder of the drive shaft, wherein the nut has a diameter of between 105 mm and 135 mm.

5. The jet engine according to claim 4, wherein the annular row of axial splines is formed on an inside surface of a cylindrical wall of the fan disc, said cylindrical wall surrounding the drive shaft.

6. The jet engine according to claim 5, wherein the cylindrical wall is formed at a downstream end of the fan disc and is connected to the fan disc via a truncated cone-shaped wall flaring out in the upstream direction.

7. The jet engine according to claim 4, wherein the diameter of the nut is between 115 mm and 125 mm.

8. A jet engine comprising: a fan according to claim 1, wherein said axis is also an axis of the jet engine; and a drive shaft centered on the axis, wherein the fan disc comprises an annular row of axial splines that interact with an annular row of axial splines of the drive shaft centered on said axis, so as to ensure a torque transmission between the fan disc and the drive shaft, and wherein an annular shoulder is formed on a surface of the drive shaft and is in axial abutment against a second stop on the fan disc.

9. The jet engine according to claim 8, wherein the second stop is formed by a downstream end of a cylindrical wall and/or a radial annular edge extending inside a truncated cone-shaped wall that is connecting the cylindrical wall to the fan disc by flaring out in the upstream direction.

10. A fan of a jet engine, the fan comprising at an intake for an air flow: fan blades; an annular casing; and a hub adapted to rotate around an axis and bearing the fan blades, wherein each fan blade has a leading edge and extends, radially to said axis in an annular stream for the air flow, the annular stream being locally delimited, radially to said axis: internally by inter-blade platforms interposed circumferentially between the fan blades, and externally by the annular casing, wherein the hub comprises a fan disc constructed in one piece with the fan blades, so that each blade extends radially from an annular surface of the fan disc, wherein, radially to said axis and downstream of said leading edges of the fan blades, the inter-blade platforms are located at a distance from said annular surface of the fan disc, wherein said fan has an intake diameter between 900 mm and 1200 mm, said intake diameter corresponding to the diameter of a circle comprising radially outer free ends of the fan blades at the leading edges of the fan blades, and wherein said fan has a hub ratio between 0.20 and 0.265, said hub ratio corresponding to a ratio of a leading edge diameter of an inner limit of said annular stream where said leading edge diameter flushes with the leading edges of the fan blades, divided by the intake diameter.

Description

(1) The various different aspects of the solutions presented here will be better understood and other details, characteristics and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent in reading the following description, made by way of a non-restrictive example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially torn away, of a turbomachine according to the prior art,

(3) FIG. 2 is a partial, cross-sectional axial diagrammatic half-view of a turbomachine fan according to the prior art,

(4) FIG. 3 is a partial, cross-sectional axial diagrammatic half-view, true to scale, of a turbomachine fan according to the invention, in the case in which the blades are engaged in the grooves of the disc,

(5) FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-sectional axial diagrammatic half-view, true to scale, of a turbomachine fan according to the invention, in the case in which the blades are formed in one piece with the disc,

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an updated fan rotor with the cowling torn away, for the case in FIG. 3,

(7) FIG. 6 is a front view of the same assembly as that in FIG. 5,

(8) FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are respective view of the cross-sections A-A, B-B and C-C in FIG. 6,

(9) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a shim used in the fan according to the invention, for the case in FIG. 3,

(10) FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the same shim. Reference will be made first of all to FIGS. 1 and 2, which therefore illustrate a turbomachine fan according to the technology prior to the present invention.

(11) This fan comprises blades 10, carried by a disc 12, surrounded by an outer annular casing 8, between which (blades) inter-blade platforms (not illustrated) are interposed, wherein the disc 12 is fixed to the upstream end of a turbomachine shaft 13.

(12) Each fan blade 10 comprises a vane 16 connected at its radially inner end to a root 18 which is engaged in a substantially axial groove 20 of a shape matching the disc 12, formed between two ribs 22 of the disc 12 and allowing radial retention of this blade 10 on the disc 12. A shim 24 is interposed between the root 18 of each blade 10 and the bottom of the corresponding groove 20 of the disc 12 in order to immobilise the blade 10 radially on the disc 12. “Leeks” 14 extending towards the inside of the fan are formed on the inside surface of the disc 12 in order to balance the disc 12.

(13) The disc 12 comprises a truncated cone-shaped wall 200 closing in the downstream direction and extending from a portion of the disc 12 located radially between the grooves 20 and the “leeks” 14. The downstream end of the truncated cone-shaped wall 200 comprises a radial annular collar 202 featuring axial orifices interacting with axial orifices of a radial annular collar 204 formed upstream from the drive shaft 13, for passage of bolts 206.

(14) The inter-blade platforms form a wall that internally delimits a stream 26 of the air flow entering the turbomachine and comprising means that interact with matching means provided on the disc 12, between the grooves 20, in order to fix the platforms on the disc.

(15) The fan blades 10 are retained axially in the grooves 20 of the disc 12 via appropriate means mounted on the disc 12, upstream and downstream from the blades 10.

(16) The retaining means located upstream comprise an annular flange 28 attached and fastened coaxially to the upstream end of the disc 12.

(17) The flange 28 comprises an inner annular edge 30 which is scalloped or castellated and interacts with a castellated or scalloped outer annular edge 32 of the disc in order to axially immobilise the flange 28 on the disc 12. This flange 28 is supported by an outer edge 34 on the shims 24 of the blade roots 18.

(18) The flange 28 furthermore comprises an inner annular collar 36, which is interposed between a corresponding annular collar 38 of the disc 12 and an inner annular collar 40 of a shell 42 arranged upstream from the fan disc 12. The collars 36, 38, 40 comprise axial orifices (not visible) through which screws 44 or similar pass for clamping the collars to one another.

(19) The shell 42 has a substantially truncated cone shape flaring out in the downstream direction, wherein the inter-blade platforms extend in the axial extension of this shell 42. This shell comprises radial drill holes 46 for installing balancing screws in addition to a collar 48 located at its upstream end. A conical cowling 50 is mounted on the upstream portion of the shell 42. More specifically, the downstream end of the cowling 50 comprises a collar 52, fixed to the upstream collar 48 of the shell 42 by means of screws 54.

(20) Downstream from the blade 10, a hook 120 formed at the downstream end of the blade 10 allows axial retention and engages in a notch 122 formed at the upstream end of a compressor 124 prolonging the stream 26 downstream from the fan.

(21) Such a structure has the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is not suitable for a fan of relatively small dimensions.

(22) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an embodiment of a fan according to the solution developed in this patent application and comprising, with regard to FIG. 3, a disc 56 bearing blades 132, the roots 138 of which are engaged in substantially axial grooves 58 of the outer circumference of the disc 56 and in case of FIG. 4, a disc 56 formed in one piece with the blades 132.

(23) The disc 56 is arranged around the axis 130 of the turbomachine and is driven in rotation by a downstream drive shaft 208.

(24) More specifically, the disc 56 is connected to a truncated cone-shaped wall 210 extending downstream from the disc 56 and closing. The downstream end of the truncated cone-shaped wall 210 is connected to a cylindrical wall 212, the inside surface of which comprises axial splines 214 arranged circumferentially side by side. These splines 214, directly connected to the disc 56, are engaged by positive interlocking with matching splines 216 arranged on the outer surface of the drive shaft 208.

(25) The shaft 208 possesses, formed on its outer surface downstream from the splines 214, 216, a first annular shoulder 218 interacting by axial abutment against the downstream end of the cylindrical wall 212 connected to the disc 56 and bearing the splines 214. A second annular shoulder 220 formed upstream from the splines 214, 216 is in axial abutment against an annular edge 222 extending radially towards the inside from the truncated cone-shaped wall 210.

(26) A nut 224 interacts with a thread 226 formed on the outer surface of the upstream end of the shaft 208 and rests axially in the downstream direction against the radial annular edge 222, so that the latter, in addition to the downstream end of the cylindrical wall 212, cannot become disengaged from their abutments against the shoulders 218, 220 of the shaft 208. In this manner, the disc 56 is axially, radially and circumferentially constrained in relation to the drive shaft 208.

(27) This installation by splines between the disc 56 and the shaft 208 has the advantages of mechanical strength described above, particularly for small-sized fans.

(28) In the specific case of FIG. 3, each fan blade 132 comprises a vane 136 connected at its radially inner end to a root 138 which is engaged in a substantially axial groove 58 of a shape matching the disc 56, formed between two ribs 140 of the disc 56 and allowing radial retention of this blade 132 on the disc 56.

(29) The fan blades 132 are retained axially in the grooves 58 of the disc 56 via the means 74, 86, 70, 96 described below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9 and arranged upstream from the blades 132.

(30) A shim 142 is interposed between the root 138 of each blade 132 and the bottom of the corresponding groove 58 of the disc 56 in order to immobilise the blade 132 radially on the disc 56.

(31) Inter-blade platforms 134 are interposed circumferentially between the blades 132. The inter-blade platforms 134 form a wall that internally delimits the stream 144 of the air flow entering the turbomachine and comprising means that interact with matching means provided on the disc 56, between the grooves 58, in order to fix the platforms on the disc.

(32) The blades 132 are surrounded by an outer annular casing 146 delimiting the air intake of the turbomachine. The outer casing 146 comprises an inner annular wall 148 externally delimiting the stream 144 of the air flow entering the turbomachine and in relation to which the outer ends of the blades 132 rotate circumferentially.

(33) The hub ratio of the fan illustrated corresponds to the ratio of the distance B between the axis 130 of the turbomachine and the inner limit of the stream 144 at the leading edge of the blade 132, divided by the distance A between the axis 130 of the turbomachine and the outer ends of the blades 132. The fan illustrated has been designed such as to obtain a hub ratio that may be between 0.25 and 0.27, whereas the distance A has a value of between 450 and 600 mm. This choice of hub ratio involves using a disc, the outer limit of which, at the tops of the ribs, is at a distance C from the axis 130 of between 115 mm and 145 mm.

(34) Finally, the means 74, 86, 70, 96 of axial retention of the blades 132, which will be subsequently described, are sufficiently effective so that unlike the fan of the prior art illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fan according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 3 is devoid of hooks for axial retention of the blades 132 arranged downstream from the blades 132. On the contrary, as can be seen, the low-pressure compressor 150 arranged downstream from the fan disc 56 abuts directly against the downstream ends of the blade roots 138 and the ribs 140 of the disc. Therefore, there is no longer any radial depth constraint of the ribs related to engagement of the downstream hooks.

(35) Consequently, the grooves 58 are radially shallower, with a depth D of between 18 mm and 22 mm, than the grooves adapted for installation of a hook for axial retention of the blades. The shims 142 used to keep the blade roots 138 radially abutting against the ribs 140 are also radially thinner. The ribs 140, thereby less elongated, are in this case sufficiently compact in order to resist deformations and breakage. This increase in resistance of the ribs 140 allows construction of the disc from a titanium alloy that is relatively light in comparison to an inconel alloy for example.

(36) Furthermore, considering the new weight distribution of the disc resulting from the change in height of the grooves, the inner wall of the disc 56 has been formed so as to have a balancing profile 152 of the disc 56 that is different in relation to that of the prior art having “leeks”. This profile 152 of the wall is of truncated cone shape flaring out in the downstream direction and is formed by reaming. Proportionally to the disc, this balancing profile 152 extends less than the “leeks” towards the inside of the turbomachine, up to a minimum radius E included within the context of the invention between 60 mm and 70 mm, which represents the inner limit of the disc. Consequently, this balancing profile 152 is positioned radially on the outside of the nut 224 for clamping the disc 56 to the drive shaft 208. This profile 152 therefore allows passage of bulkier tools in the space for upstream axial access located around the axis 130 of the disc 56 and essential for installing the fan.

(37) In the specific case of FIG. 4, the disc 56 is formed in one piece with the blades 132, wherein the blades extend from the outer surface 57 of the disc 56. Hence, there is no need to form means of axial securing of the blades. Specific mounting of the disc 56 on the drive shaft 208 using the nut 224 remains possible, as the balancing profile 152 can be formed in the same manner as in FIG. 3.

(38) Reference will now be made to FIGS. 5 to 9, which illustrate more specifically the means of axial retention of the blades, in the case described with reference to FIG. 3. The disc comprises an annular rim 60 devoid of balancing “leeks” and prolonged upstream by an annular portion comprising an annular recess 62 delimited between an upstream face of the rim and a radial edge 64 extending towards the outside. The upstream end of the annular portion comprises a collar 66 extending radially towards the inside at a distance from the edge 64 and comprising, regularly distributed over its entire circumference, axial holes 68 through which screws 70, 72 pass. The edge 64 is scalloped or castellated and comprises solid sections alternating with hollow sections.

(39) The fan rotor is equipped with means of axial retention of the blades on the disc in the upstream direction These means comprise a flange 74 installed in the annular recess 62 of the disc 56 and forming an axial abutment of the blade roots.

(40) The flange 74 comprises a substantially truncated cone-shaped wall 76 flaring out in the downstream direction, the thickness of which increases in the downstream direction. The flange 74 is delimited at its downstream end by a radial face 78 abutting against the blades. The downstream end of the flange 74 comprises an inner annular edge 80 which is scalloped or castellated and comprises solid sections alternating with hollow sections and has shapes substantially matching those of the edge 64 of the disc 56 to allow installation and removal of the flange 74 in the annular recess 62 by axial translation, rotation of the flange 74 in relation to the disc 56 and axial securing of the flange 74 in the recess 62 of the disc by abutment of the solid sections of the edge 80 of the flange against the solid sections of the edge 64 of the disc.

(41) The flange 74 finally comprises festoons 82 or hollow sections formed in alternation with solid sections 84 on its upstream edge.

(42) The flange 74 is secured against rotation by means of a ring 86 comprising a cylindrical section 88 delimited by inner and outer cylindrical faces. The outer face comprises protrusions 90 extending radially outwards and circumferentially along said outer surface of the cylindrical section 88 and inserted in the festoons 82 of the upstream edge of the flange 74, providing an abutment against the solid sections 84 of the upstream edge of the flange 74 to ensure locking against rotation. The upstream edge of the ring is connected to ears 92 extending radially inwards, formed with holes 94 through which screws pass. These ears are in upstream axial contact against the collar 66 of the disc 56 such that the holes 94 of the ears 92 are aligned with the holes 68 of the collar 66 and the cylindrical section 88 of the ring is in axial abutment from the outside against the collar 66 of the disc. The ring 86 may be executed in high alloy steel, in order to withstand being torn out.

(43) The flange 74 is thus secured against rotation by abutment of its solid sections 84 against the protrusions 90 of the ring.

(44) A cowling 96, made for example of aluminium and conical in shape, is fixed to the disc 12. For this purpose, the cowling 96 comprises, in its median section, an internal annular edge 98 in which axial holes 100 (through holes) are formed (FIG. 7), located opposite a hole 94 on two of the rings 86 aligned with certain holes 68 in the collar 66 of the disc 56. These holes 100 have screws 70 passing through, interacting with nuts 102 mounted against the downstream section of the collar 66 of the disc 56 and allowing joining together of the cowling 96, the ring 86 and the disc 56. The downstream section of the cowling 96 covers the ring 86 and the flange 74 such that the internal stream 26 defined by the inter-blade platforms extends in the axial prolongation of the downstream section of the cowling 96.

(45) As can be seen in FIG. 9, all the other holes 94 of the ring apart from one, positioned opposite other holes 68 in the collar 66 of the disc 56 have screws 72 passing through, interacting with nuts 104 and serving solely to fix the ring 86 on the disc 56. The heads of these screws are housed in blind holes 106 formed in the inner edge 98 of the cowling 96.

(46) The inner edge 98 of the cowling 96 also comprises a cylindrical neck collar 108 extending in the downstream direction, the end of which bears against the inner end of the collar 66 of the disc.

(47) The cowling 96 furthermore comprises radial threads 110 used to install balancing screws, as is familiar from the prior art. In order to guarantee the correct position of these screws, the position of the cowling 96 needs to be indexed in relation to the fan rotor. For this purpose, as illustrated in FIG. 8, an indexing pin 112 is installed in the last hole 94 of the ring aligned with a hole 68 in the collar 66 of the disc 56. The pin 112 comprises a head 116 accommodated in a blind hole 114 of the inner edge 98 of the cowling 96, wherein the diameter of the head 116 of the pin 112 is determined such that it cannot be inserted in another blind hole 106, provided to accommodate the heads of the screws 72.

(48) Reference will now be made to FIGS. 10 and 11, which represent the shims 142, wherein the latter have been adapted to the reduction in depth of the grooves 58. Each shim more specifically adopts the form of a two-sided plate 154, lying along the axis of the fan and placed against the bottom of one of the grooves 58. This shim is symmetrical in the three axial, radial and circumferential directions, which avoids any installation errors. Each side of the shim possesses its lateral edges 156, or circumferential edges, which are chamfered, wherein the chamfers 158 each form an angle of 10° with one side. The chamfers 158 of each radially opposite side 154 join at the lateral ends of the shim, forming the two lateral edges 156 of the shim. The junction angles between the sides 154 of the shim and the chamfers 158 are softened so as to exhibit a curvature radius of between 1.50 mm and 1.80 mm and more specifically of equal to 1.65 mm. The junction angles between the respective chamfers 158 forming the lateral edges 156 of the shim are softened so as to exhibit a curvature radius of between 0.45 mm and 0.75 mm and more specifically equal to 0.6 mm. Each shim 142 has a radial thickness of between 1 mm and 3 mm, more specifically equal to 2 mm and a lateral dimension of between 17.0 mm and 18.2 mm and more specifically equal to 17.6 mm.