GB700768A - Improvements in or relating to shaft couplings - Google Patents

Abstract

700,768. Gas turbine plant. BRISTOL AEROPLANE CO., Ltd. Jan. 29, 1952 [Feb. 5, 1951 ; May 4, 1951 ], Nos. 2841/51 and 10582/51. Class 110 (3) [Also in Group XXIV] A coupling, especially for coupling a gas turbine shaft 28 to a compressor shaft 24 and permitting slight misalignment thereof, comprises interengaging teeth 50 on members 47, 49 fixed to the shaft ends. A sleeve 30 with spherical convex surfaces 36 fixed to a spigot 29 on the shaft 24 engages a sleeve 33 with spherical concave surfaces 37 fixed within the end of the shaft 28. The sleeves 30, 33 are engaged by a relative axial movement followed by a relative rotary movement. Such rotary movement is transmitted to the sleeve 33 by a tubular member 40 splined at one end 39 to an extension 38 of the member 33 and having at the other end a flange 41 with lugs 42 engaging notches 43. in the end of the shaft 28. When the lues 42 and notches 43 are engaged the spherical members 30, 33 are locked together. To free the members 30, 33 the turbine discs 27 and an end cap 44 on the end of the shaft 28 are removed, the lugs 42 are displaced axiallv from the notches 43 and the tubular member 40 is turned by engaging the lugs 42 with a suitable tool. To ensure correct assembly of the coup.... members 47, 49, some of the interengaging coupling teeth 51 differ in size from the remaining teeth 50 so that the coupling members are engageable in only one position. The fixing splines between the members 47, 49, 38 and the members 24, 28, 38, respectively, may be similarly arranged. Instead of releasing the coupling from the end of the turbine shaft, as shown, it may be released from the end of the compressor shaft. The invention may be applied to a gas turbine engine having high and low pressure compressors and high and low pressure turbines. The high pressure compressor and turbine shafts are interconnected by teeth similar to the teeth 50 and surround the tubular low pressure compressor and turbine shafts which are similarly connected and carry the spherically jointed members. Means are provided for detaching the various parts of the engine to facilitate uncoupling of the shafts.