초록 ▼

The present invention includes a rotor assembly comprising a shaft, a first component coaxially attached to the shaft for performing a first function in the rotor assembly and acting as a first counterbalance weight, and a second component coaxially attached to the shaft for performing a second func

The present invention includes a rotor assembly comprising a shaft, a first component coaxially attached to the shaft for performing a first function in the rotor assembly and acting as a first counterbalance weight, and a second component coaxially attached to the shaft for performing a second function in the rotor assembly and acting as a second counterbalance weight, whereby the first and second counterbalance weights combine to balance the rotor assembly. The present invention also includes a method of balancing a rotor assembly having a shaft and a residual imbalance, the method comprising the steps of coaxially attaching a first component performing a first function and having a first counterbalance weight integral therewith onto the shaft, and coaxially attaching a second component performing a second function and having a second counterbalance weight integral therewith onto the shaft, so that the first and second components counter the residual imbalance.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for balancing a rotor assembly comprising:a first counterbalance weight for providing a first imbalance about a rotor assembly shaft, the first counterbalance weight being integral with a first operational component of the rotor assembly; anda second counterbalance weight for providing a

1. A device for balancing a rotor assembly comprising:a first counterbalance weight for providing a first imbalance about a rotor assembly shaft, the first counterbalance weight being integral with a first operational component of the rotor assembly; anda second counterbalance weight for providing a second imbalance about the rotor assembly shaft, the second counterbalance means being integral with a second operational component of the rotor assembly;whereby the first and second operational components can be oriented both relative to one another and with respect to the rotor assembly shaft so that the first and second counterbalance means combine to effectively balance the rotor assembly.2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first operational component is an oil scoop adapted to deliver lubricant to other components of the rotor assembly.3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the first counterbalance weight integral with the oil scoop is a flange at a periphery thereof.4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second operational component is a seal runner adapted to seal a lubricant-receiving cavity of the rotor assembly.5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the second counterbalance weight integral with the seal runner is a flange at a periphery thereof.6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first operational component is an oil scoop and the second operational component is a seal runner.7. The device according to claim 1, the device further comprising a first mark on the first operational component, a second mark on the second operational component, and a third mark on the shaft, the first, second and third marks being used as references to orient the first and second annular operational components.8. A method of balancing a rotor assembly having a shaft and a residual imbalance about the shaft observed before an installation of a first annular operational component performing a first function and of a second annular operational component performing a second function, the method comprising the steps of:a) coaxially attaching the first annular operational component onto the shaft so that a first counterbalance weight integral with the first annular operational component counters a portion of the residual imbalance to obtain a reduced residual imbalance; andb) coaxially attaching the second annular operational component onto the shaft so that a second counterbalance weight integral with the second annular operational component counters the reduced residual imbalance.9. The method of balancing a rotor assembly according to claim 8, wherein before step a) the method further comprises a step of calculating a relative angular position between the first and second counterbalance weights necessary to produce a balancing force required to counter the residual imbalance, and during steps a) and b), the first and second annular operational components are positioned such that the first and second counterbalance weights are at the relative angular position calculated.10. The method of balancing a rotor assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first counterbalance weight comprises a first mark indicating a center of mass thereof, and the second counterbalance weight comprises a second mark indicating a center of mass thereof, and during steps a) and b), the first and second annular operational components are positioned such that the first and second marks are at the relative angular position calculated.11. The method of balancing a rotor assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first and second counterbalance weights have a similar mass, before step a) the method further comprises a step of indicating a third mark on the shaft at a point diametrically opposite of a point of maximum imbalance thereof, and during steps a) and b) the first and second annular operational components are positioned such as to have the third mark angularly centered between the first and second marks.12. The method of balancing a rotor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first annular operational component is an oil scoop and the first function is the delivery of lubricant to other components of the rotor assembly.13. The method of balancing a rotor assembly according to claim 12, wherein the first counterbalance weight integral with the oil scoop is a flange at a periphery thereof.14. The method of balancing a rotor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the second annular operational component is a seal runner and the second function is the sealing of a lubricant-receiving cavity of the rotor assembly.15. The method of balancing a rotor assembly according to claim 14, wherein the second counterbalance weight integral with the seal runner is a flange at a periphery thereof.16. The method of balancing a rotor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first annular operational component is an oil scoop and the second annular operational component is a seal runner.17. The method of balancing a rotor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the method further comprises at least one of during step a) the first annular operational component is press fit onto the shaft and during step b) the second annular operational component is press fit onto the shaft.18. A method of providing and balancing a rotor assembly, the method comprising the steps of:a) providing a rotor assembly having at least a rotating shaft and first and second operational components coaxially rotatable with the shaft, the first operational component being provided with a first intentional imbalance about the shaft, and the second operational component being provided with a second intentional imbalance about the shaft;b) assembling the rotor assembly; andc) adjusting an angular position of the first and second operational components relative to one another to thereby rotationally balance the rotor assembly about the shaft.19. The method according to claim 18, wherein before step c) an imbalance of the rotor assembly about the rotating shaft is measured and the angular position of step c) is chosen such as to produce a balancing force required to counter the imbalance of the rotor assembly.20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the first intentional imbalance comprises a first mark indicating a center of mass thereof, the second intentional imbalance comprises a second mark indicating a center of mass thereof, and during step c) the first and second operational components are positioned such that the first and second marks are at the relative angular position chosen.21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the first and second intentional imbalances have a similar mass, before step c) a third mark is indicated on the rotating shaft at a point diametrically opposite of a point of maximum imbalance thereof, and during step c) the first and second operational components are positioned such as to have the third mark angularly centered between the first and second marks.22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the first operational component is an oil scoop adapted to deliver lubricant to other components of the rotor assembly.23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the first intentional imbalance is a flange at a periphery of the oil scoop.24. The method according to claim 18, wherein the second operational component is a seal runner adapted to seal a lubricant-receiving cavity of the rotor assembly.25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the second intentional imbalance is a flange at a periphery of the seal runner.26. The method of balancing a rotor assembly according to claim 18, wherein the first operational component is an oil scoop and the second operational component is a seal runner.