BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to rotational equipment and, more particularly, to sealing a joint between a rotor blade and a rotor disk.

2. Background Information

A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine may include a plurality of rotor blades arranged around a rotor disk. Each rotor blade may be mounted to the rotor disk by a mechanical joint such as, for example, a dovetail interface. While various types and configurations of rotor assemblies are known in the art, there is still room in the art for improvement. In particular, there is need in the art for reducing fluid leakage through mechanical joints between rotor blades and a rotor disk.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a rotor assembly is provided for a piece of rotational equipment. This rotor assembly includes a rotor disk, a rotor blade and a seal element. The rotor disk is configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The rotor disk extends axially along the rotational axis to a rotor disk end face. The rotor blade includes an attachment. The attachment attaches the rotor blade to the rotor disk. The seal element is configured to seal a gap between the rotor disk and the attachment. The seal element has a longitudinal centerline that extends along an interface between the rotor disk and the attachment at the rotor disk end face.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, another rotor assembly is provided for a piece of rotational equipment. This rotor assembly includes a rotor disk, a rotor blade and a seal element. The rotor disk is configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The rotor disk extends axially along the rotational axis to a rotor disk end face. The rotor blade includes an attachment. The attachment attaches the rotor blade to the rotor disk. The seal element is configured to seal a gap between the rotor disk and the attachment. The seal element is seated in a groove that extends axially partially into the rotor disk from the rotor disk end face. The groove extends within the rotor disk along an interface between the rotor disk and the attachment.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, still another rotor assembly is provided for a piece of rotational equipment. This rotor assembly includes a rotor disk, a rotor blade, a plate and a seal element. The rotor disk is configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The rotor disk extends axially along the rotational axis to a rotor disk end face. The rotor blade includes an attachment. The attachment attaches the rotor blade to the rotor disk. The plate is attached to the rotor disk at the rotor disk end face. The plate overlaps the attachment. The seal element is configured to seal a gap between the rotor disk and the attachment. The seal element is axially between and engaged with the attachment and the rotor disk.

The longitudinal centerline may follow a tortuous trajectory.

The seal element may be seated in a groove formed by at least the rotor disk and the attachment.

The groove may extend axially partially into the rotor disk from the rotor disk end face.

The rotor disk may include a slot surface that at least partially forms a slot in the rotor disk. The attachment may be seated within the slot. The groove may extend laterally partially into the rotor disk from the slot surface.

The rotor disk may include a slot surface that at least partially forms a slot in the rotor disk. The attachment may be seated within the slot. The groove may extend radially partially into the rotor disk from the slot surface.

The rotor disk may include a dovetail slot. The attachment may be configured as a dovetail attachment that is seated within the dovetail slot.

The rotor assembly may include a plate mounted to the attachment. The plate may overlap the attachment. The seal element may be compressed axially between the plate and the rotor disk.

The plate may be bonded to the attachment.

The rotor blade may also include a platform that extends laterally between a platform first edge and a platform second edge opposite the platform first edge. The plate may extend laterally between a plate first side and a plate second side opposite the plate second side. The plate first side may be laterally aligned with the platform first edge. In addition or alternatively, the plate second side may be laterally aligned with the platform second edge.

The rotor assembly may also include a second rotor blade, a second seal element and a second plate. The second rotor blade may include a second attachment. The second attachment may attach the second rotor blade to the rotor disk. The second rotor blade may be laterally adjacent the rotor blade. The second seal element may be configured to seal a second gap between the rotor disk and the second attachment. The second plate may be mounted to the second attachment. The second plate may overlap the second attachment and may be laterally adjacent the plate. The second seal element may be compressed axially between the second plate and the rotor disk.

The longitudinal centerline may follow a-shaped trajectory.

The seal element may be configured as or otherwise include a rope seal element.

The seal element may be configured as or otherwise include a compliant seal element.

The rotor blade may also include an airfoil.

The rotor assembly may also include a second rotor blade and a second seal element. The second rotor blade may include a second attachment. The second attachment may attach the second rotor blade to the rotor disk. The second rotor blade may be laterally adjacent the rotor blade. The second seal element may be configured to seal a second gap between the rotor disk and the second attachment. The second seal element may have a second longitudinal centerline that extends along an interface between the rotor disk and the second attachment at the rotor disk end face.

The rotor assembly may also include a second rotor blade. This second rotor blade may include a second attachment. This second attachment may attach the second rotor blade to the rotor disk. The second rotor blade may be laterally adjacent the rotor blade. The seal element may also be configured to seal a second gap between the rotor disk and the second attachment. The longitudinal centerline may extend along an interface between the rotor disk and the second attachment at the rotor disk end face.

The rotor blade may be configured as or otherwise include a compressor blade.

The present disclosure may include any one or more of the individual features disclosed above and/or below alone or in any combination thereof.

The foregoing features and the operation of the invention will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings.

