Turbine Rotor and Blade Assembly with Blind Holes

Abstract

The present application provides a turbine rotor and blade assembly for a steam turbine. The turbine rotor and blade assembly may include a rotor, a number of buckets positioned about the rotor, a locking blade positioned about the rotor, and a blind hole positioned about the rotor adjacent to the locking blade.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A turbine rotor and blade assembly for a steam turbine, comprising:
 a rotor;   a plurality of buckets positioned about the rotor;   a locking blade positioned about the rotor; and   a blind hole positioned about the rotor adjacent to the locking blade.   
     
     
         2 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking blade comprises a base. 
     
     
         3 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more blade retention holes extending into the rotor and the base of the locking blade. 
     
     
         4 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a blade retention screw extending into each blade retention hole so as to secure the locking blade to the rotor. 
     
     
         5 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the blind hole and the one or more blade retention holes comprise a similar depth. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor comprises a dovetail slot and wherein the plurality of buckets is positioned therein. 
     
     
         7 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of buckets comprises a dovetail for mating with the dovetail slot. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of buckets comprises a blade extending from the dovetail. 
     
     
         9 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of blind holes. 
     
     
         10 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a first blind hole on a first axial side of the locking blade and a second blind hole on a second axial side of the locking blade. 
     
     
         11 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a first blind hole on a first radial side of the locking blade and a second blind hole on a second radial side of the locking blade. 
     
     
         12 . A turbine rotor and blade assembly for a steam turbine, comprising:
 a rotor;   a plurality of buckets positioned about the rotor;   a locking blade positioned about the rotor;   a locking blade retention screw securing the locking blade to the rotor; and   a blind hole positioned about the rotor adjacent to the locking blade.   
     
     
         13 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the locking blade comprises a base and wherein the locking blade retention screw extends into the base. 
     
     
         14 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more blade retention holes extending into the rotor and the base of the locking blade for the blade retention screw. 
     
     
         15 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the blind hole and the one or more blade retention holes comprise a similar depth. 
     
     
         16 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the rotor comprises a dovetail slot and wherein the plurality of buckets is positioned therein. 
     
     
         17 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of blind holes. 
     
     
         18 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a first blind hole on a first axial side of the locking blade and a second blind hole on a second axial side of the locking blade. 
     
     
         19 . The turbine rotor and blade assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a first blind hole on a first radial side of the locking blade and a second blind hole on a second radial side of the locking blade. 
     
     
         20 . A steam turbine, comprising:
 a rotor;   a plurality of buckets positioned about the rotor;   a locking blade positioned about the rotor;   a locking blade retention hole positioned about the locking blade;   a locking blade retention screw positioned in the locking blade retention hole to secure the locking blade to the rotor; and   one or more blind holes positioned about the rotor adjacent to the locking blade.