Rotor thrust balancing apparatus and method

(19)

(11)

EP 1 793 081 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	24.10.2007 Bulletin 2007/43

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	06.06.2007 Bulletin 2007/23

(21)	Application number: 06125145.0

(22)	Date of filing: 30.11.2006

(51)

International Patent Classification (IPC):

F01D 3/04^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL BA HR MK YU

(30)

Priority:

30.11.2005 US 290114

(71)	Applicant: General Electric Company
	Schenectady, NY 12345 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Ansari, Amid Mason, OH 45040 (US) Chouinard, Emil Nelson Mason, OH 45040 (US) Stiftar, Edward Joseph West Chester, OH 45069 (US)

(74)	Representative: Illingworth-Law, William Illingworth
	GE International Inc. London Patent Operation 15 John Adam Street London WC2N 6LU London WC2N 6LU (GB)

(54)	Rotor thrust balancing apparatus and method

(57) Apparatus and method of balancing thrust bearing load on a rotor thrust bearing (40) employ a first thrust balance piston cavity for exerting an aft directed thrust balancing force and a second balance piston cavity (42) for exerting an independently controlled forward directed thrust balancing force to allow flexible and wide range balancing of thrust load on the rotor thrust bearing (40).

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