BALANCE ASSEMBLY FOR ROTARY TURBINE COMPONENT AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING AND/OR ADJUSTING BALANCE WEIGHT

摘要

A balance assembly (58) for rotary turbine components, such as turbine rotors(14) ,as well as method for installing and/or adjusting at least one balance weight(66) inthe balance assembly (58) and turbine section (10) having this balanceassembly (58)and a radially extending access pathway (300, 304, 308, 312) for accessingthisbalance assembly(58). The balance assembly (58) comprises; (a) a balanceweightretention member (62) having a circumferential periphery (92) and a slot (90)formedtherein along at least a portion thereof, the slot (90) having: (1) a bottomsurface (94);(2) an opening (98); and (3) a pair of spaced apart and opposed side walls(102, 106)connecting the bottom surface (94) and the opening (98), the side walls (102,106)sloping inwardly between the bottom surface (94) and the opening (98) todefine abalance weight engaging section (114); (b) at least one balance weight (66)configured and sized to be insertable through the opening (98) of the slot(90) and tobe positionable for movement within the slot (90) and having a pair of spacedapartgenerally inwardly sloping shoulder surfaces (152, 156) capable of engagingthe sidewalls (102, 106) of the slot (90) at the balance weight engaging section(114); and (c)a balance weight securing member (70) associated with the at least one balanceweight (66) that can be actuated to: (1) move the at least one balance weight(66)away from the bottom surface (94) so that the shoulder surfaces (152, 156)engage theside walls (102, 106) at the balance weight engaging section (114) such thatthe atleast one balance weight (66) is in a secured position within the slot (90);or (2) movethe at least one balance weight (66) towards the bottom surface (94) so thattheshoulder surfaces (152, 156) do not engage the side walls (102, 106) at thebalanceweight engaging section (114) such that the at least one balance weight (66)is in aunsecured position within the slot (90).