Sealing and blade retaining arrangement for a turbomachine rotor

A turbomachine rotor 6 having axial grooves in which the roots (8) of the blades 9 are received is provided with an annular side plate 1 masking the ends of the axial grooves, and a retainer ring 2 disposed between the side plate and radial flanges 16 carried by the blades. Interengaging inclined surfaces 23 and 18 on the radial flanges 16 and retainer ring 2 cause the ring 2 to press axially against the side plate 1 in response to the centrifugal forces acting on the ring 2, and stop means 15 provided on the blades or rotor 6 act to prevent centrifugal movement of the side plate 1. Alternatively, (Fig 5) the interengaging inclined surfaces may be provided on the rotor and side plate so that the side plate is pressed against the retainer ring, and stop means on the side plate and retainer ring limit centrifugal movement of the retainer ring. The arrangements avoid compression of the sealing parts at the bottoms of the grooves thereby providing improved wear resistance.