Tool and method for installing turbomachine component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10273814-B2
Application number	US-201614988223-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2016
Priority date	Jan 5, 2016
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

A tool for installing a turbomachine component in a first dovetail slot of a first component mount is provided. The tool may include a tool mount having a body for selective fixing in a second dovetail slot of a second component mount adjacent to the first component mount. The tool may also include a lever arm including a first portion, an intermediate pivot for pivotally engaging the tool mount, and a second portion for engaging the turbine component. Actuating the lever arm against the tool mount causes the second portion of the lever arm to install the turbomachine component into the first dovetail slot of the first component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for installing a turbomachine component in a first dovetail slot of a first component mount, the tool comprising:
a tool mount having a body for selective fixing in a second dovetail slot of a second component mount adjacent to the first component mount; and
a lever arm including:
a first portion,
a second portion positioned opposite the first portion, the second portion angled relative to the first portion,

a third portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion angled relative to both the first portion and the second portion, and
an intermediate pivot positioned on the third portion, adjacent the first portion, the intermediate pivot for pivotally engaging the tool mount,
wherein actuating the lever arm against the tool mount causes the second portion of the lever arm to engage and install the turbomachine component into the first dovetail slot of the first component mount.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the body has a cross-section configured to mate with at least a portion of the second dovetail slot.

3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the body has an at least partially hollow interior.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool mount further includes a spring-loaded lock configured to engage a portion of an interior surface of the second dovetail slot to temporarily fix a position of the tool mount to the second dovetail slot.

5. The tool of claim 4 , wherein the spring-loaded lock includes:
an actuator slidably coupled to the body;
a lock member slidably positioned in the body and coupled to the actuator; and
a spring biasing the actuator and the lock member to a locked position,
wherein the lock member is configured to:
engage the portion of the interior surface of the second dovetail slot and fixedly positions the body relative to the second dovetail slot in a locked position, and
disengage from the portion against the bias of the spring, allowing removal of the body from the second dovetail slot in an unlocked position.

6. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool mount includes a handle coupled to the body.

7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes a pusher member configured to engage an axial face of the turbomachine component.

8. The tool of claim 7 , wherein the pusher member has a dimension configured to prevent movement of the pusher member into the first dovetail slot.

9. The tool of claim 7 , wherein the pusher member is pivotally coupled to the lever arm.

10. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes at least one of a handle for engaging by a user and a hammer block.

11. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate pivot includes a transverse pin extending from the lever arm, and the tool mount includes a pin seat in the body to pivotally receive the transverse pin.

12. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the turbomachine component includes a near flow path seal (NFPS) member and the first component mount includes a rotor wheel.

13. A tool for installing a near flow path seal (NFPS) member in a first dovetail slot of a first rotor wheel, the tool comprising:
a tool mount having a body for selective fixing in a second dovetail slot of a second rotor wheel adjacent to the first rotor wheel; and
a lever arm including:
a first portion,
a second portion positioned opposite the first portion, the second portion angled relative to the first portion,
a third portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion angled relative to both the first portion and the second portion, and
an intermediate pivot positioned on the third portion, adjacent the first portion, the intermediate pivot for pivotally engaging the tool mount,

wherein actuating the lever arm against the tool mount causes the second portion of the lever arm to engage and install the NFPS member into the first dovetail slot of the first rotor wheel.

14. The tool of claim 13 , wherein the tool mount further includes a spring-loaded lock configured to engage a portion of an interior surface of the second dovetail slot to temporarily fix a position of the tool mount to the second dovetail slot.

15. The tool of claim 13 , wherein the second portion includes a pusher member configured to engage an axial face of the NFPS member,
wherein the pusher member has a dimension configured to prevent movement of the pusher member into the first dovetail slot, and is pivotally coupled to the lever arm.

16. The tool of claim 13 , wherein the intermediate pivot includes a transverse pin extending from the lever arm, and the tool mount includes a pin seat in the body to pivotally receive the transverse pin.

17. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the spring-loaded lock includes:
an actuator slidably coupled to the body;
a lock member slidably positioned in the body and coupled to the actuator; and
a spring biasing the actuator and the lock member to a locked position,
wherein the lock member is configured to:
engage the portion of the interior surface of the second dovetail slot and fixedly positions the body relative to the second dovetail slot in a locked position, and

disengage from the portion against the bias of the spring, allowing removal of the body from the second dovetail slot in an unlocked position.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Kolvick Sandra Beverly
• Guillard Jean-Philippe
• Holmes James Bradford
• Sullivan Wayne David

Classifications

• Y02T50/671

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F01D5/3007 Primary

  of axial insertion type · CPC title

• B23P19/04

  for assembling or disassembling parts · CPC title

• F01D11/008

  by spacer elements between the blades, e.g. independent interblade platforms · CPC title

• F05D2230/68

  using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding · CPC title