Turbomachine coupling assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10837645-B2
Application number	US-201715493356-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2017
Priority date	Apr 21, 2017
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a coupling assembly for a turbomachine. The coupling assembly includes a liner and a sleeve at least partially positioned circumferentially around the liner. A frame is positioned between the liner and the sleeve. The frame includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a base wall extending from the first side wall to the second side wall. A block is positioned between the liner and the sleeve and is movable relative to the frame to permit the block to move toward and away from the base wall. Moving the block away from the base wall causes the block to exert an inward force on the liner and the base wall to exert an outward force on the sleeve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling assembly for a turbomachine, the turbomachine defining an axial centerline and a radial direction extending perpendicularly to the axial centerline, the coupling assembly comprising:
a liner;
a sleeve at least partially positioned circumferentially around the liner;
a frame positioned between the liner and the sleeve, the frame including a first side wall, a second side wall, and a base wall extending from the first side wall to the second side wall; and
a block positioned between the liner and the sleeve, the block being movable in the radial direction relative to the frame to permit the block to move toward and away from the base wall in the radial direction;
wherein moving the block away from the base wall in the radial direction causes the block to contact the liner and to exert an inward force on the liner and the base wall to contact the sleeve and to exert an outward force on the sleeve.

2. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a threaded member that threadingly engages the block via a threaded aperture defined by the block to move the block toward or away from the base wall.

3. The coupling assembly of claim 2 , wherein the threaded member is a jack bolt.

4. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base wall and the block comprise arcuate surfaces.

5. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base wall and the block each comprise a friction material.

6. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the block comprises a projection received by an aperture or dimple defined by the liner.

7. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base wall comprises a projection received by an aperture or dimple defined by the sleeve.

8. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each define elongated slots extending therethrough for receiving shafts extending outward from the block.

9. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frame has a U-shape.

10. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein moving the block toward the base wall releases the inward force exerted on the liner by the block and the outward force exerted on the sleeve by the base wall.

11. A turbomachine defining an axial centerline and a radial direction extending perpendicularly to the axial centerline, the turbomachine comprising:
a combustion liner having an outer surface;
an outer sleeve at least partially positioned circumferentially around the combustion liner; and
a plurality of coupling tools for coupling the combustion liner and the outer sleeve, each coupling tool comprising:
a frame positioned between the combustion liner and the outer sleeve, the frame including a first side wall, a second side wall, and a base wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein the second side wall extends radially inward from the outer surface of the combustion liner; and
a block positioned between the combustion liner and the outer sleeve, the block being movable in the radial direction relative to the frame to permit the block to move toward and away from the base wall in the radial direction;
wherein moving the block away from the base wall in the radial direction causes the block to contact the combustion liner and to exert an inward force on the combustion liner and the base wall to contact the outer sleeve and to exert an outward force on the outer sleeve.

12. The turbomachine of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of coupling tools are axisymmetrically arranged about a centerline of the combustion liner and the outer sleeve.

13. The turbomachine of claim 11 , further comprising:
a threaded member that threadingly engages the block via a threaded aperture defined by the block to move the block toward or away from the base wall.

14. The turbomachine of claim 11 , wherein the base wall and the block comprise arcuate surfaces.

15. The turbomachine of claim 11 , wherein the base wall and the block each comprise a friction material.

16. The turbomachine of claim 11 , wherein the block comprises a projection received by an aperture or dimple defined by the combustion liner.

17. The turbomachine of claim 11 , wherein the base wall comprises a projection received by an aperture or dimple defined by the outer sleeve.

18. The turbomachine of claim 11 , wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each define elongated slots extending therethrough for receiving shafts extending outward from the block.

19. The turbomachine of claim 11 , wherein moving the block toward the base wall releases the inward force exerted on the combustion liner by the block and the outward force exerted on the outer sleeve by the base wall.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Merlau Thomas Michael
• Becker Joseph Daniel
• Hanson Stuart Craig

Classifications

• B25B5/166

  Slideways; Guiding and/or blocking means for jaws thereon · CPC title

• B66F3/08

  screw operated (B66F3/44 takes precedence; gearings F16H) · CPC title

• F05D2260/02

  Transport and handling during maintenance and repair · CPC title

• B25B5/003

  Combinations of clamps · CPC title

• B25B5/147

  for pipes · CPC title