System and method for removing stator vanes from a casing of a rotary machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016158901-A1
Application number	US-201414558949-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 3, 2014
Priority date	Dec 3, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A stator vane removal system includes a reaction platform configured to couple between opposing sides of a slot defined in an inner surface of a casing of a rotary machine. At least one stator vane is retained in the slot. The reaction platform includes at least one wedge surface. The system also includes an actuator configured to couple to the reaction platform. The at least one wedge surface facilitates inducing a coupling force exerted by the reaction platform to the opposing sides of the slot when the actuator applies a pushing force to the at least one stator vane in the slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A stator vane removal system comprising:
a reaction platform configured to couple between opposing sides of a slot defined in an inner surface of a casing of a rotary machine, wherein at least one stator vane is retained in the slot, said reaction platform comprises at least one wedge surface; and an actuator configured to couple to said reaction platform, said at least one wedge surface facilitates inducing a coupling force exerted by said reaction platform to the opposing sides of the slot when said actuator applies a pushing force to the at least one stator vane in the slot.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said reaction platform comprises a block and a sleeve slidably coupled to said block.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein said block comprises a first bearing surface configured to couple to a first of the opposing sides of the slot, and said sleeve comprises a second bearing surface configured to couple to a second of the opposing sides of the slot.

4 . The system according to claim 3 , wherein said block further comprises a reaction surface configured to couple to said actuator, said reaction surface is generally perpendicular to said first bearing surface.

5 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein said at least one wedge surface includes a block wedge surface of said block and a sleeve wedge surface of said sleeve, said sleeve wedge surface is slidably coupled to said block wedge surface.

6 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein said block wedge surface faces obliquely toward said sleeve and faces obliquely away from said reaction surface.

7 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein said sleeve wedge surface is inclined oppositely from, and complementarily to, said block wedge surface.

8 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein said block further comprises a post, said post is received at least partially within a cavity defined by said sleeve.

9 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said reaction platform comprises a block and a pair of sleeves, each said sleeve is slidably coupled to one of a pair of opposing sides of said block.

10 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein a first of said pair of sleeves comprises a first bearing surface configured to couple to a first of the opposing sides of the slot, and a second of said pair of sleeves comprises a second bearing surface configured to couple to a second of the opposing sides of the slot.

11 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein said at least one wedge surface includes a pair of block wedge surfaces disposed on opposite sides of said block and a sleeve wedge surface of said sleeve, each said sleeve wedge surface is slidably coupled to one of said pair of block wedge surfaces.

12 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said actuator is configured to apply the pushing force to the at least one stator vane in a direction approximately tangential to the slot.

13 . A method of removing at least one stator vane from a slot defined in an inner surface of a casing of a rotary machine, said method comprising:
coupling a reaction platform between opposing sides of the slot, wherein the reaction platform comprises at least one wedge surface; coupling an actuator to the reaction platform; and applying a pushing force to the at least one stator vane using the actuator, wherein the at least one wedge surface induces a coupling force exerted by the reaction platform to the opposing sides of the slot when the actuator applies the pushing force.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the reaction platform comprises a block and a sleeve slidably coupled to the block, said coupling the reaction platform between the opposing sides of the slot comprises:
coupling a first bearing surface of the block to a first of the opposing sides of the slot, and coupling a second bearing surface of the sleeve to a second of the opposing sides of the slot.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein said coupling the first bearing surface comprises coupling the first bearing surface to a lip of the first of the opposing sides of the slot, and said coupling the second bearing surface comprises coupling the second bearing surface to a lip of the second of the opposing sides of the slot.

16 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the reaction platform comprises a block and a sleeve slidably coupled to the block, said coupling the actuator to the reaction platform comprises coupling the actuator to a reaction surface of the block.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one wedge surface includes a block wedge surface of the block and a sleeve wedge surface of the sleeve, said coupling the reaction platform between the opposing sides of the slot comprises sliding the sleeve wedge surface along the block wedge surface in a direction generally towards the reaction surface.

18 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the reaction platform comprises a block and a pair of sleeves, each sleeve is slidably coupled to one of a pair of opposing sides of the block, said coupling the reaction platform between the opposing sides of the slot comprises:
coupling a first bearing surface of a first of the pair of sleeves to a first of the opposing sides of the slot, and coupling a second bearing surface of a second of the pair of sleeves to a second of the opposing sides of the slot.

19 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
uncoupling the reaction platform from the slot; repositioning the reaction platform closer to the at least one stator vane; and re-coupling the reaction platform between the opposing sides of the slot to improve an effectiveness of the actuator.

20 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein said applying the pushing force to the at least one stator vane comprises applying the pushing force in a direction approximately tangential to the slot.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Oden Joshua Michael
• Holmes James Bradford

Classifications

• F01D9/02

  Nozzles; Nozzle boxes; Stator blades; Guide conduits {, e.g. individual nozzles (nozzle boxes F01D9/047)} · CPC title

• F01D9/042 Primary

  fixing blades to stators (fixing stator-rings in the casing or to each other F01D25/246) · CPC title

• B23P19/04

  for assembling or disassembling parts · CPC title

• F01D25/285

  Temporary support structures, e.g. for testing, assembling, installing, repairing; Assembly methods using such structures · CPC title

• B25B27/00

  Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for (machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects B23P19/00) · CPC title