Gearbox repair apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016305397-A1
Application number	US-201514687996-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 16, 2015
Priority date	Apr 16, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a gearbox repair apparatus for repairing a bore hole of a gearbox torque arm. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a mounting structure configured to mount to the torque arm. The mounting structure includes a through hole that aligns with the bore hole of the torque arm when mounted thereto. As such, when mounted to the torque arm, the mounting structure is configured to locate a boring bar at a center of the bore hole such that the boring bar is perpendicular to a face of the torque arm. Further, the mounting structure is configured to receive the boring bar through the aligned through hole and bore hole such that, when inserted therethrough, the boring bar is configured to machine and thus repair the bore hole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for repairing a bore hole of a gearbox torque arm, the apparatus comprising:
a mounting structure configured to mount to the torque arm, the mounting structure comprising a through hole that aligns with the bore hole of the torque arm when mounted thereto; wherein, when mounted to the torque arm, the mounting structure is configured to locate a boring bar at a center of the bore hole such that the boring bar is perpendicular to a face of the torque arm, and wherein the mounting structure is configured to receive the boring bar through the aligned through hole and bore hole such that, when inserted therethrough, the boring bar is configured to repair the bore hole.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure further comprises a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate, wherein the first and second mounting plates are configured to mount on opposites sides of the torque arm.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second mounting plates are mounted to opposite sides of the torque arm via at least one of one or more clamps or one or more fasteners.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second mounting plates are secured to each other when mounted to opposite sides of the torque arm via one or more connecting members.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of support members, wherein the plurality of support members further comprise a first set of support members mounted to the first mounting plate and a second set of support members mounted to the second mounting plate.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a first end plate and a second end plate, wherein the first end plate is mounted to the first set of support members and the second end plate is mounted to the second set of support members.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a first support bearing and a second support bearing configured with the first end plate and the second end plate, respectively.

8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising one or more connecting plates configured between the first end plate and the first set of support members and the second end plate and the second set of support members, respectively.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pulling device configured to remove a trunnion pin from the bore hole.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the pulling device is also configured to pull a trunnion pin into the repaired bore hole of the torque arm.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the boring bar is configured to repair the bore hole by machining the bore hole so as to increase a diameter of the bore hole.

12 . An apparatus for repairing a bore hole of a gearbox torque arm, the apparatus comprising:
a mounting structure comprising one or more mounting plates, the one or more mounting plates comprising corresponding through holes such that, when mounted to the torque arm, the corresponding through holes align with the bore hole of the torque arm, wherein, when mounted to the torque arm, the one or more mounting plates are configured to locate a boring bar at a center of the bore hole such that the boring bar is perpendicular to a face of the torque arm, and wherein the corresponding through holes of the one or more mounting plates receive the boring bar such that, when inserted therethrough, the boring bar repairs the bore hole.

13 . A method for repairing a bore hole of a gearbox torque arm, the method comprising:
removing a trunnion pin from the bore hole; aligning, via a repair apparatus, a boring bar at a center of the bore hole; inserting, via the repair apparatus, the boring bar through the bore hole such that the boring bar is perpendicular to a face of the torque arm; machining, via the boring bar, the bore hole so as to increase a diameter of the bore hole; and, inserting a trunnion pin into the repaired bore hole.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein aligning the boring bar at the center of the bore hole further comprises locating the boring bar on a support bearing of the mounting structure.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein inserting the trunnion pin into the repaired bore hole further comprises cooling the trunnion pin so as to shrink the pin, heating the trunnion such that the trunnion expands, and pulling, via a hydraulic pulling device, the trunnion pin into the repaired trunnion bore hole.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising restraining the gearbox torque arm, via a gearbox restraint device, during machining of the bore hole.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the repair apparatus further comprises a mounting structure, the mounting structure comprising a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate, wherein the first and second mounting plates are mounted on opposites sides of the torque arm of the gearbox.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the repair apparatus further comprises a plurality of support members, wherein the plurality of support members further comprise a first set of support members mounted to the first mounting plate and a second set of support members mounted to the second mounting plate.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the repair apparatus further comprises a first end plate and a second end plate, wherein the first end plate is mounted to the first set of support members and the second end plate is mounted to the second set of support members.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the repair apparatus further comprises one or more connecting plates configured between the first end plate and the first set of support members and the second end plate and the second set of support members, respectively.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Ohl Jr Richard Arland
• Thomas Gregory Clarence

Classifications

• F03D11/0075

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• B23B49/02

  Boring templates or bushings · CPC title

• F03D1/003 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F03D80/50 Primary

  Maintenance or repair · CPC title

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title