Transport and hoisting structure for a turbomachine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017166331-A1
Application number	US-201515115837-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 2, 2015
Priority date	Feb 3, 2014
Publication date	Jun 15, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Structure ( 310 ) for transporting and hoisting a turbomachine ( 312 ), said structure comprising a hoisting interface ( 328 ) arranged on a rigid hoisting arm ( 318 ) which extends over the turbomachine and is connected to a rigid transport arm ( 316 ) which extends over a lateral side of the turbomachine, this transport arm being connected to at least two engine mounts ( 340 ) solid with the turbomachine. The transport arm ( 316 ), or one of the engine mounts connected to this transport arm, comprises a transport interface ( 324 ) that can be supported by a bearing element ( 332 ) of a truck ( 326 ) used for transporting the turbomachine.

First claim

1 . A transport and hoisting structure, installed on a turbine engine or on a turbine engine module, which has a central longitudinal axis (A) forming an angle of between 0° and 10° with respect to the horizontal, the structure comprising:
at least two transport interfaces rigidly connected to the turbine engine, situated on either side of the turbine engine in relation to a vertical midplane (P) comprising said central longitudinal axis (A), and each able to be supported removably by a carrier element of a carriage transporting the turbine engine,
at least one hoisting interface rigidly connected to the turbine engine, able to be connected to a lifting member intended to hoist the turbine engine and to release it from the transport carriage, and
engine mounts secured to the turbine engine,
wherein said at least one hoisting interface is disposed on a rigid hoisting arm that extends at least partly above the turbine engine and passes through said vertical midplane (P), said hoisting arm being connected to a rigid transport arm, said transport arm being situated on only one side of the turbine engine in relation to the vertical midplane (P) and being connected to at least two of said engine mounts,
and in that the transport arm or one of the engine mounts connected to this transport arm comprises one of said at least two transport interfaces.

2 . A structure according to claim 1 , in which the hoisting arm is formed in a single piece with the transport arm, or the hoisting arm is fixed, preferably removably, to the transport arm.

3 . A structure according to claim 1 , in which the transport arm comprises a main rectilinear portion connected to a bottom rectilinear portion that forms an angle with the main rectilinear portion and is connected to a bottom engine mount secured to the turbine engine.

4 . A structure according to claim 3 , in which the transport arm comprises a top rectilinear portion that forms an angle with the main rectilinear portion and is connected to a top engine mount secured to the turbine engine.

5 . A structure according to claim 1 , in which the engine mounts, the transport interfaces and said at least one hoisting interface are situated substantially in the same transverse plane perpendicular to the vertical midplane (P).

6 . A structure according to claim 1 , in which at least one first hoisting interface is disposed on the hoisting arm and at least one second hoisting interface is fixed to the turbine engine while being spaced apart axially from the first hoisting interface, and the structure further comprises a connection member that connects together the first and second hoisting interfaces as well as an attachment member mounted on said connection member, said attachment member being able to be connected to the lifting member.

7 . A structure according to claim 6 , in which the connection member comprises a guide rail on which the attachment member is able to move in translation.

8 . A transport and hoisting kit intended for installation on a turbine engine or a turbine engine module in order to form a transport and hoisting structure as described above,
the kit comprising at least two rigid transport arms that are each connected or are able to be connected to at least two engine mounts, each transport arm or one of the engine mounts connected to each transport arm comprising a transport interface able to be supported by a carrier element of a transport carriage, one of the two transport arms further being connected to a rigid hoisting arm that comprises a hoisting interface able to be connected to a lifting member intended to hoist the turbine engine.

9 . A kit according to claim 8 , in which the hoisting arm is formed in a single piece with the transport arm to which it is connected, or the hoisting arm is fixed, preferably removably, to the transport arm to which it is connected.

10 . A kit according to claim 8 , in which the two transport arms are identical.

11 . A kit according to claim 8 , in which each transport arm comprises a main rectilinear portion extended by a bottom rectilinear portion that forms an angle with the main rectilinear portion and is connected or is able to be connected to an engine mount.

12 . A kit according to claim 11 , in which each transport arm comprises a top rectilinear portion connected to the main rectilinear portion, this top rectilinear portion forming an angle with the main rectilinear portion and being connected or able to be connected to an engine mount.

13 . A kit according to claim 8 , further comprising a second hoisting interface able to be fixed to the turbine engine, a connection member able to connect together the first and second hoisting interfaces, as well as an attachment member mounted on said connection member, said attachment member being able to be connected to a lifting member.

14 . A rigid transport arm intended for a transport and hoisting kit according to claim 8 , this arm comprising a main rectilinear portion and two rectilinear portions, respectively bottom and top, that extend on the same side of the main rectilinear portion and each form an angle with this main part, each of these bottom and top rectilinear portions being connected or able to be connected to an engine mount, the main portion, the bottom portion or the engine mount connected to this bottom portion comprising a transport interface able to be supported by a carrier element of a transport carriage.

15 . A method for transporting and hoisting a turbine engine or a turbine engine module, in order to install it on either of the two lateral sides of the fuselage of an aircraft, the turbine engine comprising bosses for fixing at least four engine mounts that are symmetrical in pairs with respect to a vertical midplane (P) comprising a central longitudinal axis (A) of the turbine engine,
the method comprising the steps consisting of:
a) procuring a transport and hoisting kit according to claim 8 ,
b1) fixing the engine mounts to the turbine engine fixing means, b2) connecting a first one of the two rigid transport arms of the kit to two engine mounts situated or intended to be situated on the same first side of the vertical midplane (P), the rigid hoisting arm being already connected or intended to be connected to said first rigid transport arm, and
b3) connecting the second one of the two rigid transport arms of the kit to two engine mounts situated or intended to be situated on the same second side of the vertical midplane (P), step b1) being performed before or after steps b2) and b3),
c) placing the turbine engine on a transport carriage supporting the transport interface of each of the two transport arms by a carrier element of the transport carriage, and transporting the carriage as far as a location from which the turbine engine is to be hoisted,
d) connecting a lifting member to the hoisting interface of the hoisting arm, and hoisting the turbine engine in order to release it from the transport carriage,
e) removing from the turbine engine the second rigid transport arm so as to make available the corresponding bosses on the turbine engine or the two engine mounts fixed to these bosses, and
f) hoisting the turbine engine by means of said lifting member, so that the bosses or engine mounts available are facing the lateral side of the aircraft fuselage on which the turbine engine is to be installed.

Assignees

• Safran Aircraft Engines

Inventors

• Kohn Thierry
• Baucher Stephane
• Cesar Damien
• Dervaux Alexandre
• Dubreucq Franck
• Mangin Thibaud

Classifications

• B66C1/107

  for lifting engines · CPC title

• B65D19/44

  Elements or devices for locating articles on platforms · CPC title

• B65D85/68

  for machines, engines or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form · CPC title

• F05D2230/68

  using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding · CPC title

• F01D25/285

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