Tool and method for installing turbomachine component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191380-A1
Application number	US-201614988223-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 5, 2016
Priority date	Jan 5, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

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, an intermediate pivot for pivotally engaging the tool mount, and a second portion for engaging the turbine component, wherein 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 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, in the locked position, the lock member engages the portion of the interior surface of the second dovetail slot and fixedly positions the body relative to the second dovetail slot, and wherein the actuator is movable to an unlocked position in which the lock member is disengaged from the portion against the bias of the spring, allowing removal of the body from the second dovetail slot.

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 first portion is angled relative to the second portion.

8 . The tool of claim 7 , wherein the intermediate pivot is positioned on a third portion intermediate the first and second portions and angled relative to both.

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

10 . The tool of claim 9 , wherein the pusher member has a dimension configured to prevent movement of the pusher member into the first dovetail slot.

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

12 . 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.

13 . 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.

14 . 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.

15 . 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, an intermediate pivot for pivotally engaging the tool mount, and a second portion for engaging the turbine component, wherein actuating the lever arm against the tool mount causes the second portion of the lever arm to install the NFPS member into the first dovetail slot of the first rotor wheel.

16 . The tool of claim 15 , 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.

17 . The tool of claim 15 , wherein the first portion is angled relative to the second portion, and the lever arm further includes a third portion intermediate the first and second portions and angled relative to both, the intermediate pivot located on the third portion.

18 . The tool of claim 15 , wherein the second portion includes a pusher member configured to engage an axial face of the turbine component,
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.

19 . The tool of claim 15 , 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.

20 . A method of installing a turbomachine component in a first dovetail slot of a first component mount, the method comprising:
partially positioning the turbomachine component in the first dovetail slot; affixing a tool mount having a body in a second dovetail slot of a second component mount adjacent to the first component mount; pivotally engaging a lever arm with the tool mount, the lever arm including a first portion, an intermediate pivot pivotally engaging the tool mount, and a second portion engaging the turbine component; and actuating the lever arm against the tool mount causing the second portion of the lever arm to install the turbomachine component into the first dovetail slot of the first component mount.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F01D5/02

  Blade-carrying members, e.g. rotors (rotors of non-bladed type F01D1/34; stators F01D9/00 {; selecting particular materials F01D5/28}) · CPC title

• F05D2220/32

  in gas turbines · CPC title

• B23P15/04

  turbine or like blades from several pieces · CPC title

• F05D2230/60

  Assembly methods · CPC title

• F01D11/001

  for sealing space between stator blade and rotor · CPC title