Balance weight installation system and related method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9334737-B2
Application number	US-201213586165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2012
Priority date	Aug 15, 2012
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices, adapted to ease installation of balance weights about a turbine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a device includes: a base including a hollow feature and an operative tip configured to connect to a balance weight; and an inner component disposed within the hollow feature of the base, the inner component including an inner tip at a first end, the inner tip configured to manipulate a set screw connected to the balance weight.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
a base including a hollow feature and an operative tip configured to connect to a balance weight; and
an inner component configured to be inserted within the hollow feature of the base, the inner component including an inner tip, the inner tip configured to manipulate a set screw connected to the balance weight, wherein the inner component is configured to be removed from the hollow feature of the base, and
a staking component configured to be inserted within the hollow feature, the staking component configured to secure the set screw from rotation.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a first handle connected to an external surface of the base.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the base and the first handle form a geometric shape with dimensions larger than an access aperture of a turbine.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the inner component is rotatable within the hollow feature.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the operative tip includes a first set of threads configured to mate with a second set of threads defined by a countersink in the balance weight.

6. A system, comprising:
a balance weight including a set-screw;
a base including:
a hollow feature, and
an operative tip connected to the balance weight;

an inner component configured to be inserted and removed from the hollow feature of the base, the inner component including an inner tip configured to manipulate the set screw; and
a staking component configured to be inserted and removed from the hollow feature, wherein the staking component is configured to secure the set screw from rotation.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the balance weight includes a countersink disposed about the set-screw, the countersink configured to connect to the operative tip.

8. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a first handle connected to an external surface of the base.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the base and the first handle form a geometric shape with dimensions larger than an access aperture of a turbine.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the inner component is rotatable within the hollow feature.

11. A method comprising:
connecting a device to a balance weight, the balance weight including a set screw and the device including an inner component with an inner tip configured to manipulate the set screw;
maneuvering the balance weight within a turbine via the device;
connecting the balance weight to the turbine with the inner tip;
removing the inner component from a hollow feature of the device following manipulation of the set screw to attach the balance weight to the turbine wherein the device remains connected to the balance weight
installing a staking component into the device after removal of the inner component, and
staking the set screw to the turbine with the staking component.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the connecting the balance weight to the turbine includes manipulating the set screw in the turbine by manipulating the inner component of the device.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
disconnecting the device from the balance weight; and
removing the device from the turbine.

Assignees

• Race Nathan Stafford
• Crookshanks Christopher Parker
• Davi Michael Alan
• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Race Nathan Stafford
• Crookshanks Christopher Parker
• Davi Michael Alan

Classifications

• Y02E20/16

  Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT] · CPC title

• F01D5/027 Primary

  Arrangements for balancing (for balancing rotating bodies in general F16F15/32; for compensating imbalance G01M1/36) · CPC title

• Y10T29/4932

  Turbomachine making · CPC title

• Y10T74/2121

  Flywheel, motion smoothing-type · CPC title