Turbine engine blade removal apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9494040-B2
Application number	US-201414173843-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2014
Priority date	Feb 6, 2014
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A turbine engine blade removal apparatus with a pair of opposed outwardly biased blocks are positioned proximal a blade root and corresponding rotor disc slot between opposed axial faces of the subject first rotor disc and an adjoining second rotor disc. The blocks are outwardly biased in abutting contact with first and second rotor disc axial faces, aligning an aperture of a guide bushing with an exposed axial face of the blade root, the guide bushing coupled to at least the first block. A punch is inserted in the guide bushing aperture so that a punch tip is in abutting relationship with the blade root axial face. An impact tool drives an opposite impact end of the punch, causing the punch to direct a relative driving force on the blade root, separating the blade root from the corresponding rotor disc slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for removing a turbine engine blade root from a corresponding turbine engine rotor disc slot of a rotor having at least a pair of first and second rotor discs having respective first and second opposed axial faces, comprising:
a pair of opposed outwardly biased first and second blocks for insertion between and biased abutment against the corresponding first and second opposed axial faces of the respective first and second rotor discs;
a guide bushing coupled to at least the first block, defining a guide bushing aperture that is capable of alignment with an exposed axial face of a blade root that is engaged within a first rotor disc slot, for receipt of a punch therein, the aperture defining a skewed central axis that is oriented downwardly toward a bottom edge of the first block and inwardly towards one of two lateral side edges thereof;
a punch inserted into the guide bushing aperture, having a tip for striking the blade root axial face, and an impact end opposite the tip, for striking contact by a percussive impact tool, the impact end oriented above the first and second blocks; and
at least one helical spring captively retained by, and spanning between, the first and second blocks by an elongated screw that is slidably engaged with one of the blocks, for outwardly biasing the respective first and second blocks against the corresponding first and second rotor slots.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the blocks having a lower face profile that conforms to outer circumferential profile of its corresponding first or second rotor disc, for conforming abutment of the block therewith when the apparatus is coupled to a corresponding rotor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a protector block coupled to at least one of the first or second blocks, for interposition between its corresponding first or second block and its corresponding first or second rotor disc.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a threaded jack screw locking mechanism having opposite ends in abutting contact with, and spanning between, the corresponding first or second blocks against the corresponding first and second rotor slots.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a circumferential alignment block coupled to at least one of the first or second blocks, for abutting engagement with a corresponding one of the first or second rotor discs.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the punch having a tip profile that conforms with its corresponding axial face of the blade root, for abutting engagement therewith, and an anti-rotation circumferential profile for sliding passage and engagement with a corresponding profile formed in the alignment bushing aperture.

Assignees

• Siemens Energy Inc

Inventors

• Bird Derek A

Classifications

• Y10T29/5393

  Means comprising impact receiving tool · CPC title

• F01D25/285

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

• F01D5/3007

  of axial insertion type · CPC title

• Y10T29/49318

  Repairing or disassembling · CPC title

• F01D5/005 Primary

  Repairing methods or devices · CPC title