Tool for manipulating cross-fire tube in combustor assembly, combustor maintenance assembly and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9617913-B2
Application number	US-201414205923-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2014
Priority date	Mar 12, 2014
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

Combustor maintenance assemblies, tools and methods for manipulating cross-fire tubes in combustor assemblies are provided. A tool includes a base and an arm pivotally connected to the base. The arm includes an effort portion and a load portion, the load portion extendable into a passage defined by the compressor discharge casing. The tool further includes a contact member extending from the load portion to contact the cross-fire tube. The contact member includes a head end for contacting a second end of the cross-fire tube, and a joint disposed between the head end and the load portion, the joint allowing movement of the head end relative to the load portion. The arm is movable such that the contact member contacts the cross-fire tube and applies a force to the cross-fire tube generally along a longitudinal axis of the cross-fire tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for manipulating a cross-fire tube in a combustor assembly, the tool comprising:
a base;
an arm pivotally connected to the base, the arm comprising an effort portion and a load portion, the load portion extendable into a passage defined by a compressor discharge casing of the combustor assembly; and
a contact member extending from the load portion to contact the cross-fire tube, the contact member comprising:
a head end for contacting a second end of the cross-fire tube;
a joint disposed between the head end and the load portion, the joint allowing movement of the head end relative to the load portion; and
a guide feature extending from the head end, the guide feature operable to locate the head end relative to the second end of the cross-fire tube,

wherein the arm is movable such that the contact member contacts the cross-fire tube and applies a force to the cross-fire tube generally along a longitudinal axis of the cross-fire tube.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the head end comprises a tab matable with a slot defined in the second end of the cross-fire tube.

3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the joint is a universal joint allowing rotation of the head end about three axes.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the contact member is rotatable relative to the load portion.

5. The tool of claim 4 , wherein the contact member further comprises a base, the base rotatable relative to the load portion.

6. The tool of claim 5 , wherein the contact member further comprises a handle extending from the base.

7. A tool for manipulating a cross-fire tube in a combustor assembly, the tool comprising:
a base;
an arm pivotally connected to the base, the arm comprising an effort portion and a load portion, the load portion extendable into a passage defined by a compressor discharge casing of the combustor assembly; and
a contact member extending from the load portion to contact the cross-fire tube, the contact member comprising:
a head end for contacting a second end of the cross-fire tube; and
a joint disposed between the head end and the load portion, the joint allowing movement of the head end relative to the load portion, wherein the joint is a universal joint allowing rotation of the head end about three axes;

wherein the arm is movable such that the contact member contacts the cross-fire tube and applies a force to the cross-fire tube generally along a longitudinal axis of the cross-fire tube.

8. The tool of claim 7 , wherein the head end comprises a tab matable with a slot defined in the second end of the cross-fire tube.

9. The tool of claim 7 , wherein the contact member is rotatable relative to the load portion.

10. The tool of claim 9 , wherein the contact member further comprises a base, the base rotatable relative to the load portion.

11. The tool of claim 7 , wherein the contact member further comprises a handle extending from the base.

12. A tool for manipulating a cross-fire tube in a combustor assembly, the tool comprising:
a base;
an arm pivotally connected to the base, the arm comprising an effort portion and a load portion, the load portion extendable into a passage defined by a compressor discharge casing of the combustor assembly; and
a contact member extending from the load portion to contact the cross-fire tube, the contact member rotatable relative to the load portion, the contact member comprising:
a head end for contacting a second end of the cross-fire tube; and
a joint disposed between the head end and the load portion, the joint allowing movement of the head end relative to the load portion;

wherein the arm is movable such that the contact member contacts the cross-fire tube and applies a force to the cross-fire tube generally along a longitudinal axis of the cross-fire tube.

13. The tool of claim 12 , wherein the head end comprises a tab matable with a slot defined in the second end of the cross-fire tube.

14. The tool of claim 12 , wherein the contact member further comprises a base, the base rotatable relative to the load portion.

15. The tool of claim 12 , wherein the contact member further comprises a handle extending from the base.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Oden Joshua Michael
• Neumann Ulrich Werner
• Herbold John William

Classifications

• Y10T29/49718

  Repairing · CPC title

• F23R3/48

  Flame tube interconnectors, e.g. cross-over tubes · CPC title

• F05D2230/70

  Disassembly methods · CPC title

• F05D2230/68

  using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding · CPC title

• F01D25/285 Primary

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