Installation apparatus and related methods for coupling flow sleeve and transition piece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9777600-B2
Application number	US-201514730958-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2015
Priority date	Jun 4, 2015
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

Various embodiments include approaches for installing a flow sleeve relative to a gas turbine transition piece. Some embodiments include an apparatus for coupling a gas turbine transition piece with a flow sleeve, the installation apparatus having: a radially inner ring; a plurality of expander segments extending radially outward from the radially inner ring, the plurality of expander segments each having an axially ramped segment sized to gradually expand the flow sleeve to couple with the gas turbine transition piece as the flow sleeve is moved along the plurality of expander segments; and a circumferentially disposed space separating each pair of adjacent expander segments in the plurality of expander segments.

First claim

We claim:

1. An installation apparatus for coupling a gas turbine transition piece with a flow sleeve, the installation apparatus comprising:
a radially inner ring;
a plurality of expander segments extending radially outward from the radially inner ring, the plurality of expander segments each having:
an axially ramped segment sized to gradually expand the flow sleeve to couple with the gas turbine transition piece as the flow sleeve is moved along the plurality of expander segments; and
a step at an axial end of the axially ramped segment, the step sized to contact a radially inner surface of the transition piece, the step including:
a radially outer-facing surface; and
an axially facing surface interposed between the radially outer-facing surface and the axially ramped segment;

a circumferentially disposed space separating each pair of expander segments in the plurality of expander segments; and
a handle coupled with the radially inner ring.

2. The installation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the step is positioned radially inboard from the axially ramped segment.

3. The installation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each axially ramped segment has a first axial end at a first radial distance from the radially inner ring and a second axial end at a second radial distance from the radially inner ring, the second radial distance being greater than the first radial distance.

4. The installation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radially inner ring has an inner diameter of 20 centimeters to 35 centimeters.

5. The installation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each axially ramped segment has a radially outermost point, and an outer diameter measured from the radially outermost point of opposing axially ramped segments is 38 centimeters to 50 centimeters.

6. The installation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each circumferentially disposed space is located radially outboard of the radially inner ring.

7. The installation apparatus of claim 6 , wherein each circumferentially disposed space is sized to allow access to the installation apparatus after coupling the gas turbine transition piece with the flow sleeve.

8. The installation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handle includes:
a mount coupled with the radially inner ring; and
an extension member coupled with the mount.

9. A method of coupling a gas turbine transition piece with a flow sleeve, the method comprising:
inserting an installation apparatus within the transition piece, the installation apparatus including:
a radially inner ring, wherein at least a portion of the radial inner ring is inserted within the transition piece;
a plurality of expander segments extending radially outward from the radially inner ring, the plurality of expander segments each having an axially ramped segment sized to gradually expand the flow sleeve to couple with the gas turbine transition piece, and wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of expander segments is inserted within the transition piece; and
a circumferentially disposed space separating each pair of adjacent expander segment in the plurality of expander segments;

sliding the flow sleeve from a first end of the plurality of expander segments to a second end of the plurality of expander segments to contact the transition piece; and
joining the gas turbine transition piece with the flow sleeve.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the axially ramped segment further includes a step at an axial end, the step sized to contact a radially inner surface within the transition piece during the inserting.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step is positioned radially inboard from the axially ramped segment.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein each ramped segment has a first axial end at a first radial distance from the radially inner ring and a second axial end at a second radial distance from the radial inner ring, the second radial distance being greater than the first radial distance, wherein the sliding includes moving the gas turbine flow sleeve along the ramped segment from the first axial end toward the second axial end.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising removing the installation apparatus after the joining of the gas turbine transition piece with the flow sleeve, wherein each circumferentially disposed space is located radially outboard of the radially inner ring, and is sized to allow access to the installation apparatus during the removing of the installation apparatus.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising removing the installation apparatus after the joining of the gas turbine transition piece with the flow sleeve, wherein the installation apparatus further comprises a handle coupled with the radially inner ring, the handle including a mount coupled with the radially inner ring, and an extension member coupled with the mount, the removing including engaging the handle and axially pulling the installation apparatus from the transition piece.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the handle prevents a subsequent installation process while the installation apparatus is connected with the transition piece.

16. An installation apparatus for coupling a gas turbine transition piece with a flow sleeve, the installation apparatus comprising:
a radially inner ring;
a plurality of expander segments extending radially outward from the radially inner ring, the plurality of expander segments each having:
an axially ramped segment sized to gradually expand the flow sleeve to couple with the gas turbine transition piece as the flow sleeve is moved along the plurality of expander segments; and
a step at an axial end of the axially ramped segment, the step sized to contact a radially inner surface of the transition piece, the step including:
a radially outer-facing surface; and
an axially facing surface interposed between the radially outer-facing surface and the axially ramped segment; and

a circumferentially disposed space separating each pair of adjacent expander segments in the plurality of expander segments, each circumferentially disposed space located radially outboard of the radially inner ring.

17. The installation apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the axially ramped segment has a first axial end at a first radial distance from the inner ring and a second axial end at a second radial distance from the inner ring, the second radial distance being greater than the first radial distance.

18. The installation apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the radially inner ring has an inner diameter of 20 to 35 centimeters, wherein the axially ramped segment has a radially outermost point, and an outer diameter measured from the radially outermost point of opposing axially ramped segments is 38 centimeters to 50 centimeters, and wherein each circumferentially disposed space is sized to allow access to the installation apparatus after coupling the gas turbine transition piece with the flow sleeve.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Becker Joseph Daniel
• Herbold John William

Classifications

• F01D25/285 Primary

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

• B23P11/02

  by first expanding and then shrinking or vice versa, e.g. by using pressure fluids; by making force fits · CPC title

• F05D2230/644

  for adjusting the position or the alignment, e.g. wedges or eccenters · CPC title

• Y10T29/4987

  Elastic joining of parts · CPC title

• Y10T29/49323

  Assembling fluid flow directing devices, e.g., stators, diaphragms, nozzles · CPC title