Patent Application
20140112727
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to the art of turbomachines and, more particularly, to a cutting tool locating device for a turbomachine inlet guide vane assembly.
Many turbomachines include a compressor portion linked to a turbine portion through a common compressor/turbine shaft or rotor and a combustor assembly. The compressor portion guides compressed air flow through a number of sequential stages toward the combustor assembly. In the combustor assembly, the compressed air flow mixes with a fuel to form a combustible mixture. The combustible mixture is combusted in the combustor assembly to form hot gases. The hot gases are guided to the turbine portion through a transition piece. The hot gases expand through the turbine portion rotating turbine blades to create work that is output, for example, to power a generator, a pump, or to provide power to a vehicle. In addition to providing compressed air for combustion, a portion of the compressed airflow is passed through the turbine portion for cooling purposes. Generally the compressor portion includes a compressor casing and the turbine portion includes a turbine casing.
In many cases, air enters the compressor portion through an inlet provided with selectively adjustable inlet guide vanes. Generally, the inlet guide vanes include an airfoil portion coupled to a shaft. An angle of attack of the airfoil portion is adjusted by applying a force to the shaft. Each shaft is typically provided with a shaft gear that interacts with a ring gear. Rotation of the ring gear is transmitted to the shaft gear to selectively and collectively position the inlet guide vanes to establish the desired angle of attack for the inlet air entering the compressor.
According to one aspect of the exemplary embodiment, a cutting tool locating device for forming an opening in a gear includes a guide member configured and disposed to be fixedly connected to gear assembly, and an alignment puck moveably mounted to the guide member. The alignment puck includes a bushing configured and disposed to align with a recess formed in the gear assembly.
According to another aspect of the exemplary embodiment, an inlet guide vane (IGV) assembly for a turbomachine includes an airfoil portion, a shaft member extending from the airfoil portion, a gear mounted to the shaft member, and a cutting tool locating device coupled relative to the gear. The cutting tool locating device includes a guide member fixedly connected relative to the shaft member at the gear, and an alignment puck selectively moveably mounted to the guide member. The alignment puck includes a bushing configured and disposed to align with a recess formed in the inlet guide vane shaft.
According to yet another aspect of the exemplary embodiment, a method of locating a cutting tool for forming an opening in a gear includes positioning a guide member over a gear coupled to a shaft, mounting an alignment puck to the guide member, aligning a bushing provided on the alignment puck relative with an opening formed in the shaft, locking the alignment member and guide member relative to the gear, inserting a cutting tool element through the bushing, and forming an opening in the gear that aligns with the opening in the shaft.
These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
With reference to
During operation, air flows across inlet guide vanes (IGV), one of which is shown at 14, into compressor portion 4. The air is compressed and passed to combustor 8. At the same time, fuel is passed to combustor 8 to mix with the compressed air to form a combustible mixture. Additional air is employed for cooling in combustor assembly 7 and turbine portion 10. The combustible mixture is combusted to form hot gases that are guided through transition piece 12 into turbine portion 10. Turbine portion 10 converts thermal energy from the combustion gases into mechanical rotational energy that is employed to power a device (not shown).
As shown in
In accordance with an aspect of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
Base member 50 supports guide member 54. In the exemplary embodiment shown, guide member 54 is secured to base member 50 by coupler member 58 as will be discussed more fully below. It should however be understood that guide member 54 could also be rotationally linked to base member 50. Guide member 54 includes a guide member body 98 having an inner surface 99 that defines a central opening 100. An annular step 104 extends around inner surface 99 within central opening 100. Guide member body 98 includes an upper surface 106 and a lower surface 107. Lower surface 107 rests upon upper surface 73 of base member 50.
Guide member 54 is also shown to include a first flange 109 and an opposing second flange 110. First flange 109 includes a first portion 113 that extends generally perpendicularly from upper surface 106 and a second portion 114. Second portion 114 extends generally perpendicularly from first portion 113 and is spaced from upper surface 106 so as to define a first guide track 116. Second portion 114 is also shown to include a recess 118 having a generally circular shape. Similarly, second flange 110 includes a first portion 122 that extends generally perpendicularly from upper surface 106 and a second portion 123. Second portion 123 extends generally perpendicularly from first portion 122 and is spaced from upper surface 106 so as to define a second guide track 125. Second portion 123 is also shown to include a recess 127 having a generally circular shape.
Coupler member 58 includes a coupler member body 134 that is sized to be received by central opening 100. Coupler member body 134 includes an outer annular edge 136, an upper surface 138 and a lower surface 139 defined by an annular step portion 141. Annular step portion 141 is formed in outer annular edge 136. Coupler member body 134 includes a central opening (not separately labeled) that receives a mechanical fastener 147. Mechanical fastener 147 is configured to engage with a central opening (also not separately labeled) formed in shaft 28. When tightened, mechanical fastener 147 urges coupler member 58 against annular step 104 to clamp guide member 54 against upper surface 73 of base member 50. Coupler member body 134 also includes first and second offset openings 149 and 150 spaced from the central opening. First and second offset openings are arranged to selectively align with shaft 28 as will be discussed more fully below.
Alignment puck 62 includes an alignment puck body 160 having a curvilinear edge 162, an upper surface 164 and a lower surface 165. Alignment puck body 160 also includes a first tab 167 and an opposing second tab 168. First and second tabs 167 and 168 are configured to be received by first and second guide tracks 116 and 125. Alignment puck 62 includes a central opening (not separately labeled) that receives a bushing 174. A fastener 176 is threaded into another opening (not shown) formed in alignment puck body 160 to retain bushing 174. Additional threaded openings 178 and 179 are positioned on either side of bushing 174. Although described as having a curvilinear edge, alignment puck 62 may include various other geometries. Further, it should be understood that instead of employing mechanical fastener 147 to claim guide member 54 to base member 50, a clamping force may be generated through fasteners extending through and operatively engaging with threaded openings 178 and 179.
As seen in
As shown in
An alignment tool 196 is inserted into bushing 174 and guided into first keyway portion 186. Alignment tool 196 positions keyway portion 186 centrally relative to bushing 174. Alignment puck 62 may be shifted along first and second flanges 109 and 110 to facilitate insertion of alignment tool 196. Additional alignment may be provided by rotating guide member 54. Once alignment tool 196 is inserted into first keyway portion 186, mechanical fasteners 198 and 199 are threaded into threaded openings 178 and 179 and driven into contact with coupler member 58 to lock alignment puck 62 into position. At this point, cutting tool 43, such as a drill bit or the like shown in
Occasionally, a need arises to form a new keyway portion in a gear that is positioned in an awkward location. As shown in
At this point it should be understood that while the exemplary embodiments describe a tool that facilitates alignment of a cutting tool to form a keyway portion in an inlet guide vane gear, the alignment tool may be used to form an opening in a gear associated with any number of a variety of applications. Also, while shown as employing a coupler member joining the guide member to a base, it should be understood that the guide member may be joined directly to the base without use of a separate coupler.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
