Patent Application
20140137488
The present disclosure relates to an engine enclosure and more particularly to an engine enclosure with panel retainer assemblies.
Conventional enclosures, such as those used in enclosing power generation systems, include large panels that are often bolted in place onto a frame. Hence, a position of the panels with respect to the frame may be fixed. Thus, variations or adjustments to the configuration of the conventional enclosures may be limited.
U.S Publication No. 2012/0073215 A1 relates to an enclosure for a power generation system. The enclosure includes sidewalls and a roof extending generally transverse to the sidewalls. The enclosure further includes latches associated with one of the roof or a sidewall, and engagement features associated with the other of the roof or a sidewall. Each of the latches is configured to engage one of the engagement features and releasably fasten the roof to the sidewalls.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an engine enclosure including a frame, multiple roof panels, and multiple retainer assemblies. The roof panels are disposed on the frame and include one or more threaded receptacles. The retainer assemblies are configured to releasably secure the roof panels to the frame. The retainer assemblies include a clamp, and a threaded fastener. The clamp includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed adjacent to the frame. The second portion is substantially offset from the first portion and includes an aperture. The threaded fastener is disposed within the aperture and releasably fastened to the threaded receptacle.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a power system including an engine and the engine enclosure. The engine enclosure includes the frame, the roof panels, and the retainer assemblies. The frame is disposed around the engine. The roof panels are disposed on the frame and include the threaded receptacles. The retainer assemblies are configured to releasably secure the roof panels to the frame. The retainer assemblies include the clamp, and the threaded fastener. The clamp includes the first portion and the second portion. The first portion is disposed adjacent to the frame. The second portion is substantially offset from the first portion and includes the aperture. The threaded fastener is disposed within the aperture and releasably fastened to the threaded receptacle.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of installing a power system. The method includes positioning the frame around the engine of the power system. The method further includes positioning the roof panels on the frame. The method further includes positioning the first portion of the clamp adjacent to the frame. The method further includes positioning the second portion of the clamp adjacent to the roof panel. The method further includes axially aligning the aperture of the second portion of the clamp to the threaded receptacle of the roof panel. The method further includes positioning the threaded fastener within the aperture. The method further includes releasably fastening the threaded fastener to the threaded receptacle such that the roof panel is releasably secured to the frame.
Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure relates to an engine enclosure with panel retainer assemblies.
The engine enclosure 104 may be configured to enclose the engine 102. The engine enclosure 104 includes a frame 106, and multiple roof panels 108 disposed on the frame 106. The frame 106 is disposed around the engine 102. In an embodiment as shown in
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In the preceding embodiments, it is disclosed that the openings 118, 120, 122 may be located on the end panels 112, 114 and the intermediate panels 116 respectively. However, a person having ordinary skill in the art may acknowledge that the locations of the openings 118, 120, 122 on the respective panels 112, 114 and 116 may be based on a position of the engine 102, the ventilation system 124 and the engine air system 130 with respect to the engine enclosure 104 such that the engine air system 130 and the ventilation system 124 may connect at appropriate positions on the engine 102 and the engine enclosure 104 respectively. Therefore, it may be noted that the locations of the openings 118, 120, 122 disclosed herein are exemplary in nature and may change depending on inter-relative positions of the engine 102, the engine enclosure 104, the ventilation system 124 and the engine air system 130.
In an embodiment as shown in
The engine enclosure 104 further includes one or more retainer assemblies 142 configured to releasably secure the roof panels 108 to the frame 106. The retainer assemblies 142 include a clamp 144, and a threaded fastener 146. The clamp 144 includes a first portion 148 and a second portion 150. The first portion 148 is disposed adjacent to the frame 106. The second portion 150 is substantially offset from the first portion 148 and includes an aperture 152. The threaded fastener 146 is disposed within the aperture 152 and releasably fastened to the threaded receptacle 138.
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In other embodiments the middle portion 164 may be of a shape and size corresponding to the cross section of the ledge member 158. Therefore, a person having ordinary skill in the art may acknowledge that the shape and size of the middle portion 164 of the clamp 144 may be selected based on the cross section of the frame 106/ledge member 158. Further, the size of the middle portion 164 may be selected such that upon fastening the threaded fastener 146 to the threaded receptacle 138, the first and second portions 148, 150 of the clamp 144 abut the frame 106 and the roof panel 108 respectively thereby securing the roof panel 108 to the frame 106.
In an embodiment, the step 404 of positioning the roof panels 108 on the frame 106 may include moving the roof panels 108 such that openings 118, 120, and 122 associated with the roof panels 108 align with the engine air system 130 and the ventilation system 124.
Conventional enclosures, such as those used in enclosing power generation systems, include large panels that are often bolted in place onto a frame 106. Hence, a position of the panels with respect to the frame 106 may be fixed. In some cases, very few panels may be used to form an entire roof or sidewall of the enclosure system. Hence, these panels may be bulky and difficult to move by an operator. Thus, variations or adjustments to the configuration of the conventional enclosures may be limited.
An engine 102, such as a gas turbine engine, may include several auxiliary devices such as ducts, and air or fuel systems connected at specific/predetermined positions on the engine 102. Further, tight tolerances may be present between relative positions of the auxiliary devices and its subsequent positions on the engine 102. Therefore, the operator may be required to adjust a position of the roof panels 108 to near exact positions in order to line up and align the openings 118, 120, and 122 with the respective auxiliary devices.
During a typical assembly process, the engine 102 may be assembled first and the associated auxiliary devices may be connected to the engine 102 later. Therefore, the openings 118, 120, and 122 associated with the engine enclosure 104 may be configured based on the specific/predetermined positions of the engine 102 at which the auxiliary devices may be connected.
During assembly of the power system 100 disclosed herein, the operator may partially engage the threaded fasteners 146 to the roof panel 108. In an embodiment as shown in the
In another embodiment as shown in
With reference to the preceding two embodiments, the operator may slide the roof panels 108 in one or more of the first and second directions A, B until the openings 118, 120, and 122 on the respective roof panels 108 (112, 114, and 116) line up and align with the engine air system 130, engine exhaust system 136, and the ventilation system 124. Thereafter, the threaded fasteners 146 may be fully fastened to the roof panel 108 by torque wrenching or other methods commonly known in the art such that the clamps 144 secure the roof panels 108 to the frame 106. Thus, a flexibility in configuring the engine enclosure 104 by the adjustable positioning of the roof panels 108 on the frame 106 may save the operator effort required in aligning the openings 118, 120, and 122 with the auxiliary devices and set up the power system 100 quickly.
While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machine, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.
