Patent Application
20180363496
The disclosure relates generally to turbomachines and more particularly relates to systems and methods for cleaning compressor or turbine blades and vanes (referred to collectively as blades) in a turbomachine, such as a gas turbine engine or the like.
Blades in a gas turbine engine, such as the blades in a compressor or turbine, may be periodically cleaned by hand. This process may be time consuming, labor intensive, and possibly hazardous. For example, due to the geometry and sharp edges of the blades, the laborers may wear steel mesh gloves up to their elbows, which may make the cleaning process even more difficult and time consuming.
According to an embodiment, there is disclosed a device for cleaning blades in a turbomachine. The device may include a frame, a cleaning jaw pivotably attached to the frame, opposing cleaning pads attached to a distal end of the cleaning jaw, a cleaning pad actuator attached to the frame for actuating the opposing cleaning pads, and at least one handle attached to the frame.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a device for cleaning blades in a turbomachine. The device may include a frame, a first elongated arm pivotably attached to the frame and a second elongated arm pivotably attached to the frame, a first cleaning pad attached to a distal end of the first elongated arm and a second cleaning pad attached to a distal end of the second elongated arm, an oscillator in mechanical communication with the first cleaning pad and the second cleaning pad, and at least one handle attached to the frame.
Further, according to another embodiment, there is disclosed a method for cleaning a blade in a turbomachine. The method may include opening a cleaning jaw pivotably attached to a frame, positioning cleaning pads attached to a distal end of the cleaning jaw about the blade, closing the cleaning jaw so that the cleaning pads engage opposite sides of the blade, and actuating a cleaning pad actuator for movement of the cleaning pads to clean the blade.
Other embodiments, aspects, and features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale.
The systems and methods described herein may be used to claims blades in a turbomachine. The blades may be disposed in a compressor or a turbine. Any device with blades may utilize the systems and methods disclosed herein to clean the blades. In some instances, the turbomachine may be a gas turbine engine. Any industrial turbomachine may be used. Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views,
The gas turbine engine 10 may use natural gas, various types of syngas, and/or other types of fuels. The gas turbine engine 10 may be any one of a number of different gas turbine engines offered by General Electric Company of Schenectady, N.Y., including, but not limited to, those such as a 7 or a 9 series heavy duty gas turbine engine and the like. The gas turbine engine 10 may have different configurations and may use other types of components. Other types of gas turbine engines also may be used herein. Multiple gas turbine engines, other types of turbines, and other types of power generation equipment also may be used herein together.
In some instances, the cleaning jaw 104 may include a first elongated arm 116 pivotably attached to the frame 102 at a first pivot point 118. Similarly, the cleaning jaw 104 may include a second elongated arm 120 pivotably attached to the frame 102 at a second pivot point 122. In addition, the opposing cleaning pads 106 may include a first cleaning pad 124 attached to a distal end 108 of the first elongated arm 116 and a second cleaning pad 126 attached to a distal end 108 of the second elongated arm 120.
In certain embodiments, the cleaning pad actuator 110 may be an oscillator. In some instances, the oscillator may be a pneumatic oscillator, an electrical oscillator, or gas powered oscillator. The oscillator may be any size, shape, or configuration. The oscillator may be any device capable of creating oscillating movement. The oscillator may be attached to the frame 102, the cleaning jaw 104, and/or the cleaning pads 106. In this manner, the oscillator may directly or indirectly cause the cleaning pads 106 to oscillate, vibrate, and/or rotate, which in turn may facilitate cleaning of the blades. In other instances, the oscillator may be in mechanical linkage to the cleaning pads 106 or directly attached to the cleaning pads 106. The oscillation of the oscillator may cause the cleaning pads 106 to vibrate and/or rotate. The oscillator may be actuated by one or more control buttons disposed about the handle 112.
The cleaning jaw actuator 114 may be a piston. The piston may be a pneumatic piston, an electric piston, or a gas powered piston. The piston may be any size, shape, or configuration. The piston may be any device capable of creating linear movement. The piston may be attached via a mechanical linkage or directly to the first elongated arm 116 and the second elongated arm 120. In this manner, the piston may facilitate opening and closing of the cleaning jaw 104. For example, as the piston moves, the first elongated arm 116 may pivot about the first pivot point 118 and the second elongated arm 120 may pivot about the second pivot point 122. This in turn may cause the cleaning pads 106 to open and close. The piston may be actuated by one or more control buttons disposed about the handle 112.
In some instances, the device 100 may include a block 125. The block 125 may limit rotation of the device 100. In addition, the block 125 may enable a user to add pressure to the opposing cleaning pads 106.
In some instances, the cleaning jaw 204 may include a first elongated arm 216 pivotably attached to the frame 202 at a first pivot point 218. Similarly, the cleaning jaw 204 may include a second elongated arm 220 pivotably attached to the frame 202 at a second pivot point 222. In addition, the opposing cleaning pads 206 may include a first cleaning pad 224 attached to a distal end 208 of the first elongated arm 216 and a second cleaning pad 226 attached to a distal end 208 of the second elongated arm 220.
In certain embodiments, the cleaning pad actuator 210 may be an oscillator. In some instances, the oscillator may be a pneumatic oscillator, an electrical oscillator, or gas powered oscillator. The oscillator may be any size, shape, or configuration. The oscillator may be any device capable of creating oscillating movement. The oscillator may be attached to the frame 202, the cleaning jaw 204, and/or the cleaning pads 206. In this manner, the oscillator may cause the cleaning pads 206 to oscillate, vibrate and/or rotate, which in turn may facilitate cleaning of the blades. In other instances, the oscillator may be in mechanical linkage to the cleaning pads 206 or directly attached to the cleaning pads 206. The oscillation of the oscillator may cause the cleaning pads 206 to vibrate and/or rotate. The oscillator may be actuated by one or more control buttons disposed about the first handle 212 and/or the second handle 228.
The cleaning jaw actuator 214 may be a piston. The piston may be a pneumatic piston, an electric piston, or a gas powered piston. The piston may be any size, shape, or configuration. The piston may be any device capable of creating linear movement. The piston may be attached via a mechanical linkage or directly to the first elongated arm 216 and the second elongated arm 220. In this manner, the piston may facilitate opening and closing of the cleaning jaw 204. For example, as the piston moves, the first elongated arm 216 may pivot about the first pivot point 218 and the second elongated arm 220 may pivot about the second pivot point 222. This in turn may cause the cleaning pads 206 to open and close. The piston may be actuated by one or more control buttons disposed about the first handle 212 and/or the second handle 228.
Any combination of the joints described above may be used to attach the cleaning pads to the cleaning jaw. For example, the cleaning pads may rotate and/or pivot. In some instances, a universal joint may be used. In some instances, the cleaning pads may be replaced. In other instances, only a portion of the cleaning pad may be replaced. For example, the cleaning pads may include replaceable pad portions attached to a stationary, rotatable, and/or pivotable member.
It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to certain embodiments of the present application and the resultant patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof. Although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments.
