# US 11,441,431 B2 · Holding system for the dismantling of a blade wheel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,431 B2 - Document ID: US11441431B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/973,663 - Filed: 2019-06-06 - Published: 2021-08-19 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-12 - Assignees: Safran Aircraft Engines - Applicants: Safran Aircraft Engines - Inventors: Nicolas Daniel Delaporte; Alain Dominique Gendraud; Emmanuel Bernard Marie Charrier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441431B2 ## CPC - F01D 5/3007: {of axial insertion type} - F01D 25/285: {Temporary support structures, e.g. for testing, assembling, installing, repairing; Assembly methods using such structures} - F05D 2230/70: Disassembly methods - F05D 2260/30: Retaining components in desired mutual position - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to a holding system for the dismantling of a blade wheel, the blade wheel comprising: a disc, a plurality of blades configured to be mounted circumferentially around the disc, the plurality of blades defining a plurality of inter-blade spaces, each of the inter-blade spaces being defined circumferentially between two adjacent blades of the plurality of blades, the holding system comprising a plurality of inserts, each of the inserts being configured to be inserted into each of the inter-blade spaces in a holding position so as to hold the relative position of the blades when the plurality of blades is dismantled from the disc. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A holding system for the dismantling of a blade wheel, the blade wheel comprising: a disc, a plurality of blades configured to be mounted circumferentially around the disc, the plurality of blades defining a plurality of inter-blade spaces, each of the inter-blade spaces being defined circumferentially between two adjacent blades of the plurality of blades, the holding system comprising a plurality of inserts, each of the inserts being configured to be inserted into each of the inter-blade spaces in a holding position so as to hold the relative position of the blades when the plurality of blades are dismantled from the disc, and wherein each of the inserts comprises at least one portion made of an aluminum-based alloy, and/or a polymer having a Shore A hardness between 75 and 100. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The holding system according to claim 1, wherein the inserts have a thickness in a radial direction greater than or equal to 10% of the height of an airfoil of a blade in the radial direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The holding system according to claim 1, comprising sleeve configured to be mounted on an insert of the plurality of inserts, the sleeve being configured to allow the gripping of the insert and facilitate the mounting of the insert in an inter-blade space. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The holding system according to claim 1, comprising a positioning ring, each insert of the plurality of inserts being configured to be applied to the positioning ring so as to hold the inserts in position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The holding system according to claim 4, wherein the positioning ring comprises fastening elements to allow the fastening of the inserts on the positioning ring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The holding system according to claim 1, wherein each of the inserts comprises: a first member and a second member, the first and second members being configured to be disposed in an inter-blade space, the first member being disposed against a first blade, and the second member being disposed against a second blade circumferentially adjacent to the first blade; and a wedge or a bevel, configured to be inserted between the first and second members so as to hold the insert between the first and second blades. ### Claim 7 A method for dismantling a blade wheel comprising a disc and a plurality of blades mounted circumferentially around the disc, the plurality of blades defining a plurality of inter-blade spaces, each of the inter-blade spaces being defined circumferentially between two adjacent blades of the plurality of blades, the dismantling method comprising the following steps: A. inserting a plurality of inserts of a holding system into the inter-blade spaces in a holding position so that the relative position of the blades is held; B. withdrawing the disc. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein, during step A: the inserts are inserted at a radially outer portion of the inter-blade spaces; the inserts are moved in a radial direction, radially inward, until they reach the holding position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein each of the inserts comprises a first member, a second member and a wedge or a bevel, during step A: the first member of an insert is disposed, in an inter-blade space, against a first blade at the holding position; the second member of the insert is disposed, in the inter-blade space, against a second blade, adjacent to the first blade, so that the second member is disposed circumferentially facing the first member; the wedge or the bevel is inserted between the first and second members so as to hold the insert in the holding position. ### Claim 10 A holding system for the dismantling of a blade wheel, the blade wheel comprising: a disc, a plurality of blades configured to be mounted circumferentially around the disc, the plurality of blades defining a plurality of inter-blade spaces, each of the inter-blade spaces being defined circumferentially between two adjacent blades of the plurality of blades, the holding system comprising a plurality of inserts, each of the inserts being configured to be inserted into each of the inter-blade spaces in a holding position so as to hold the relative position of the blades when the plurality of blades are dismantled from the disc, and wherein each of the inserts comprises: a first member and a second member, the first and second members being configured to be disposed in an inter-blade space, the first member being disposed against a first blade, and the second member being disposed against a second blade circumferentially adjacent to the first blade; and a wedge or a bevel, configured to be inserted between the first and second members so as to hold the insert between the first and second blades. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The holding system according to claim 10, wherein the inserts have a thickness in a radial direction greater than or equal to 10% of the height of an airfoil of a blade in the radial direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The holding system according to claim 10, comprising a sleeve configured to be mounted on an insert of the plurality of inserts, the sleeve being configured to allow the gripping of the insert and facilitate the mounting of the insert in an inter-blade space. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The holding system according to claim 10, comprising a positioning ring, each insert of the plurality of inserts being configured to be applied to the positioning ring so as to hold the inserts in position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The holding system according to claim 13, wherein the positioning ring comprises fastening elements to allow the fastening of the inserts on the positioning ring.