Automated seal strip assembly method and apparatus for rotary machines
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsWilliam Adis, Patrick Gill, Michael Mack
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A automated sealing assembly for rotary machines including: a seal guide assembly, the seal guide assembly aligns and holds a caulk wire and a sealing strip in a rotor groove for peening; a peening tool, the peening tool peens said caulk wire to deform the caulk wire and secure the caulk wire and the sealing strip in the rotor groove; an actuator, the actuator controls a movement and preload force of the peening tool producing a rotor groove seal having a predictable pull out strength; and a base for securing the seal guide assembly, the peening tool, and the actuator.
Claims20
A automated sealing assembly for a rotary machine comprising:
- a seal guide assembly, said seal guide assembly feeds, aligns, and holds a caulk wire and a sealing strip in a rotor groove for peening;
- a peening tool, said peening tool peens said caulk wire to deform said caulk wire securing said caulk wire and said sealing strip in said rotor groove;
- a first actuator, said first actuator controls a movement of said peening tool producing a rotor groove seal having a predictable pull out strength;
- and
- a base for securing said seal guide assembly, said peening tool, and said first actuator relative to the rotary machine.
A method for automated sealing of a rotary machine, the method comprising:
- aligning a caulk wire and a sealing strip with a rotor groove;
- holding said caulk wire and said sealing strip for peening in said rotor groove with a seal guide assembly;
- peening said caulk wire with a peening tool, movement of said tool being controlled by a first actuator;
- and
- peening said caulk wire deforms said caulk wire and creates a rotor groove seal with a predictable pull out strength.
A system for automated sealing of a rotary machine, the system comprising:
- means for aligning a caulk wire and a sealing strip with a rotor groove;
- means for holding said caulk wire and said sealing strip before peening said caulk wire in said rotor groove;
- means for peening said caulk wire;
- and
- means for controlling movement of said peening tool;
- wherein said means for peening said caulk wire creates a rotor groove seal with a predictable pull out strength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.