Methods and apparatus for fabricating a turbine nozzle assembly
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGraham David Sherlock, Christopher Edward Thompson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for fabricating a nozzle segment for use within a turbine nozzle assembly. The method comprises providing a nozzle segment including an outer band, an inner band, and at least one vane extending there between, wherein at least one of the inner band and the outer band is formed with a transition piece groove defined therein, positioning an inspection tool in contact with the nozzle assembly such that the inspection tool is aligned relative to the nozzle segment using at least one datum, and verifying an alignment of each transition piece groove using the inspection tool.
Claims18
A method for fabricating a turbine nozzle assembly, said method comprising:
- providing a nozzle segment including an outer band, an inner band, and at least one vane extending there between, wherein at least one of the inner band and the outer band is formed with a transition piece groove defined therein;
- positioning an inspection tool in contact with the nozzle assembly such that the inspection tool is aligned relative to the nozzle segment using at least one datum;
- and
- verifying an alignment of each transition piece groove using the inspection tool.
An inspection tool for use in fabricating a nozzle segment used with a turbine nozzle assembly, said tool comprising:
- an alignment plate;
- and
- a positioning plate coupled to said alignment plate, said alignment plate comprising at least one aperture extending therethrough in a predetermined location that corresponds to a desired alignment of a transition piece groove defined on the nozzle segment being inspected.
A method for assembling a turbine nozzle assembly, said method comprising:
- providing a plurality of nozzle segments that each include an outer band, an inner band, and at least one vane extending there between, wherein at least one of the inner bands and outer bands on each nozzle segment includes a transition piece groove defined therein;
- positioning an inspection tool in contact with a nozzle segment to verify an alignment of each transition piece groove;
- and
- coupling a plurality of nozzle segments circumferentially together to form a nozzle assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.