Rotor centralization for turbine engine assembly
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsJoseph SWIDERSKI, Scott SMITH, Lawrence MARSHALL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more support elements radially extend through one or more openings defined in a turbine engine casing and are configured to centralize and at least partially support a rotor assembly of the engine during an engine disassembly or assembly procedure. The support elements are configured to transfer any rotor assembly weight loads to an engine casing while a bearing support of the rotor assembly is absent or removed.
Claims20
A method for supporting a gas turbine rotor assembly during engine assembly/disassembly, the rotor assembly having a central shaft extending substantially horizontally and supported by at least one bearing support structure, the method comprising:)
- a) extending at least one elongate support element radially through an opening defined in a casing of the engine, the casing surrounding the rotor assembly;
- b) contacting the at least one support element with a portion of the rotor assembly at a location spaced apart from the at least one bearing support structure;
- and
- c) rigidly connecting the at least one support element to the casing of the engine, wherein the at least one support element is configured and positioned such that the at least one support element and the at least one bearing support structure cooperate to centralize and at least partially support the weight of the rotor assembly when a second bearing support structure of the engine is absent.
An apparatus for supporting a rotor assembly in a substantially centered position in a gas turbine engine, the apparatus comprising:
- at least three elongate support elements each extending radially through an opening defined in an exterior of a casing surrounding the rotor assembly, an inner end of each support element contacting with a periphery of the rotor assembly, the support elements each being connected at an outer end thereof to said exterior of the casing, the at least three support elements thereby configured to centralize and support the rotor assembly when a bearing support structure of the rotor assembly is absent.
A method for supporting first and second rotor assemblies during engine assembly/disassembly, the second rotor assembly having a hollow central second shaft extending substantially horizontally and supported by at least at one bearing support structure, a first central shaft of the first rotor assembly co-axially extending through the hollow central second shaft of the second rotor assembly, opposite front and aft end portions of each of the first and second shafts being supported by a respective front support structure and an aft support structure within the engine during engine operation, the method comprising:
- a) radially extending three rigid elongate support elements through respective openings circumferentially spaced apart in a casing surrounding the first and second rotor assemblies, to lock the second rotor assembly in a substantially horizontal and centered position in the engine;
- and
- b) inserting at least one spacer in an annulus between the first and second shafts to support the first rotor assembly on the second rotor assembly, thereby locking the first and second shafts in the coaxial relationship.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.