Variable stator vane rigging
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsOwen LYON, Andrew B. SWANN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for rigging a variable stator vane arrangement (100) for a gas turbine engine (10) is provided. The arrangement provides at least two sets of rigging holes to an actuator (200), with the actuator extension during rigging being dependent on which of the sets of holes are aligned. This allows the actuator extension to be adjustable during rigging, thereby facilitating different relationships between actuator extension and variable vane angle in use.
Claims18
A method of rigging a variable stator vane arrangement for a gas turbine engine, the variable stator vane arrangement comprising:
- an actuator comprising an actuator body and an actuator ram, the actuator ram being moveable relative to the actuator body along an actuator axis (X);
- an array of variable stator vanes;
- and
- an adjustable connecting arrangement that, once adjusted, fixedly connects the actuator ram to the variable stator vanes such that the angle of incidence of the variable stator vanes is dependent on the position of the actuator ram along the actuator axis, wherein:
- each of the actuator body and the actuator ram comprises at least one rigging hole, with at least one of the actuator body and the actuator ram comprising at least two rigging holes that are offset from each other in the direction of the actuator axis, the method comprising:
- aligning an actuator ram rigging hole with an actuator body rigging hole;
- inserting a rigging pin through the aligned actuator ram rigging hole and actuator body rigging hole so as to set a rigging position of the actuator ram;
- setting the angle of incidence of the variable stator vanes to a rigging angle;
- and
- adjusting the adjustable connecting arrangement so as to fixedly connect the actuator ram at the rigging position to the variable stator vanes at the rigging angle.
An actuator for controlling the angle of incidence of a set of variable stator vanes, comprising:
- an actuator body;
- and
- an actuator ram, the actuator ram being moveable relative to the actuator body along an actuator axis (X), wherein:
- each of the actuator body and the actuator ram comprises at least one rigging hole;
- and
- at least one of the actuator body and the actuator ram comprises at least two rigging holes that are offset from each other in the direction of the actuator axis and are each capable of being aligned with the rigging hole(s) of the other of the actuator ram or actuator body so as to be able to insert a rigging pin through the aligned holes to set the position of the actuator ram relative to the actuator body along the actuator axis.
A rigging tool for use in rigging a variable stator vane stage of a gas turbine engine, the rigging tool comprising:
- a locating portion for removably locating the rigging tool onto an actuator of a gas turbine engine;
- and
- at least one rigging hole that is capable of being aligned with at least one corresponding rigging hole on the actuator, wherein:
- the locating portion allows the rigging tool to be moved relative to the rest of the actuator once it has been located onto the actuator, so as to enable at least two sets of rigging holes to be aligned, each set of holes corresponding to a different actuator position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.