US 2021/0362279 A1Published application

Induction heating with a flexible heating jacket, for assembly or disassembly of components in a turbine engine

AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft

InventorHarry Chohan

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Abstract

A first component, such as a hub of a gas turbine engine is assembled or disassembled from a second component, such as a shaft by induction heating, using a flexible heating jacket that is wrapped about an outer circumferential surface of the hub. The jacket includes an electrically conductive, flexible cable, having a plurality of loops. The jacket is selectively opened and closed with a plurality of electrical connectors coupled to each respective loop of the cable. A power source passes current through the respective cable loops, which heats the hub. The induction heating is applied to the mating components in the engine, in order to create a sufficient temperature differential that permits assembly or disassembly of the hub and shaft. A controller regulates power applied to the hub and shaft and monitors their temperature with temperature sensors.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An induction heating apparatus for disassembly or assembly of a first component from a second component of a gas turbine engine, comprising

a flexible heating jacket for wrapping about an outer circumferential surface of a first component of a gas turbine engine, the heating jacket having:
an electrically conductive, flexible cable, having a plurality of loops, the loops collectively defining a three-dimensional profile that defines relative pitch orientation between adjacent loops, the three-dimensional profile selectively sized to abut against and envelop the first component when wrapped by the jacket;
a pair of first and second coil holders respectively coupled to each respective loop of the cable, for maintaining the respective relative pitch orientation between adjacent loops of the plurality loops;
and
a plurality of electrically conductive electrical connectors interposed between the first and second coil holders, each electrical connector having selectively separable first and second connector portions respectively conductively coupled in series within a corresponding loop of the cable;
and
a power source coupled to the cable of the heating jacket, for heating the cable loops when the first and second connector portions of the plurality of electrical connectors are respectively coupled to each other, by passing current through the respective loops, so that the first component is heated to a higher temperature than the second component.

4 more elements

A method for disassembly or assembly of an inner surface of a first component from a mating outer surface of a second component of a gas turbine engine, comprising:

providing a flexible heating jacket having:
an electrically conductive, flexible cable the cable having a plurality of loops;
and a plurality of electrically conductive electrical connectors respectively having selectively separable first and second connector portions respectively conductively coupled in series within a corresponding loop of the cable;
separating each of the respective first and second connector portions of each electrical connector from each other;
inserting an outer surface of the first component within the jacket, by passing the first component between separated first and second connector portions of each electrical connector;
coupling the respective first and second connector portions of each electrical connector to each other, enveloping the outer circumferential surface of the first component in abutting contact with the loops;
heating the first component by supplying electrical current to the flexible cable of the heating jacket with a power source, increasing relative temperature of the first component higher than that of the second component, and expanding an inner surface of the first component greater than an outer surface of the second component;
and
separating or joining the heated inner surface of the first component and the mating outer surface of the second component.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/649,672Filed 5 Oct 2018
Priority: 10 Oct 2017
Published: 25 Nov 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

B23P 6/007
Repairing turbine components, e.g. moving or stationary blades, rotors,: using only additive methods, e.g. build-up welding
G05D 23/1927
Characterised by the use of electric means: using a plurality of sensors
H01F 41/04
For manufacturing cores, coils, or magnets: for manufacturing coils
H05B 6/06
Induction heating: control, e.g. of temperature, of power