Bearing area heating fixture and method

A bearing area heating fixture for use in heating part of a jet engine comprising:

• a. a first component comprising a first circular plate having a first surface, a second surface, a center, and a periphery;
• and
• b. an elongated member that is joined to the first surface of the first circular plate and that extends perpendicularly from the center of the first circular plate, said elongated member having a length extending between a proximal end where it is joined to the first circular plate and a distal end, and a width, wherein said elongated member has a pin-receiving hole therethrough that is perpendicular to the length of the elongated member adjacent to its distal end;
• and
• c. a second component comprising a second circular plate having a first surface, a second surface, and a center, and three through holes in the second circular plate, wherein three tubular members are joined to the first surface of said second circular plate so that a single tubular member surrounds a single through hole and said tubular members extend substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the second circular plate, said three tubular members comprising:
• i. a central tubular member having a width that is greater than the width of the elongated member, said central tubular member having a length, a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein one of the through holes is a central through hole, and said central tubular member is joined around the central through hole at central location on the first surface of said second circular plate, and said central tubular member is sized and configured for receiving the distal end of the elongated member therein, wherein said central tubular member has an outer pin-receiving hole therethrough that is perpendicular to the length of the central tubular member adjacent to its distal end;
• and
• ii. a pair of outer tubular members comprising ports that are sized and configured for receiving and holding heaters for transferring heat into the interior space of the article,
• wherein the elongated member is configured to be inserted from the second surface of the second component into the central tubular member of the second component and held in place therein.

A method of heating part of a turbine engine in order to service the same, which part has two open ends and portions that define an interior space, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a fixture for use in heating part of the engine, said fixture comprising:
• i. a first component comprising a first cover that is sized and configured for covering one open end of the part of the engine;
• and
• ii. a second component comprising a second cover that is sized and configured for covering another open end of the part of the engine,
• wherein at least one of said first component and said second component has a mechanism joined thereto for joining said first and second components together around the part of the engine in a spaced apart relationship, and one of said first component and said second component comprises at least one port for transferring heat into the interior space of the part of the engine;
• b. positioning the fixture so that the first component covers one open end of the part of the engine and the second component covers another open end of the part of the engine, and joining said first and second components together around the part of the engine in a spaced apart relationship using said mechanism;
• c. connecting a heat source to said at least one port for transferring heat into the interior space of the part of the engine;
• and
• d. heating the interior space using the heat source.