Stator vane extraction
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsThomas DeMichael, David N. Cunningham, Philip G. Seeley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method in which the interface at which two components are bonded together, by a bonding material that has a lower melting temperature than the material from which the components are made, is heated to the melting temperature of the bonding material, allowing the components to be separated without cutting any of the interface material.
Claims19
A method of separating a stator vane from a stator outer ring, said stator vane bonded to the stator ring by a bonding material at an interface between the stator vane and the stator ring, said method comprising:
- providing a device for fixing the position of the stator ring relative to the stator vane;
- heating the bonding material at the interface until substantially all of the bonding material at the interface melts;
- and,
- pulling the stator vane away from the stator ring until the stator vane is in spaced relation to the stator ring.
A device for separating a first component from a second component, said first component bonded to the second component by a bonding material at an interface between the first and second components, the components and the bonding material are made of metal, and the bonding material provides some resistance to the flow of electrical current therethrough, said device comprising
- a fixture for fixing the position of one of the components relative to the other component, said fixture removeably attached to the second component;
- heating means for heating the bonding material at the interface, the heating means comprising an electrical power supply, and first and second electrical conductors connected to said power supply, the first electrical conductor connected to said fixture and the second electrical conductor connected to said means for pulling one of the components away from the other component;
- cooling means for cooling at least one of the components;
- and
- pulling means for pulling one of the components away from the other component, said pulling means removeably attached to the first component, the pulling means comprising a vane pulling tool, a puller block and a hydraulic ram, the vane pulling tool is secured to the ram by the puller block, the second electrical conductor is connected to the puller block, and the first component is removeably fastened to the vane pulling tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.