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US 6,671,938 B2Granted
Pneumatic press vane lift installation tool
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorChristopher C. McFarland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a pneumatic press vane lift installation tool. The tool is formed by two inflatable, substantially semi-circular tubes which are placed between a rotor assembly and a vane assembly during the installation of the vane assembly. The tubes are each positioned adjacent an inner end of the vanes in the vane assembly and are each inflated to apply a lifting force to the vanes. The vanes are then attached to the engine case.
Claims8
A tool for installing vanes on an engine having a casing and a layer of blades, said tool comprising:
- at least one inflatable tube having a first surface which overlies and contacts said layer of blades and a second surface, opposed to said first surface, for contacting surfaces of an array of vanes;
- and
- said at least one inflatable tube in an inflated condition lifting said surfaces of said array of vanes and loading a forward foot of each said vane in said array against said casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.