Apparatus and methods for repairing compressor airfoils in situ

Apparatus for in situ repair of airfoils of a compressor, comprising:

• a manipulator for mounting to an inlet of the compressor and for movement in a generally circumferential direction about an axis;
• a tool carried by said manipulator for movement therewith and relative thereto about three orthogonally related axes, said tool being movable into the inlet of the compressor to a position in contact with a selected airfoil;
• a drive system for driving said tool into contact with the selected airfoil;
• and
• a system for controlling the drive system to position the tool in contact with the selected airfoil for repairing the selected airfoil;
• said tool including a section carrying an abrasive and pivotally carried by said manipulator, and a spring for biasing said section to maintain the abrasive engaged against the airfoil with a substantial constant force.

Apparatus for in situ repair of airfoils of a compressor, comprising:

• a manipulator for mounting to an inlet of the compressor and for movement in a generally circumferential direction about an axis;
• a tool carried by said manipulator for movement therewith and relative thereto about three orthogonally related axes, said tool being movable into the inlet of the compressor to a position in contact with a selected airfoil;
• a drive system for driving said tool into contact with the selected airfoil;
• and
• a system for controlling the drive system to position the tool in contact with the selected airfoil for repairing the selected airfoil;
• said tool including a device for shot peening the surface of the selected airfoil.

Apparatus for in situ repair of airfoils of a compressor, comprising:

• an arcuate track for mounting to an inlet of the compressor;
• a manipulator mounted on said track for movement in a generally circumferential direction about an axis and along said track;
• a support system for a tool including a first module carried by said manipulator for movement therewith and relative thereto in a generally tangential direction;
• a second module carried by said first module for movement relative to said first module in a direction normal to said tangential direction and generally in a plane normal to an axis of the compressor;
• a third module carried by said second module for movement relative to said second module in a direction generally parallel to said axis, said tool being carried by said third module for movement therewith;
• a drive system for driving said modules in the respective directions;
• a system for measuring and recording the position of the tool relative to a selected airfoil;
• and
• a system responsive to the measuring and recording system for controlling the drive system to position the tool relative to the selected airfoil for repairing the selected airfoil.