Rotor assembly system and method

• US 20050234576A1
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axiam, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Axiam, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,739,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/003 Arrangements for testing or measuring for measuring vibrations G01H
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/64 using positioning or alignment devices for aligning or centring, e.g. pins
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4932 Turbomachine making

Abstract

A system is disclosed for use in assembling a plurality of rotatable elements in the assembly of a turbine engine. The system includes an initialization unit, a measurement unit, and a processing unit. The initialization unit is for entering initialization data into a database. The initialization data includes a first set of initialization data that is representative of characteristics of a first rotatable element, and a second set of initialization data that is representative of characteristics of a second rotatable element. The measurement unit is for permitting a user to enter measured data including a first set of measured data characteristic of measured features of the first rotatable element, and a second set of measured data characteristic of measured features of the second rotatable element. The processor unit is for determining an optimal order and rotational arrangement of the first and second rotatable elements with respect to one another responsive to the first and second sets of initialization data and the first and second sets of measured data.

Claims

1. A system for use in assembling a plurality of modules, each module including a plurality of rotatable elements, in the assembly of a turbine engine, said system comprising:

module assembly means comprising;

initialization means for entering initialization data into a database, said initialization data including a first set of initialization data that includes data that is representative of a design characteristic of a first rotatable element, and a second set of initialization data that is representative of a design characteristic of a second rotatable element;

measurement means for permitting a user to enter measured data including a first set of measured data that includes data that is representative of a measured characteristic of the first rotatable element, and a second set of measured data that includes data that is representative of a measured characteristic of the second rotatable element; and

processor means for determining an optimal rotational arrangement of the first and second rotatable elements with respect to one another responsive to said first and second sets off initialization data and said first and second sets of measured data;

module-to-module assembly means comprising;

verification means for verifying measured characteristics of at least two assembled modules;

assembly parameter means for assembling the at least two modules of the turbine engine; and

pressure means for maintaining a constant pressure during assembly each module and the plurality of modules.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a module is a low pressure compressor module, a high pressure compressor module, a high pressure turbine, or a low pressure turbine.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure means is a hydraulic press.

4. A system for use in assembling a plurality of modules, each module including a plurality of rotatable elements, in the assembly of a turbine engine, said system comprising:

module assembly means comprising;

initialization means for entering initialization data into a database, said initialization data including a first set of initialization data that includes data that is representative of a geometric characteristic of a first rotatable element, and a second set of initialization data that is representative of a geometric characteristic of a second rotatable element;

measurement means for permitting a user to enter measured data including a first set of measured data that includes data that is representative of a measured geometric characteristic of the first rotatable element, and a second set of measured data that includes data that is representative of a measured geometric characteristic of the second rotatable element; and

processor means for determining an optimal order of the first and second rotatable elements with respect to one another responsive to said first and. second sets of initialization data and said first and second sets of measured data;

module-to-module assembly means comprising;

verification means for verifying measured geometric characteristics of at least two assembled modules;

assembly parameter means for assembling the at least two modules of the turbine engine; and

pressure means for maintaining a constant pressure during assembly each module and the plurality of modules.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein a module is a low pressure compressor module, a high pressure compressor module, a high pressure turbine, or a low pressure turbine.

6. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pressure means is a hydraulic press.

7. A system for use in assembling a plurality of modules, each module including a plurality of rotatable elements, in the assembly of a turbine engine, said system comprising:

module assembly means comprising;

initialization means for entering initialization data into a database, said initialization data including a first set of initialization data that includes data that is representative of a design characteristic of a first rotatable element, a second set of initialization data that is representative of a design characteristic of a second rotatable element, and a third set of initialization data that is representative of a design characteristic of a third rotatable element;

measurement means for permitting a user to enter measured data including a first set of measured data that includes data that is representative of a measured characteristic of the first rotatable element, a second set of measured data that includes data that is representative of a measured characteristic of the second rotatable element, and a third set of measured data that includes data that is representative of a measured characteristic of the third rotatable element; and

processor means for determining an optimal order of the first, second and third rotatable elements with respect to one another responsive to said first, second and third sets of initialization data and said first, second and third sets of measured data;

module-to-module assembly means comprising;

verification means for verifying measured design characteristics of at least two assembled modules;

assembly parameter means for assembling the at least two modules of the turbine engine; and

pressure means for maintaining a constant pressure during assembly each module and the plurality of modules.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a module is a low pressure compressor module, a high pressure compressor module, a high pressure turbine, or a low pressure turbine.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pressure means is a hydraulic press.

10. A system for use in assembling a plurality of modules, each module including a plurality of rotatable elements, in the assembly of a turbine engine, said system comprising:

module assembly means comprising;

initialization means for entering initialization data into a database, said initialization data including a first set of initialization data that includes data that is representative of a face surface of a first rotatable element, and a second set of initialization data that is representative of a face surface of a second rotatable element;

measurement means for permitting a user to enter measured data including a first set of measured data that includes data that is representative of a measured face surface of the first rotatable element, and a second set of measured data that includes data that is representative of a measured face surface of the second rotatable element; and

processor means for determining an optimal rotational arrangement of the first and second rotatable elements with respect to one another responsive to said first and second sets of initialization data and said first and second sets of measured data;

module-to-module assembly means comprising;

verification means for verifying measured face surface characteristics of at least two assembled modules;

assembly parameter means for assembling the at least two modules of the turbine engine; and

pressure means for maintaining a constant pressure during assembly each module and the plurality of modules.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a module is a low pressure compressor module, a high pressure compressor module, a high pressure turbine, or a low pressure turbine.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pressure means is a hydraulic press.