System for optimal alignment of a shaft of a gas turbine

• US 20070014660A1
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axiam, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Axiam, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,765,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/122.100
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/003 Arrangements for testing or measuring for measuring vibrations G01H
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/285 Temporary support structures, e.g. for testing, assembling, installing, repairing; Assembly methods using such structures
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/027 Arrangements for balancing for balancing rotating bodies in general F16F15/32; for compensating unbalance G01M1/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/02 Gearings; Transmission mechanisms

Abstract

A system for substantially aligning a shaft of a turbine engine with components of the turbine engine. The system includes a horizontal bed adapted to support a shaft in a horizontal orientation, at least one stand for rotatably supporting the shaft in the horizontal orientation, at least one sensor for measuring characteristics associated with the shaft, and a determination module receiving the measured characteristics and outputting alignment information of the shaft with components of the turbine engine based on the measured characteristics.

Claims

1. A system for substantially aligning a shaft of a turbine engine with components of the turbine engine, comprising:

a horizontal bed adapted to hold a subject shaft in a horizontal orientation;

at least one stand coupled to the horizontal bed for rotatably supporting the subject shaft in the horizontal orientation;

at least one sensor for measuring characteristics of the subject shaft while the subject shaft is in the horizontal orientation on the horizontal bed; and

a determination module receiving the measured characteristics and outputting alignment information of the shaft with components of the turbine engine based on the measured characteristics.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal bed includes a variable speed drive for rotating the subject shaft.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the variable speed drive rotates the subject shaft at a speed from zero to five revolutions per minute.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein a proximal end of the subject shaft is coupled to the variable speed drive through a drive coupling.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the drive coupling constrains axial motion of the subject shaft and prevents backlash during rotation.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein a distal end of the subject shaft is coupled to a stub shaft for rotatable engagement by at least one of the stands.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein coupling of the distal end of the subject shaft to the stub shaft forms a groove to allow a face of the distal end of the subject shaft to be measured.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one sensor measures characteristics associated with the face of the distal end of the subject shaft.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the proximal end of the subject shaft includes a spline.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one sensor measures characteristics associated with the spline of the proximal end of the subject shaft.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor includes a toothed wheel for rotatably engaging the spline.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the toothed wheel provides pitch diameter data of the spline.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each tooth of the wheel has a radius form that corresponds to the pitch diameter of the spline.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein each stand includes two ultra precision rollers for allowing the subject shaft to rotate freely about its axis.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the measured characteristics include at least one member selected from the group comprising:

roundness, flatness, concentricity, concentricity angle, runout, runout angle, perpendicularity, perpendicularity angle, perpendicular plane deviation, centerline deviation, centerline deviation angle, biplane deviation, and biplane deviation angle.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the alignment information includes at least one member selected from the group comprising:

bolt-hole alignment and spline coupling alignment.

17. A system for substantially aligning a shaft of a turbine engine with components of the turbine engine, comprising:

means for rotating a shaft in a horizontal plane;

means for supporting the shaft in the horizontal orientation;

means for measuring characteristics of the shaft while in horizontal orientation; and

means for determining and outputting alignment information of the shaft with components of the turbine engine based on the measured characteristics.

18. A method for substantially aligning a shaft of a turbine engine with components of the turbine engine, comprising:

providing a horizontal bed adapted to hold a subject shaft in a horizontal orientation;

using at least one stand coupled to the horizontal bed, rotatably supporting the subject shaft in a horizontal orientation;

measuring characteristics of the subject shaft while the subject shaft is in the horizontal orientation on the horizontal bed; and

determining and outputting adjustment information of the subject shaft with components of the turbine engine based on the measured characteristics.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the measured characteristics include at least one member selected from the group comprising:

roundness, flatness, concentricity, concentricity angle, runout, runout angle, perpendicularity, perpendicularity angle, perpendicular plane deviation, centerline deviation, centerline deviation angle, biplane deviation, and biplane deviation angle.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the alignment information includes at least one member selected from the group comprising:

bolt-hole alignment and spline coupling alignment.