ROTOR ASSEMBLY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090293276A1
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axiam, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Axiam, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Robert M., DeBlois, J. Holly
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/889.2
• 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 method and system are disclosed for use in assembling a plurality of rotatable elements in the assembly of a turbine engine. The system and method include an initialization unit, a measurement unit, and a processing unit. The initialization unit receives and stores initialization data in a computer datastore. 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 receives 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 determines 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 method of assembling turbine engine modules, each module including a plurality of rotatable elements, there being a plurality of the modules in the assembly of a turbine engine, said method comprising:

providing module assembly means configured to;

receive initialization data in a computer datastore, 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;

obtain 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

using processor means, determine 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, resulting in an assembled module, and;

providing module-to-module assembly means enabling;

verifying measured characteristics of at least two assembled modules; and

providing as output, assembly parameters for assembling the at least two modules of the turbine engine, wherein a respective constant pressure is maintained during assembly of each module and the plurality of modules.

2. The method 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 method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the constant pressure is maintained by a hydraulic press.

4. A method of assembling one or more modules in the assembly of a turbine engine, each module including a plurality of rotatable elements, said method comprising:

providing module assembly means configured to;

receive initialization data in a computer datastore, 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;

receive 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

using processor means, determine 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, resulting in an assembled module; and

providing module-to-module assembly means configured to;

verify measured geometric characteristics of at least two assembled modules; and

output assembly parameters for assembling the at least two modules of the turbine engine;

wherein a respective constant pressure is maintained during assembly of each module and the plurality of modules.

5. The method 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 method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the constant pressure is maintained by a hydraulic press.

7. A method of assembling one or more modules in the assembly of a turbine engine, each module including a plurality of rotatable elements, said method comprising:

providing module assembly means configured to;

receive initialization data into a computer datastore, 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;

receive 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

using processor means, determine 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, resulting in an assembled module; and

providing module-to-module assembly means configured to;

verify measured design characteristics of at least two assembled modules; and

output assembly parameters for assembling the at least two modules of the turbine engine under pressure.

8. The method 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 method as claimed in claim 7, wherein pressure is applied during assembly of the at least two modules by a hydraulic press.

10. A method of assembling one or more modules in the assembly of a turbine engine, each module including a plurality of rotatable elements, said method comprising:

providing module assembly means configured to;

receive and store initialization data in a computer datastore, 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;

receive 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

using processor means, determine 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; and

providing module-to-module assembly means configured to;

verify measured face surface characteristics of at least two assembled modules;

generate assembly parameters for assembling the at least two modules of the turbine engine under pressure, a respective constant pressure being maintained during assembly of each module and the plurality of modules.

11. The method 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 method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the constant pressure is maintained by a hydraulic press.