Tool for Removing Collars

• US 20160236334A1
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Eigner, David J., Eichner, Steven E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,456,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2215/76 Components for turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/204 using fluid-pressure means to actuate the gripping means B23B31/207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/2073 Axially fixed cam, moving jaws B23B31/20125 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/002 for special purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/105 the gripping device being an integral part of the driving bit

Abstract

A method comprises the steps of providing a tool over a collar secured to a stud on a gas turbine engine system. The collet is driven to rotate and remove the collar from the stud. A tool for removing collars from studs has a driver with a housing receiving a piston. A spring drives the piston, and the housing also has a hydraulic fluid supply opening for selectively receiving a hydraulic fluid to move the piston in opposition to a force from the spring. Collet fingers are movable between a released position and a secured position when a supply of hydraulic fluid is supplied into the housing.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a tool having a collet over a collar secured to a stud on a gas turbine engine system; and

driving said collet to rotate and remove said collar from said stud.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said collet includes a plurality of collet fingers and said collet fingers being driven between a released and a secured position, with said collet fingers being in said released position when initially placed over said collar, and then driven to said locked position prior to said collet fingers being driven to rotate and remove said collar.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said collet fingers move with a piston within a housing and hydraulic fluid drives said piston to move said collet fingers to the relaxed position at which they define the released position, and a spring operating in opposition to said hydraulic fluid to drive said piston and said collet fingers to said secured position.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein a single trigger is actuated to supply said hydraulic fluid to drive said piston, then to release the hydraulic fluid to allow said spring to move said piston and then to actuate a motor to drive said collet fingers.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said gas turbine engine system is a portion of an exhaust nozzle.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said portion of said exhaust nozzle is a liner.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said piston has a conical surface which is forced against an edge surface of an opening in said housing, with said conical surface being forced against said edge surface to move said collet fingers to said secured position.

8. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said piston has a conical surface which is forced against an edge surface of an opening in said housing, with said conical surface being forced against said edge surface to move said collet fingers to said secured position.

9. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said piston has a conical surface which is forced against an edge surface of an opening in said housing, with said conical surface being forced against said edge surface to move said collet fingers to said secured position.

10. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said gas turbine engine system is a portion of an exhaust nozzle.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said portion of said exhaust nozzle is a liner.

12. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said piston has a conical surface which is forced against an edge surface of an opening in said housing, with said conical surface being forced against said edge surface to move said collet fingers to said secured position.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said gas turbine engine system is a portion of a combustor.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said portion of the combustor is a liner.

15. A tool for removing collars from studs comprising:

a driver having a housing and receiving a piston moveably within said housing, a spring driving said piston, said housing also having a drive for selectively moving said piston in opposition to a force from said spring; and

collet fingers being moveable between a released position and a secured position.

16. The tool for removing collars from studs as set forth in claim 15, wherein said drive includes a hydraulic fluid supply opening for selectively receiving a hydraulic fluid to move said piston in opposition to said force from said spring, and supply of hydraulic fluid controlling the movement of said collet fingers between said released position and said secured position.

17. The tool for removing collars from studs as set forth in claim 16, wherein the supply of hydraulic fluid drives said piston to said released position and when the hydraulic fluid is released, said spring drives said piston to move the collet fingers to the secured position.

18. The tool for removing collars from studs as set forth in claim 17, wherein said housing having an opening and there being a conical surface on said piston, said conical surface being forced against edges of said opening in said housing to cam said collet fingers to said secured position.

19. The tool for removing collars from studs as set forth in claim 18, wherein an electric motor drives a shaft having splines which in turn rotate with said piston, but wherein said piston can move axially relative to said splines.

20. The tool for removing collars from studs as set forth in claim 19, wherein said collet fingers are separated by slots, and wherein said slots are reduced in size, when said collet fingers are cammed to said secured position.