Borescope inspection port device for gas turbine engine and gas turbine engine using same

• US 7,458,768 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Clouse, Brian E., Dube, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): White; Dwayne J
• Application Number:
  US11/170,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 415/118, 415/201
• US Class Current: 415/115
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/02 Arrangement of sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/80 Diagnostics

Abstract

An adapter to permit borescope access inside a gas turbine engine including a compressor stator having a plurality of compressor stator segments comprises a body portion defining a bore extending longitudinally therethrough from a first end to be disposed adjacent to outside surfaces of adjacent compressor stator segments to a second end to be disposed adjacent to inside surfaces of adjacent compressor stator segments. The bore permits a borescope to enter therethrough. The adapter further comprises an attachment portion for circumferentially coupling at least one compressor stator segment to an outer casing of the gas turbine engine.

Claims

1. An adapter to permit borescope access inside a gas turbine engine having an outer casing and including a compressor stator having at least one compressor stator segment, the adapter comprising:

a body portion defining a bore extending longitudinally therethrough from a first end to be disposed adjacent to outside surfaces of the outer casing to a second end to be disposed adjacent to an inside surface of the at least one compressor stator segment, the bore permitting a borescope to enter therethrough; and

an attachment portion for circumferentially coupling the at least one compressor stator segment to the outer casing.

2. An adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment portion includes a flange.

3. An adapter as defined in claim 2, wherein the flange includes a first portion extending outwardly from the body portion for coupling one of the at least one compressor stator segments to the outer casing, and includes a second portion extending outwardly from the body portion in a direction generally opposite to that of the first portion for coupling another of the at least one compressor stator segments to the outer casing.

4. An adapter as defined in claim 3, wherein the first and second portions of the flange each define a hole extending therethrough for receiving a fastener to couple an associated compressor stator segment to the outer casing.

5. An adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein the body portion is generally circular in cross section.

6. An adapter as defined in claim 5, wherein at least one circumferential portion of an outer wall of the body portion is shaped for engaging a similarly shaped portion of the at least one compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.

7. An adapter as defined in claim 5, wherein at least one circumferential portion of an outer wall of the body portion is generally flat for engaging a similarly shaped portion of the at least one compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.

8. An adapter as defined in claim 5, wherein two circumferential portions disposed generally at opposite sides of an outer wall of the body portion relative to each other are each shaped for engaging a similarly shaped portion of an associated compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the associated compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.

9. An adapter as defined in claim 5, wherein two circumferential portions disposed generally at opposite sides of an outer wall of the body portion relative to each other are each generally flat for engaging a similarly shaped portion of an associated compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the associated compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.

10. An adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein the bore defined by the body portion of the adapter is generally circular.

11. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a compressor section having an outer casing and including a compressor stator and rotor, the compressor stator including a plurality of compressor stator segments;

a combustion section communicating with and disposed downstream of the compressor section relative to a direction of airflow;

a gas turbine section communicating with and disposed downstream of the combustion section relative to a direction of airflow; and

an adapter circumferentially coupling at least one of the compressor stator segments to the outer casing, the adapter including a body portion defining a bore extending therethrough from at least an outside surface to an inside surface of an associated compressor stator segment, the bore permitting a borescope to enter therethrough.

12. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 11, wherein the adapter further includes a flange for coupling the associated compressor stator segment to the outer casing.

13. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 12, wherein the flange includes a first portion extending outwardly from the body portion for coupling one of the at least one compressor stator segments to the outer casing, and includes a second portion extending outwardly from the body portion in a direction generally opposite to that of the first portion for coupling another of the at least one compressor stator segments to the outer casing.

14. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 13, wherein the first and second portions of the flange each define a hole extending therethrough for receiving a fastener to couple an associated compressor stator segment to the outer casing.

15. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 11, wherein the body portion is generally circular in cross section.

16. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 15, wherein at least one circumferential portion of an outer wall of the body portion is shaped for engaging a similarly shaped portion of the at least one compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.

17. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 15, wherein at least one circumferential portion of an outer wall of the body portion is generally flat for engaging a similarly shaped portion of the at least one compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.

18. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 15, wherein two circumferential portions disposed generally at opposite sides of an outer wall of the body portion relative to each other are each shaped for engaging a similarly shaped portion of an associated compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the associated compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.

19. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 15, wherein two circumferential portions disposed generally at opposite sides of an outer wall of the body portion relative to each other are each generally flat for engaging a similarly shaped portion of an associated compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the associated compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.

20. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 11, wherein the bore defined by the body portion of the adapter is generally circular.

21. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 11, wherein the adapter is arranged in axial alignment with the compressor section.