Hole liners for repair of vane counterbore holes

• US 7,722,318 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Addis, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kershteyn; Igor
• Application Number:
  US11/706,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20080193280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 415/148, 415/150, 415/159, 415/160, 415/161, 415/162, 415/208.1, 415/208.2, 415/209.2, 415/133
• US Class Current: 415/148
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 6/005 using only replacement pieces of a particular form
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/162 for axial flow, i.e. the vanes turning around axes which are essentially perpendicular to the rotor centre line F01D17/167 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/526 Details of the casing section radially opposing blade tips ducts F04D29/545
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/563 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/80 Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/14 Casings or housings protecting or supporting assemblies within

Abstract

A variable vane shroud for a gas turbine engine comprises a cylindrically shaped body, a hole arranged at a circumference of the body, and a counterbore arranged concentrically around the hole on a radially inward facing surface of the body. The hole is for receiving a trunnion from a variable vane and the counterbore is for receiving a hub from the variable vane. A liner is inserted into the hole and counterbore such that the trunnion and hub are provided with a contact surface. The invention also provides a method for repairing a damaged counterbore in a variable vane shroud. A liner having a shape corresponding to a layer of material removed from the shroud is inserted into the void left by removing damaged material such that the counterbore is restored to pre-damaged dimensions.

Claims

1. A vane shroud for a gas turbine engine, the vane shroud comprising:

a cylindrical shaped body;

a hole arranged at a circumference of the body, wherein the hole is for receiving a trunnion from a variable vane;

a counterbore arranged concentrically around the hole on a radially inward facing surface of the body, wherein the counterbore is for receiving a hub from the variable vane;

a recess positioned on a radially inward facing surface of the counterbore;

a liner inserted into the hole and counterbore such that the trunnion and hub are provided with a contact surface; and

an anti-rotation feature positioned on a radially outward facing surface of the liner for insertion into the recess.

2. The vane shroud of claim 1 wherein the counterbore and hole are over-sized such that they receive the liner.

3. The vane shroud of claim 2 wherein the liner is inserted into the hole and counterbore to restore the cylindrical shaped body to design dimensions.

4. The vane shroud of claim 2 wherein the counterbore and hole are over-sized by a process used to remove a damaged portion of the body.

5. The vane shroud of claim 2 wherein the liner is inserted into the hole and counterbore such that the hole and counterbore are dimensioned to mate with the trunnion and hub.

6. The vane shroud of claim 1 wherein the anti-rotation feature is insertable into the recess to prevent rotation of the liner within the counterbore.

7. The vane shroud of claim 1 wherein the liner comprises:

a flat floor portion for engaging the hub;

a wall extending around a perimeter of the floor portion, and having a profile to match that of the radially inward surface of the body; and

a neck for receiving the trunnion.

8. The vane shroud of claim 7 wherein the anti-rotation feature is insertable into the recess such that the profile of the wall aligns with the profile of the radially inward facing surface of the body.

9. The vane shroud of claim 1 wherein the liner is secured to the body.

10. The vane shroud of claim 1 wherein the liner is comprised of a material having a lower coefficient of friction than that of the body.

11. The vane shroud of claim 10 wherein the liner comprises at least one of the following materials:

a metallic alloy and a plastic.

12. A method for repairing a damaged counterbore in a variable vane shroud, the method comprising:

removing a layer of base material from the vane shroud around the counterbore to produce a socket such that a damaged portion of the counterbore is removed; and

inserting a liner having a shape corresponding to the layer of base material removed from the shroud into the socket such that the counterbore is restored to pre-damaged dimensions.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of removing the layer of base material comprises over-boring the counterbore.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the layer of removed base material comprises removing a cylindrically shaped portion of the base material.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the counter bore comprises:

a generally flat floor;

a wall portion surrounding a perimeter of the floor; and

a neck portion extending from a hole in a center of the counterbore.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of removing the layer of base material comprises:

removing material from the wall portion;

removing material from the floor; and

removing material from the neck portion.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of removing the layer of base material further comprises producing a locating recess in the floor such that the liner fits within the socket in only one position.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of removing the layer of base material further comprises producing a locating recess in the floor such that a wall portion of the liner aligns with the wall portion of the counterbore.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of removing the layer of base material further comprises producing a locating recess in the floor to prevent rotation of the liner.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the liner is comprised of a material having a lower coefficient of friction than the base material of the vane shroud.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the liner comprises at least one of the following materials:

a metallic alloy and a plastic.

22. A liner for receiving a trunnion of a variable vane in a compressor fan case, the liner comprising:

a generally flat floor comprising;

a first surface for abutting a base of the trunnion; and

a second surface for abutting the compressor fancase;

a wall portion surrounding a perimeter of the floor and extending from the first surface, wherein the wall is shaped to match a contour of a radially inward facing surface of the fan case;

a neck portion extending from the second surface and surrounding a hole in a center of the floor, wherein the hole is for receiving the trunnion; and

an anti-rotation button protruding from the second surface so as to be configured for insertion into a mating locating recess in the fan case.

23. The liner of claim 22 wherein the liner is configured for insertion into a void in the fan case to restore the fan case to design dimensions.

24. The liner of claim 22 wherein the anti-rotation button is spaced from the neck portion and the wall portion in a radial direction, and does not extend around an entire perimeter of the hole in a circumferential direction so as to provide a circumferential alignment feature.

25. The liner of claim 22 wherein the wall portion includes an outer annular surface surrounding the hole and wherein a height of the wall portion between the first surface of the floor and the outer annular surface varies such that the outer annular surface is sloped.