Vane arm testing rig

• US 8,783,119 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2012
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Little, Jonathan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Application Number:
  US13/627,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20140083208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 731/47, 737/60, 738/623.38, 738/623.81
• US Class Current: 73/862.381
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/563 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/027 Test-benches with force-applying means, e.g. loading of drive shafts along several directions

Abstract

An example vane arm testing rig includes a base having a first attachment configured to receive a first end of a vane arm when the vane arm is in an engaged position, and a torque member having a second attachment configured to receive an opposing, second end of the vane arm when the vane arm is in the engaged position. The vane arm extends along a longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end. The first and second attachments are configured to rotate relative to each other about the axis. The first and second attachments are configured to move laterally relative to each other.

Claims

1. A vane arm testing rig, comprising:

a base having a first attachment configured to receive a first end of a vane arm; and

a torque member having a second attachment configured to receive an opposing, second end of the vane arm,

the vane arm extending along a longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end,

wherein the first and second attachments are configured to rotate relative to each other about the axis, and the first and second attachments are configured to move laterally relative to each other.

2. The vane arm testing rig of claim 1, wherein the torque member is pivotably coupled to the base.

3. The vane arm testing rig of claim 1, including a carrier that holds the torque member.

4. The vane arm testing rig of claim 3, including links that pivotably secure the carrier to the base.

5. The vane arm testing rig of claim 4, wherein the links comprise a four bar linkage.

6. The vane arm testing rig of claim 1, wherein the first and second attachments permit relative pivoting of the vane arm.

7. The vane arm testing rig of claim 6, wherein the relative pivoting is about pivot axes that are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

8. The vane arm testing rig of claim 1, including a measurement device configured to measure strain on the vane arm when the first and second attachments have rotated and moved laterally relative to each other.

9. The vane arm testing rig of claim 1, wherein the vane arm is in a test position outside a turbomachine when the vane arm is received by the first and second attachments.

10. A vane arm testing rig comprising:

a first pivot configured to hold a first end of a vane arm;

a second pivot configured to hold an opposing, second end of the vane arm, the first and second pivots movable relative to each other between a start position to a test position,

the first and second pivots in the test position being circumferentially displaced relative to the first and second pivots in the start position,

the first and second pivots in the test position being laterally displaced relative to the first and second pivots in the start position.

11. The vane arm testing rig of claim 10, wherein the torque member is coupled to the base.

12. The vane arm testing rig of claim 10, including a carrier that holds the torque member.

13. The vane arm testing rig of claim 12, including links that pivotably secures the carrier to the base.

14. The vane arm testing rig of claim 10, wherein the vane arm in the test position is outside a turbomachine.

15. A method of testing a vane arm, comprising:

securing a first end of a vane arm to a first attachment location;

securing an opposing second end of the vane arm to a second attachment location;

rotating the first attachment location relative to the second attachment location;

translating the first attachment location relative to the second attachment location.

16. The method of claim 15, including measuring strain on the vane arm.

17. The method of claim 15, including pivoting the first and about the first attachment location, and pivoting the second and about the second attachment location during the translating.

18. The method of claim 15, including coupling the first attachment location to the second attachment location utilizing a four bar linkage.

19. The method of claim 15, including applying torque to the first attachment.