Jacking assembly for rotor

• US 9,970,325 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2015
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Oden, Joshua Michael, Helton, Michael, Dixson, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Koehler, Christopher M
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALL JR, TYRONE VINCENT
• Application Number:
  US14/700,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20160319665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/107 for lifting engines
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/62 comprising article-engaging members of a shape complementary to that of the articles to be handled
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/24 fluid-pressure operated water-pressure machines F03B; hydraulic gearings F16H; cylinders, pistons F16J; fluid-pressure servomotors F15B
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/18 Load gripping or retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/285 Temporary support structures, e.g. for testing, assembling, installing, repairing; Assembly methods using such structures

Abstract

A jacking assembly for a rotor of a turbine includes an arc-shaped saddle which extends around and supports a lower portion of a rotor. A lifting beam extends over the rotor transversely to an axial direction of the rotor. The lifting beam is axially aligned with the arc-shaped saddle. Two connectors are disposed on respective lateral sides of the rotor, each connector extending between and being coupled to the lifting beam and the arc-shaped saddle such that the saddle is configured to lift the rotor vertically when the lifting beam is displaced vertically.

Claims

1. A rotor jacking system for a turbine or generator, comprising:

a rotor rotatably disposed in a turbine or generator; and

a jacking assembly comprising;

an arc-shaped saddle configured to extend around and support a lower portion of the rotor without removing the rotor from the turbine or generator, the saddle having two blind holes formed therein;

a lifting beam configured to extend over the rotor transversely to an axial direction of the rotor, the lifting beam being axially aligned with the arc-shaped saddle; and

two connectors disposed on respective lateral sides of the rotor, each connector extending between and being attached respectively to the lifting beam and the arc-shaped saddle such that the arc-shaped saddle is positioned spaced-apart from the lifting beam, the connectors being received, respectively, in the two blind holes without passing through a rear side of the saddle,

wherein one or both of the two connectors is configured to facilitate rotating the saddle around the rotor, while the rotor is disposed in the turbine or generator, until the saddle is positioned beneath the lower portion of the rotor, and

wherein the saddle is configured to lift the rotor vertically when the lifting beam is displaced vertically.

2. The rotor jacking system of claim 1, further comprising two lifting devices disposed on respective lateral sides of the rotor, each lifting device configured to support a portion of the lifting beam.

3. The rotor jacking system of claim 2, wherein each lifting device is configured to move vertically so as to displace vertically the lifting beam.

4. The rotor jacking system of claim 3, wherein the two lifting devices are mechanical jacks.

5. The rotor jacking system of claim 1, wherein the arc-shaped saddle has a semicircular shape.

6. The rotor jacking system of claim 1, wherein the two connectors are threaded rods.

7. The rotor jacking system of claim 6, wherein the two connectors are coupled to the lifting beam by retaining members.

8. The rotor jacking system of claim 7, wherein the retaining members are nuts received on the threaded rods.

9. The rotor jacking system of claim 1, wherein the lifting beam in configured to be displaced vertically so as to lift the rotor a distance of 0.008 to 0.0225 inches.

10. The rotor jacking system of claim 9, wherein the lifting beam in configured to be displaced vertically so as to lift the rotor a distance of 0.01 to 0.02 inches.

11. The rotor jacking system of claim 1, further comprising an arc-shaped retaining member connected to the saddle and configured to extend around an upper portion of the rotor so as to hold the saddle beneath the lower portion of the rotor.

12. The rotor jacking system of claim 1, wherein each connector has a first end directly attached to the arc-shaped saddle.

13. A gas turbine system, comprising:

a compressor section;

a turbine;

a thrust cage cavity; and

a rotor jacking system, comprising;

a rotor rotatably disposed in the turbine; and

a jacking assembly comprising;

an arc-shaped saddle configured to extend around and support a lower portion of the rotor without removing the rotor from the turbine, the saddle having two blind holes formed therein;

a lifting beam configured to extend over the rotor transversely to an axial direction of the rotor, the lifting beam being axially aligned with the arc-shaped saddle; and

two connectors disposed on respective lateral sides of the rotor, each connector extending between and being attached respectively to the lifting beam and the arc-shaped saddle such that the arc-shaped saddle is positioned spaced-apart from the lifting beam, the connectors being received, respectively, in the two blind holes without passing through a rear side of the saddle,

wherein one or both of the two connectors is configured to facilitate rotating the saddle around the rotor, while the rotor is disposed in the turbine, until the saddle is positioned beneath the lower portion of the rotor, and

wherein the saddle is configured to lift the rotor vertically when the lifting beam is displaced vertically,

wherein the rotor is coupled to the compressor section and the turbine, and

wherein the saddle is positioned in the thrust cage cavity.