Rotary machines and methods of assembling

• US 7,780,407 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Anderson, James P., Piechota, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): VERDIER, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US11/325,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20070154306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,693 Days
• Field of Search: 415189-190, 415/209.2, 415/209.3, 415/209.4, 415/210.1, 415230-231, 415/173.7, 415/174.5, 294/020.1, 294/020.6, 294/020.9, 294/021.1, 294/020.3, 294/021.2, 294/021.4, 294/021.5, 294/021.7, 298/891, 298/892, 298/892.2
• US Class Current: 415/209.2
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 11/001 for sealing space between stator blade and rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/31 in steam turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49318 Repairing or disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49323 Assembling fluid flow directing devices, e.g., stators, diaphragms, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49726 Removing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49735 Mechanically attaching preform with separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49739 Mechanically attaching preform by separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49741 Screw threaded fastener

Abstract

A rotary machine and a method of assembling a rotary machine having a casing extending at least partially around a rotor are provided. The method includes providing a diaphragm patch ring. The method also includes assembling a diaphragm assembly by configuring a diaphragm bore portion to receive the diaphragm patch ring and forming a diaphragm patch member sub-assembly by coupling the diaphragm patch ring to the configured diaphragm bore portion, such that the diaphragm bore portion defines at least one dowel passage and at least one bolt passage. The method further includes inserting at least one dowel generally radially into the at least one dowel passage, inserting at least one fastening bolt generally radially into the at least one bolt passage to secure the diaphragm patch ring to the diaphragm bore portion, and positioning the diaphragm assembly in a gap formed by the casing and the rotor.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a rotary machine having a casing extending at least partially around a rotor comprising:

providing a diaphragm patch ring;

assembling a diaphragm assembly by configuring a diaphragm bore portion to receive the diaphragm patch ring and forming a diaphragm patch member sub-assembly by coupling the diaphragm patch ring to the configured diaphragm bore portion, the diaphragm bore portion defining at least one dowel passage and at least one bolt passage;

inserting at least one dowel generally radially into the at least one dowel passage;

inserting at least one fastening bolt generally radially into the at least one bolt passage to secure the diaphragm patch ring to the diaphragm bore portion; and

positioning the diaphragm assembly in a gap formed by the casing and the rotor.

2. A method of assembling a rotary machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein configuring a diaphragm bore portion to receive the diaphragm patch ring comprises forming a substantially annular radially inner mating surface via machining at least one radially outermost surface of the bore portion.

3. A method of assembling a rotary machine in accordance with claim 2 wherein configuring a diaphragm bore portion to receive the diaphragm patch ring further comprises machining the at least one dowel passage and the at least one bolt passage within the radially inner mating surface.

4. A method of assembling a rotary machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein forming a diaphragm patch member sub-assembly via coupling the diaphragm patch ring to the configured diaphragm bore portion comprises aligning the diaphragm patch ring with the diaphragm bore portion.

5. A method of assembling a rotary machine in accordance with claim 4 wherein aligning the diaphragm patch ring with the diaphragm bore portion comprises:

inserting a patch ring groove formed by at least one patch ring mating surface over a bore portion protrusion formed by at least one bore portion mating surface such that a friction fit is formed;

aligning a plurality of diaphragm patch ring dowel passages with a plurality of diaphragm bore portion dowel passages and inserting at least one dowel generally radially into at least one aligned pair of the dowel passages; and

aligning a plurality of diaphragm patch ring bolt passages with a plurality of diaphragm bore portion bolt passages and inserting at least one fastening bolt generally radially into at least one aligned pair of the bolt passages.

6. A method of assembling a rotary machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein positioning the diaphragm assembly in a gap formed by the casing and the rotor comprises inserting the diaphragm assembly into a groove formed in a substantially annular radially inner surface of the casing.

7. A diaphragm assembly for a steam turbine comprising:

a substantially annular radially inner member configured to extend substantially circumferentially within said steam turbine, said inner member defining at least one dowel passage and at least one bolt passage; and

a substantially annular diaphragm patch member sub-assembly configured to extend substantially circumferentially within said steam turbine, said sub-assembly comprises a substantially annular diaphragm patch ring comprising a substantially annular radially outer groove that facilitates aligning said patch ring relative to said inner member, said diaphragm patch member sub-assembly being coupled to said inner member with at least one dowel inserted in said dowel passage and at least one bolt inserted in said bolt passage.

8. A diaphragm assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said diaphragm patch ring comprises a mating portion, said mating portion forms a plurality of open passages, said open passages facilitate alignment and fastening of said patch ring to said inner member.

9. A diaphragm assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said mating portion comprises a substantially annular radially outer portion, said outer portion forms said substantially annular radially outer groove, said groove configured to extend substantially circumferentially within said steam turbine, said groove facilitates alignment and fastening of said diaphragm patch ring to said inner member.

10. A diaphragm assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said inner member comprises a bore portion, said bore portion forms each of said at least one dowel passage and said at least one bolt passage, said bore portion facilitates fastening said diaphragm patch ring to said inner member.

11. A diaphragm assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said bore portion forms a radially inner protrusion, said protrusion being inserted into said substantially annular radially outer groove formed in said diaphragm patch ring, said protrusion facilitates alignment and fastening of said diaphragm patch ring to said inner member.

12. A diaphragm assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said diaphragm patch ring forms a substantially annular radially innermost groove, said groove extending substantially circumferentially within said steam turbine, said groove configured to receive a substantially arcuate seal ring segment.

13. A diaphragm assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said diaphragm patch ring is coupled to said inner member via a friction fit between said inner member and said diaphragm patch ring, said at least one dowel and said at least one bolt are each inserted into a respective one of said plurality of open passages formed by said patch ring.

14. A rotary machine comprising:

at least one rotor;

at least one stationary machine casing extending at least partly circumferentially around said at least one rotor such that a clearance gap is defined between said at least one rotor and said at least one stationary machine casing;

at least one diaphragm assembly, said diaphragm assembly being positioned within the clearance gap defined between said at least one rotor and said at least one stationary machine casing, said diaphragm assembly comprising a substantially annular radially inner member configured to extend substantially circumferentially within said rotary machine, said inner member defining at least one dowel passage and at least one bolt passage, and a substantially annular diaphragm patch member sub-assembly configured to extend substantially circumferentially within said rotary machine, said sub-assembly comprises a substantially annular diaphragm patch ring comprising a radially outer groove that facilitates aligning of said patch ring to said inner member, said diaphragm patch member sub-assembly being coupled to said inner member with at least one dowel inserted into said dowel passage and at least one bolt inserted into said bolt passage.

15. A rotary machine in accordance with claim 14 wherein said diaphragm patch ring comprises a mating portion, said mating portion forms a plurality of open passages, said open passages facilitate alignment and fastening of said patch ring to said inner member.

16. A rotary machine in accordance with claim 15 wherein said mating portion comprises a substantially annular radially outer portion, said outer portion forms said annular radially outer groove, said groove configured to extend substantially circumferentially within said rotary machine, said groove facilitates alignment and fastening of said diaphragm patch ring to said inner member.

17. A rotary machine in accordance with claim 14 wherein said inner member comprises a bore portion, said bore portion forms each of said at least one dowel passage and said at least one bolt passage to facilitate fastening of said diaphragm patch ring to said inner member.

18. A rotary machine in accordance with claim 17 wherein said bore portion forms a radially inner protrusion, said protrusion being inserted into said annular radially outer groove formed in said diaphragm patch ring, said protrusion facilitates alignment and fastening of said diaphragm patch ring to said inner member.

19. A rotary machine in accordance with claim 17 wherein said diaphragm patch ring forms a substantially annular radially innermost groove, said groove extending substantially circumferentially within said rotary machine, said groove configured to receive a substantially arcuate seal ring segment.

20. A rotary machine in accordance with claim 15 wherein said diaphragm patch ring is coupled to said inner member via each of said at least one dowel and said at least one bolt, said at least one dowel and said at least one bolt are each inserted into a respective one of said plurality of open passages formed by said patch ring.