Bolted joint system

Abstract

Therefore, this application provides a bolt fastening system. The bolt fastening system may include a bolt, a nut, and a bolt fastening tool. The bolt fastening tool may include an adapter and a chamber. One of the adapter and the chamber applies torque to the bolt, and the other holds the nut.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application and the resulting patent generally relate to gas turbine engines, and more specifically, to a single-handed bolt fastening system for applying, tightening and removing bolts on and off gas turbine engines in a quick and efficient manner. Background Technology

[0002] Certain components in gas turbine engines and other types of turbomachinery are difficult to assemble and / or repair on-site. For example, a combustion chamber may be connected to one or more fuel and air streams. Fuel and air lines can be connected to the combustion chamber via conventional flange joints such as ANSI (American National Standards Institute) flanges. A flange typically has two cylindrical members connected by multiple bolts, with a washer between them. The cylindrical members and the washer must be aligned, the bolts extend through the cylindrical members and the washer, a nut is applied, and the nut is tightened with a standard ratchet. This method is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and often results in washer failure and joint leaks. Furthermore, the bolts may be located in hard-to-reach places. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application and the resulting patent therefore provide a bolt fastening system. The bolt fastening system may include a bolt, a nut, and a bolt fastening tool. The bolt fastening tool may include an adapter and a chamber. One of the adapter and the chamber applies torque to the bolt, and the other holds the nut.

[0004] This application and the resulting patent also provide a method for applying a bolt to a flange. The method may include the following steps: positioning the bolt through a hole in the flange; positioning a nut on the threaded body of the bolt; positioning the splined end of the bolt in an adapter of a bolt fastening tool; positioning the nut in the chamber of the bolt fastening tool; and applying torque to the bolt through the bolt fastening tool while preventing the nut from rotating within the chamber.

[0005] This application and the resulting patent also provide a bolt fastening system. The bolt fastening system may include a bolt, a nut, and a bolt fastening tool having a threaded body and a splined end. The bolt fastening tool may include an adapter and a chamber, the adapter being sized to accommodate the splined end, and the chamber being sized to accommodate the nut.

[0006] These and other features and improvements of this application and the resulting patent will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of a gas turbine engine, showing the compressor, burner, turbine, and load unit.

[0008] Figure 2 It is a plan view of a known burner tank.

[0009] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A side view of a portion of the burner canister.

[0010] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the bolt fastening tool described in this article.

[0011] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A perspective view of the fastening sleeve of a bolt fastening tool.

[0012] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Side view of the fastening sleeve.

[0013] Figure 7 Is with Figure 4 A perspective view of bolts and nuts used together with bolt fastening tools. Detailed Implementation

[0014] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, where similar numbers in several views refer to similar elements. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a gas turbine engine 10 that may be used herein. The gas turbine engine 10 may include a compressor 15. The compressor 15 compresses the incoming airflow 20. The compressor 15 delivers the compressed airflow 20 to a combustor 25. The combustor 25 mixes the compressed airflow 20 with a pressurized fuel flow 30 and ignites the mixture, thereby producing a combustion gas flow 35. Although only a single combustor 25 is shown, the gas turbine engine 10 may include any number of combustors 25. The combustion gas flow 35 is then delivered to a turbine 40. The combustion gas flow 35 drives the turbine 40 to generate mechanical work. The mechanical work generated in the turbine 40 drives the compressor 15 via a shaft 45 and drives an external load 50 (such as a generator).

[0015] The gas turbine engine 10 can use natural gas, various types of syngas, liquid fuels, and / or other types of fuels and blends thereof. The gas turbine engine 10 can be any of a variety of different gas turbine engines supplied by General Electric Company of Schenectady, New York, including but not limited to those such as the 7 Series or 9 Series heavy-duty gas turbine engines. The gas turbine engine 10 can have different constructions and can use other types of components. Other types of gas turbine engines may also be used herein. Multiple gas turbine engines, other types of turbines, and other types of power generation equipment may also be used together herein.

[0016] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The diagram shows an end cap 60 of a turbine component 55, such as a combustor canister 65 of a combustor 25. The end cap 60 may have multiple fuel and air flanges 70. As described above, each flange 70 may include a first member 75, a second member 80, a washer 85 located therebetween, and multiple bolts 90 and nuts 95. The bolts 90 may extend through multiple bolt holes 97 in the first member 75 and the second member 80. The flanges 70 may be conventional ANSI flanges, etc. Aligning the flange components and tightening the bolts 90 within this relatively limited space can be difficult and time-consuming.

[0017] Figures 4 to 7 A bolt fastening system 100 as described herein is shown. Specifically, Figure 4 A bolt fastening tool 110 is shown. The bolt fastening tool 110 may include a drill 120 and a fastening sleeve 130. The drill 120 may be a conventional high-torque drill. The drill 120 may be battery-powered for field use. Other types of power sources may also be used herein. The drill 120 may be reversible. Other types of torque application devices may also be used herein.

[0018] Figure 5 and Figure 6 An example of the fastening sleeve 130 is shown. Figure 7A bolt 140 and a nut 150 used therewith are shown. The fastening sleeve 130 may include a housing 160 having a first end or drill end 170 and a second end or nut end 180. The housing 160 may have any suitable size, shape, or construction. The drill end 170 may have a rotatable drill adapter 190 positioned therein. The drill adapter 190 may have a drill hole 200 at one end sized for a drill bit and a spline hole 210 at the other end sized for the bolt 140, as will be described in more detail below. The drill adapter 190 may be configured to rotate within the housing 160 of the fastening sleeve 130 when powered by a drill 120. The housing 160 may have a plurality of locating pins 220 to accommodate the size of the drill 120. The nut end 180 of the housing 160 may define a hexagonal chamber 230. The hexagonal chamber 230 may be configured to securely receive the nut 150 therein. Different configurations of the hexagonal chamber 230 can be used with different configurations of the nut 150. Other configurations and other components can also be used in this document.

[0019] Bolt 140 extends from bolt head 240 to threaded body 250, reaching spline end 260. Bolt 140 and threaded body 250 can have any suitable length and width. Threaded body 250 is sized to accommodate nut 150. Spline end 260 is sized to accommodate spline hole 210 of drill adapter 190 for rotating bolt 140. Nut 150 can be hexagonal and can be a Stover nut, crimp nut, top lock nut, etc., with good vibration resistance. Other components and configurations may also be used herein.

[0020] In use, flange 70 can be assembled by aligning the first member 75, the second member 80, and the washer 85. Then, bolt fastening system 100 can be used to fasten bolt 140 around flange 70. Specifically, bolt 140 can be inserted through bolt hole 97 through the rear of flange 70 or through second member 80 until bolt head 240 contacts second member 80. Nut 150 can be placed on threaded body 250 of bolt 140. Bolt fastening tool 110 can be used to fasten bolt. Fastening sleeve 130 of bolt fastening tool 110 can be positioned around bolt 140 and nut 150 until splined end 260 of bolt 140 is positioned within splined hole 210 of drill adapter 190 and nut 150 is positioned within hexagonal chamber 230.

[0021] The drill 120 of the bolt fastening tool 110 can be activated to rotate the drill adapter 190. Therefore, rotation of the drill adapter 190 causes the bolt 140 to rotate while the nut 150 remains stationary within the hexagonal chamber 230. The threaded body 250 is advanced through the nut 150 until the nut 150 is positioned adjacent to the first member 75 of the flange 70 and properly twisted. The bolt fastening tool 110 can then be removed, and the process can be repeated for the next bolt 140. The bolt fastening tool 110 can also be used to remove the nut 150 from the bolt 140 by reversing the direction of the drill 120.

[0022] Therefore, the bolt fastening system 100 automates the rapid and efficient installation and removal of bolts 140 and nuts 150. The bolt fastening system 100 provides essentially one-handed bolt installation. The bolt fastening system 100 is particularly suitable for near-quarters, such as end caps 60 around burner canisters 65, but is also suitable for any bolt and nut pair compatible with the bolt fastening tool 110. Therefore, the bolt fastening system 100 saves time and money and reduces safety issues on site.

[0023] It is obvious that the foregoing only relates to certain embodiments of this application and the resulting patent. Many changes and modifications can be made herein by those skilled in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A bolt fastening system, comprising: bolt; Nut; as well as Bolt fastening tools; The bolt fastening tool includes a fastening sleeve, the fastening sleeve including a housing having a first drill end and a second nut end, the first drill end having an adapter rotatably positioned therein, and the second nut end having a chamber positioned therein; and The adapter applies torque to the bolt while the nut remains stationary inside the chamber.

2. The bolt fastening system of claim 1, wherein the bolt fastening tool includes a drill in communication with the adapter.

3. The bolt fastening system of claim 2, wherein the adapter includes a drill hole to receive the drill.

4. The bolt fastening system of claim 1, wherein the fastening sleeve comprises one or more locating pins.

5. The bolt fastening system according to claim 1, wherein the bolt comprises a threaded body and a splined end.

6. The bolt fastening system of claim 5, wherein the adapter includes a spline hole sized to receive the spline end of the bolt.

7. The bolt fastening system of claim 5, wherein the nut is sized to accommodate the threaded body of the bolt.

8. The bolt fastening system according to claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises a hexagonal chamber.

9. The bolt fastening system of claim 1, further comprising a flange, wherein the bolt extends through the flange.

10. The bolt fastening system of claim 9, wherein the bolt includes a bolt head located on a first side of the flange, and wherein the bolt fastening tool is positioned on a second side of the flange.

11. A method of applying a bolt to a flange, comprising: Position the bolt by passing it through the hole in the flange; Position the nut on the threaded body of the bolt; A bolt fastening tool is provided, wherein the bolt fastening tool includes a fastening sleeve, the fastening sleeve including a housing having a first drill end and a second nut end, the first drill end having an adapter rotatably positioned therein, and the second nut end having a chamber positioned therein; Position the spline end of the bolt in the adapter of the bolt fastening tool; Positioning the nut within the chamber of the bolt fastening tool; and The bolt is subjected to torque by the bolt tightening tool, while preventing the nut from rotating inside the chamber.

12. A bolt fastening system, comprising: Bolt, the bolt having a threaded body and a splined end; Nut; as well as Bolt fastening tools; The bolt fastening tool includes a fastening sleeve comprising a housing having a first drill end and a second nut end, the first drill end having an adapter rotatably positioned therein, and the second nut end having a chamber positioned therein, the adapter being sized to accommodate the spline end, and the chamber being sized to accommodate the nut; and The adapter applies torque to the bolt while the nut remains stationary inside the chamber.

13. The bolt fastening system of claim 12, wherein the bolt fastening tool includes a drill in communication with the adapter.

14. The bolt fastening system of claim 13, wherein the adapter includes a drill hole to receive the drill.

15. The bolt fastening system of claim 12, wherein the adapter includes a spline hole sized to receive the spline end of the bolt.

16. The bolt fastening system of claim 12, wherein the bolt fastening tool includes a fastening sleeve having the adapter and the chamber positioned therein.

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