Radial blade timing assembly and associated timing method

Abstract

Unlockable wedging assembly for test machine blade and associated wedging method One aspect of the invention relates to a wedging assembly (20) for a blade of a turbomachine test machine with axis A1 comprising: a support (200) comprising a housing (218) open radially, a blade (220) comprising a root (222) and a blade (224) extending radially from the root (222), a radial adjustment device (230) for the blade (220). The adjustment device (230) comprises: a first and a second shim (240, 250) each comprising an inclined surface (244, 254) arranged against each other, in the housing (218) of the support so that one of the shims bears against a bottom (210) of the support, and the other of the shims is in contact against the root, a means (231) for pushing the second shim (250) in axial translation (T1) causing the radial translation (T2) of the root in the housing between a first and a second position of the blade.Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Assembly for radially setting a blade and associated setting method TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of testing machines for the development of aircraft turbomachines.

[0002] The present invention relates to a radial timing assembly for a turbomachine testing machine blade. It also relates to a turbomachine testing machine comprising such a timing assembly, as well as a timing method using such a timing assembly. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] To develop and optimize the settings of aircraft turbomachines, it is common to use test machines. These test machines make it possible to test the aerodynamic and acoustic behavior of the various elements of the turbomachine and in particular to determine the optimal angular positioning of the moving blades of the rotors and the fixed blades of the stators to obtain the best possible performance.

[0004] These test machines conventionally comprise blades with adjustable angular orientation in order to be able to simulate a precise angular positioning of these blades and / or test different positions depending on the result of the tests, with a view to optimizing the air flow in the turbomachine.

[0005] These blades can be mounted on a fixed or rotating hub and thus belong to a stator or rotor stage. They can be, for example, the moving blades of the fan, the fixed flow straightening blades located downstream of the fan, called outlet guide vanes or OGV blades (Head guide vanes in English), or even the blades of the stator or rotor stages of the compressors.

[0006] Before a test session with the test machine, the angular positioning of these blades (their angle of attack) relative to the air flow passing through them must be adjusted while the test machine is stationary.

[0007] To achieve such an adjustment, these blades are first unlocked from their support, then pivoted around their axis of rotation to the desired angular position. These blades must then be wedged in position so that the chosen angular position is maintained during operation of the testing machine.

[0008] A wedging system making it possible both to adjust the orientation of each blade when stationary and to maintain the blade in position during operation of the testing machine is therefore necessary.

[0009] Currently, in testing machines, angular adjustment requires manual disassembly of the timing system of each of the blades, then once the adjustment has been made, reassembling it precisely without modifying the angular adjustment, while the assembly is difficult to access. This operation, which must be carried out blade by blade, is long, tedious and delicate.

[0010] An objective of the invention is to propose an alternative system for wedging the blades of a testing machine, which is easily and quickly lockable and unlockable, without requiring the wedging system to be dismantled. Summary of the invention

[0011] The invention offers a solution to the problems mentioned above by proposing a set for setting a blade of a turbomachine or a turbomachine testing machine with an axis A1 having a particular architecture.

[0012] A first aspect of the invention relates to a set for setting a blade of a turbomachine testing machine with axis A1 comprising: • a support comprising a radially open housing, • a blade comprising a root and a blade extending radially from the root, and • a radial blade adjustment device.

[0013] The adjustment device comprises: • a first and a second shim each comprising an inclined surface arranged against each other, in the housing of the support so that: • one of the wedges rests against the bottom of the support, and • the other of the wedges is in contact against the foot of the blade, • a means of pushing the second wedge in axial translation causing the radial translation of the foot of the blade in the housing between a first and a second position of the blade.

[0014] Thanks to the shim assembly of the invention, the blade is shimmed by simply translating the second shim of the adjustment device by the thrust means, thus causing the blade to translate in a radial direction relative to the support. It is therefore not necessary to dismantle any part of the shim assembly or the blade to achieve this.

[0015] Furthermore, the adjustment device of the timing assembly according to the invention is housed in the support and no element of the adjustment device is located in the air circulation vein of the test machine. The timing system therefore does not generate any disturbance of the aerodynamic flow.

[0016] Preferably, the second shim of the adjustment device has a length strictly less than a length of the housing of the support in the axial direction. Such a feature allows the second wedge to slide in translation inside the housing, in an axial direction.

[0017] Advantageously, the first shim of the adjustment device has a length substantially equal to a length of the housing of the support along the axis. Such a characteristic makes it possible to minimize, or even block, the translation of the first shim in the housing, and thus maintain its position in an axial direction.

[0018] Preferably, the thrust means of the adjustment device comprises a screw with an axis of rotation A3 parallel to the axis A1 comprising a threaded rod bearing against the second wedge and received in a tapped hole in the support, and the rotation of the screw causing the axial translation T1 of the second wedge. Such a characteristic allows the blade to be set by simply rotating the screw of the adjustment device.

[0019] Advantageously, the second shim of the adjustment device has a triangular section and comprises a beveled end and a lateral surface axially opposite the beveled end; the support comprises a first and a second abutment walls extending respectively from a first and a second radial walls connected to each other by a bottom. In the first position of the blade relative to the support: the lateral surface of the second shim bears against a second radial wall of the support, and the root of the blade is not in contact with the first and second abutment walls of the support. In the second position of the blade relative to the support: the beveled end of the second shim bears against a first radial wall of the support opposite the second radial wall along the axis A1, and the root of the blade bears against the first and second abutment walls of the support.Such a feature allows, thanks to the sliding of the second between the first and second walls of the support housing, to select a radial position of the blade between its first and second positions.

[0020] According to a first embodiment of the adjustment device: • the first shim of the adjustment device is arranged between the second shim and the blade root, and comprises a bearing surface in contact with the blade root, • the second shim of the adjustment device includes: • a support surface in contact with a bottom of the support housing, and • a contact surface opposite the support surface in contact with the bottom of the support housing, in the first position of the blade.

[0021] Such a characteristic makes it possible, thanks to the sliding of the second wedge against the bottom of the housing, to slide the inclined surface of the first wedge on the inclined surface of the second wedge, thus causing the translation of the first wedge in a radial direction.

[0022] According to a second embodiment of the adjustment device: • the second shim of the adjustment device is arranged between the first shim and the root of the blade and comprises a bearing surface in contact with the root of the blade, • the first shim of the adjustment device includes: • a bearing surface in contact with a bottom of the support housing, and a contact surface opposite the bearing surface in contact with the root of the blade, in the first position of the blade.

[0023] Such a characteristic makes it possible, thanks to the sliding of the inclined surface of the second wedge on the inclined surface of the first wedge, to thus cause the translation of the second wedge in a radial direction.

[0024] Advantageously, the support comprises a first part and a second part assembled with each other. Such a feature allows the mounting and dismounting of the blade root in the housing of the support.

[0025] A second aspect of the invention relates to a turbomachine testing machine comprising at least one shimming assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0026] A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for setting a blade of a turbomachine testing machine with axis A1, carried out by means of a setting assembly according to the first aspect of the invention and comprising a step of translating the second shim by the thrust means of the adjustment device to a desired radial position of the blade relative to the support between its first and second positions.

[0027] Advantageously, the wedging method comprises a wedging assembly according to which the adjustment device comprises a screw, and the step of translating the second shim is carried out by rotating the threaded rod of the screw of the adjustment device.

[0028] The invention and its various applications will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description, illustrated by the figures in which: • [Fig.l] is a partial sectional view of a testing machine comprising a wedging assembly comprising a support, a blade and an adjustment device, according to the invention, • [Fig.2] is a longitudinal sectional view from above of the wedging assembly comprising an adjustment device according to a first embodiment, in a first position of the blade relative to the support, • [Fig.3] is a view similar to that of [Fig.2], in a second position of the blade relative to the support, • [Fig.4] is a longitudinal sectional view from above of the wedging assembly comprising an adjustment device according to a second embodiment, in a first position of the blade relative to the support, • [Fig.5] is a view similar to that of [Fig.4], in a second position of the blade relative to the support • [Fig.6] is an exploded view of the adjustment device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing in different figures has a single reference.

[0031] For the understanding of the invention, the radial, tangential and axial orientations will be adopted according to the reference RTA indicated in the figures, the tangent axes T and axial A of which extend in a horizontal plane according to the orientation in the figures. The axial axis A is parallel to an axis of rotation Al of the test machine. The root of a blade towards the blade of the blade is oriented according to the radial axis R of the reference RTA. The radial orientation R extends radially relative to the axis of rotation X.

[0032] In the present application, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are defined with respect to the normal flow direction of gas (from upstream to downstream) through a turbomachine testing machine.

[0033] An example of a shimming assembly 20 according to the invention is intended to be installed in a turbomachine testing machine 10 as shown in [Fig. 1]. Such a testing machine 10 makes it possible to simulate an aircraft turbomachine and to test its components under different aerodynamic conditions in order to study their performance.

[0034] The test machine 10 comprises a plurality of blades 220 arranged in a succession of rings of axis A1, such as for example the fan 12 which is located furthest upstream and which is formed of a ring of moving blades 14, or the rectifier stator ring 16 which is arranged downstream of the fan 12 and which comprises blades 220 with adjustable orientation, of the OGV (Outlet guide vanes) type.

[0035] A wedging assembly 20 according to the invention is advantageously installed for each of the blades 220 of the testing machine 10.

[0036] An example of a wedging assembly 20 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 comprises a support 200, a blade 220 and an adjustment device 230.

[0037] According to an example of the support 200 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the support 200 is annular with axis A1 and comprises: • a first stop wall 204 for example in the form of a half-disc, • a second stop wall 214 for example in the form of a half-disc • a first and a second radial wall 206, 216, axially opposed one in relation to the other, and • a bottom 210 connecting the first and second radial walls 206, 216 to each other, • a tapped hole 219 arranged in one of the first or second radial walls 206, 216 (here in the second wall 216).

[0038] In this application, the term “half-disc” means a disc cut in a plane perpendicular to the axis, thus the two half-discs are superimposed axially to form a disc constituting the annular support 200.

[0039] The support 200 further comprises a housing 218 between the first and second stop walls 204, 214, the first and second radial walls 206, 216, and the bottom 210.

[0040] The housing 218 of the support 200 is radially open so as to form an opening 218A arranged between the first and second stop walls 204, 214. The opening 218A of the support gives access to the housing 218 inside the support 200.

[0041] According to a particular example of the support 200 as shown in Figures 1 to 5, the support 200 is divided into a first part 202 and a second part 212 assembled with each other by an assembly means 21 (represented by a dotted circle in [Fig. 3]). More particularly, the first part 202 comprises the first stop wall 204, the first radial wall 206 and the bottom 210, and the second part 212 comprises the second stop wall 214 and the second radial wall 216. The assembly means 21 comprises a first element arranged in the bottom 210 of the first part 202 and a second element arranged in the second radial wall 216 of the second part 212 of the support, configured to cooperate with each other.

[0042] The blade 220 comprises a root 222 and a blade 224 extending radially from the root 222. As shown in the figures, the root 222 of the blade further comprises a connecting portion 226 of diameter smaller than that of the root 222 of the blade 220 and that of the opening 218A.

[0043] In the mounted position of the blade 220 in the support 200, the root 222 of the blade 220 is received in the housing 218 of the support 200 and the connecting portion 226 of the root 222 of the blade 220 is engaged through the opening 218A. The blade 220 is mounted to move in translation T2 in a radial direction along an axis A2 perpendicular to the axis A1 relative to the support 200, between a first and a second position of the blade 220 relative to the support 200. More particularly, the root 222 of the blade is mounted

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[0053] mobile in translation T2 in housing 218. According to the variants, the housing 218 may be an individual housing, for example substantially cylindrical, receiving the root 222 of a single blade 220, the support 200 then comprising a plurality of housings 218 over its entire circumference for all of the blades 220 of the same crown 14, 16. Alternatively, the housing 218 may be a collective and continuous housing for all of the feet 222 of the blades 220 of the same crown 14, 16. As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the adjustment device 230 comprises a first shim 240, a second shim 250 and a pushing means 231. The first shim 240 of the adjustment device 230 comprises: • a support surface 242, • an inclined surface 244, • a lateral surface 248 perpendicular to the support surface 242, • a contact surface 246 parallel to the support surface 242, and • a beveled end 249 corresponding to the injunction of the support surface 242 with the inclined surface 244. According to an example of the second wedge 250 as shown in Figures 1 to 5, the second wedge 250 has a truncated rectangle section. The second shim 250 of the adjustment device 230 comprises: • a support surface 252, • an inclined surface 254, • a lateral surface 258 perpendicular to the support surface 252, and • a beveled end 259 corresponding to the Injunction of the support surface 252 with inclined surface 254. According to an example of the first section 240 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the second section 250 has a rectangular triangular section. According to a preferred example as shown in Figures 2 to 5, the thrust means 231 of the adjustment device 230 comprises a screw 232 comprising a threaded rod 234 and a head 236 arranged at one end of the threaded rod 234. In the mounted position of the 230 adjustment device in the 200 support: • the inclined surface 244 of the first circle 240 is in concordance with the inclined surface 254 of the second circle 250, • the second axis 250 is mounted to move in rotation Tl, in a axial direction parallel to axis A1, in the housing 218 of the support 200, and • the threaded rod 234 of the screw 232 of the adjustment device 230 is supported against the second rod 250 and received in a threaded hole 219 of the support 200. The adjusting assembly 20 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 comprises an adjusting device 230 according to a first mode of adjustment according to which: • the first shim 240 of the adjustment device 230 is arranged between the second shim 250 and the root 222 of the blade 220 so that: • its bearing surface 242 is in contact with the foot 222 of the blade 220, • its contact surface 246 is opposite the bottom 210 of the support 200, • its lateral surface 248 is arranged opposite the first radial wall 206 of the support 200, and • its beveled end 249 is substantially in contact with the second radial wall 216 of the support 200, • the second shim 250 of the adjustment device 230 is arranged between the bottom 210 of the support 200 and the first shim 240 so that: • its bearing surface 252 bears against the bottom 210 of the support 200, • its lateral surface 258 is arranged opposite the second radial wall 216 of the support 200, and • its beveled end 259 is arranged opposite the first radial wall 206 of the support 200.

[0054] According to the first embodiment, in the first position of the blade 220 by relative to support 200, as shown in [Fig.2]: • the lateral surface 258 of the second wedge 250 bears against the second radial wall 216 of the support 200, • the contact surface 246 of the first shim 240 bears against the bottom 210 of the housing, • the root 222 of the blade 220 is not in contact with the first and second stop walls 204, 214 of the support 200.

[0055] According to the first embodiment, in the second position of the blade 220 by relative to support 200, as shown in [Fig.3]: • the beveled end 259 of the second wedge 250 bears against the second radial wall 216 of the support 200, and • the contact surface 246 of the first shim 240 is at a distance from the bottom 210 of the housing, • the foot 222 of the blade 220 bears against the first and second stop walls 204, 214 of the support 200.

[0056] The wedging assembly 20 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 comprises an adjustment device 230 according to a second embodiment according to which: • the second shim 250 of the adjustment device 230 is arranged between the first shim 240 and the root 222 of the blade 220 so that: • its bearing surface 252 is in contact with the foot 222 of the blade 220, • its lateral surface 258 is arranged opposite the second wall radial 216 of the support 200, and • its beveled end 259 is arranged opposite the first radial wall 206 of the support 200, • the first shim 240 of the adjustment device 230 is arranged between the bottom 210 of the support 200 and the second shim 250 so that: • its bearing surface 242 bears against the bottom 210 of the support 200, • its contact surface 246 is arranged opposite the root 222 of the blade 220, • its lateral surface 248 is arranged opposite the first radial wall 206 of the support 200, and • its beveled end 249 is substantially in contact with the second radial wall 216 of the support 200.

[0057] According to the second embodiment, in the first position of the blade 220 relative to the support 200, as shown in [Fig.4]: • the lateral surface 258 of the second wedge 250 bears against the second radial wall 216 of the support 200, • the contact surface 246 of the first wedge 240 and the bearing surface 252 of the second wedge 250 are at the same level and both in contact with the root 222 of the blade 220, • the root 222 of the blade 220 is not in contact with the first and second stop walls 204, 214 of the support 200.

[0058] According to the second embodiment, in the second position of the blade 220 relative to the support 200, as shown in [Fig.5]: • the beveled end 259 of the second wedge 250 bears against the first radial wall 206 of the support 200, and • the contact surface 246 of the first wedge 240 and the bearing surface 252 of the second wedge 250 are not at the same level and only the contact surface 252 is in contact with the root 222 of the blade 220, • the foot 222 of the blade 220 bears against the first and second stop walls 204, 214 of the support 200.

[0059] The method of setting a blade 220 of a turbomachine test machine 10 carried out by a setting assembly 20 comprises the following steps: • rotation of the screw in a first direction, • translation Tl of the second wedge 250 by the thrust means 231 of the adjustment device 230, • translation of T2 the first wedge 240 by sliding on the second wedge 250, pushing the root of the blade 220 to a desired radial position of the blade 220 relative to the support 200 between its first and second positions.

Claims

Claims

1. Wedging assembly (20) of a blade (220) of a testing machine (10) of a turbomachine with axis A1, the wedging assembly (20) comprising: - a support (200) comprising a housing (218) open radially, - a blade (220) comprising a root (222) and a blade (224) extending radially from the root (222), and - a radial adjustment device (230) of the blade (220), characterized in that the adjustment device (230) comprises: - a first and a second shim (240, 250) each comprising an inclined surface (244, 254) arranged one against the other, in the housing (218) of the support (200) so that: • one of the shims (240, 250) is in abutment against a bottom (210) of the support (200), and • the other of the shims (250, 240) is in contact against the root (222) of the blade (220),- a means (231) for pushing the second wedge (250) in axial translation (T1) causing the radial translation (T2) of the root (222) of the blade (220) in the housing (218) between a first and a second position of the blade (220).,

2. Wedging assembly (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second shim (250) of the adjustment device (230) has a length strictly less than a length of the housing (218) of the support (200), in the axial direction.

3. Wedging assembly (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: - the thrust means (231) of the adjustment device (230) comprises a screw (232) with an axis of rotation A3 parallel to the axis Al comprising a threaded rod (234) bearing against the second wedge (250) and received in a tapped hole (219) of the support (200), and - the rotation (RI) of the screw (232) causing the axial translation Tl of the second wedge (250).

4. Wedging assembly (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: - the second shim (250) of the adjustment device (230) has a triangular section and comprises a beveled end (259) and a lateral surface (258) axially opposite the beveled end (259), - the support (200) comprises a first and a second stop wall (204, 214) extending respectively from a first and a second radial wall (216) connected to each other by a bottom (210), - in the first position of the blade (220) relative to the support (200): • the lateral surface (258) of the second wedge (250) bears against a second radial wall (216) of the support (200), and • the root (222) of the blade (220) is not in contact with the first and second stop walls (204, 214) of the support (200), - in the second position of the blade (220) relative to the support (200): • the beveled end (259) of the second wedge (250) bears against a first radial wall (216) of the support (200) opposite the second radial wall (216) along the axis Al, and • the foot (222) of the blade (220) bears against the first and second stop walls (204, 214) of the support (200).

5. Wedging assembly (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: - the first shim (240) of the adjustment device (230) is arranged between the second shim (250) and the root (222) of the blade (220), and comprises a bearing surface (242) in contact with the root (222) of the blade (220), - the second shim (250) of the adjustment device (230) understand : • a bearing surface (252) in contact with a bottom (210) of the housing (218) of the support (200), and • a contact surface (246) opposite the bearing surface (252) in contact with the bottom (210) of the housing (218) of the support (200), in the first position of the blade (220).

6. Wedging assembly (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: - the second shim (250) of the adjustment device (230) is arranged between the first shim (240) and the root (222) of the blade (220) and comprises a bearing surface (252) in contact with the root (222) of the blade (220), - the first shim (240) of the adjustment device (230) comprises: • a bearing surface (242) in contact with a bottom (210) of the housing (218) of the support (200), and • a contact surface (246) opposite the bearing surface (242) in contact with the root (222) of the blade (220), in the first position of the blade (220).

7. Wedging assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (200) comprises a first part (202) and a second part (212) assembled with each other.

8. Turbomachine testing machine (10) characterized in that it comprises at least one shimming assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Method for wedging a blade (220) of a testing machine (10) of a turbomachine with axis A1 carried out by a wedging assembly (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a step of translation (Tl) of the second shim (250) by the thrust means (231) of the adjustment device (230) to a desired radial position of the blade (220) relative to the support (200) between its first and second positions.

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