Adjustment Pin for Gas Turbine Stator Stage Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method for assembling a stator stage of a gas turbine engine is time-consuming, costly, and prone to component damage due to the need for extensive handling and reassembly, which complicates the process and increases the risk of damaging delicate parts.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing an adjustment pin with a deformable part that establishes a force fit with the central section of the stator stage, allowing for quick rotational locking and alignment of vane segments, reducing the need for key blocks and simplifying the assembly process by eliminating the need for disassembly and reassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the traditional method with key blocks and dowels is used, then the stator stage can be assembled with proper sealing and positioning, but the assembly time is excessively long (three days) and the process is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment pin is divided into distinct functional segments: end sections for insertion into through holes, a middle portion with action devices for interaction with wall segments, and a deformable part for locking. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently, reducing overall assembly complexity and time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for separate key blocks and multiple dowels by integrating their positioning and locking functions into a single adjustment pin. This reduction in the number of components directly simplifies the assembly process and reduces assembly time from three days to a fraction of that duration.
2Reliability
If the traditional method with multiple handling steps is used, then the stator stage can be assembled, but the risk of damaging components increases due to extensive handling and reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment pin is pre-configured with the deformable part and action devices in the correct positions before assembly. The wall segments are pre-aligned with the through holes. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex alignment and reassembly operations, reducing handling steps and damage risk while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable part of the adjustment pin automatically deforms under insertion force to create a force fit with the wall segment, self-locking the component in position without requiring additional fastening operations. This self-service mechanism eliminates multiple handling steps and reduces the risk of component damage during assembly.
3Manufacturing precision
If the traditional method with drilling and fixing key blocks is used, then the central section can be positioned accurately, but the assembly process becomes costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical system of drilling through holes, inserting key blocks, and fixing them with multiple dowels. Instead, the adjustment pin uses a deformable part that creates a force fit through elastic deformation, achieving accurate positioning and locking without drilling or complex mechanical fastening, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining precision.
4Ease of manufacture
If the traditional method with disassembly and cleaning is used, then the components can be reassembled, but the process adds cost and reduces core build capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the positioning, alignment, and locking functions into a single integrated adjustment pin assembly process. This eliminates the need for separate disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly operations. The single-step insertion and deformation process reduces manufacturing costs and increases core build capacity by eliminating non-value-added process steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces assembly time by a factor of three, minimizes the risk of component damage, reduces overall costs, and allows for assembly in a clean room environment, while also reducing the number of parts and storage space required.
Implementation Method 1
Deforming a deformable part of the adjustment pin so that the now deformed part establishes a force fit with at least one segment of a corresponding structure of the central section and thereby locking the adjustment pin and thus the central section in a fixed position
Data Source
AI summary
A method for assembling a stator stage of a gas turbine engine and an adjustment pin to perform the assembly method to lock a vane segment in a central section of the stator stage. The method includes inserting an adjustment pin into a through hole wherein the adjustment pin includes two end sections, inserting at least one wall segment of the vane segment into a slot of a central section, rotating the adjustment pin so that the central section is correctly positioned in the stator stage, deforming a deformable part of the adjustment pin so that the now deformed part establishes a force fit with at least one segment of a corresponding structure of the central section and thereby locking the adjustment pin and thus the central section in a fixed position in the stator stage.