Auxiliary Device for Gas Turbine Guide Ring Segment Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing auxiliary devices for assembling and disassembling guide ring segments in gas turbines are complex, prone to causing damage, and pose a risk of injury due to unclear or difficult fastening processes, especially under high temperature conditions that cause component distortion.

Innovation Solution

An auxiliary device with a base body and locking unit that engages with hooks on the guide ring segment using jaws with recesses, allowing for a form-fitting, tensile, and releasable connection, along with a holding device for indirect traction application, and a guide unit for stable positioning, reducing the risk of damage and injury.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual assembly and disassembly using hammer and plastic blocks is used, then the guide ring segments can be assembled and disassembled, but the risk of injury to workers increases and the guide ring segments may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly and disassembly processVSAvoidrisk of injury and damage to guide ring segments
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an auxiliary device as an intermediary tool between the worker and the guide ring segment. This device includes a base body with a locking unit that engages with hooks on the guide ring segment, and a holding device with a pulling means. The auxiliary device mediates the assembly and disassembly process by providing a secure attachment point, eliminating the need for direct hammering on the guide ring segments and reducing both injury risk and damage risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary device is segmented into distinct functional components: a base body for structural support, a locking unit with jaws for secure attachment to the guide ring segment hooks, and a holding device with pulling means for applying extraction force. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while working together as an integrated system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If hammer and plastic blocks are used to assemble guide ring segments, then the segments can be driven into grooves, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidassembly and disassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary device performs preliminary action by pre-attaching the locking unit to the guide ring segment hooks before the actual assembly operation. The jaws are positioned and secured to the hooks in advance, creating a ready-to-use configuration that simplifies the subsequent assembly process and reduces the time required for the operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary device is designed as a universal tool that can be applied to multiple guide ring segments through the standardized locking unit that engages with hooks. The same device configuration can be used repeatedly for different segments, eliminating the need for specialized tools for each operation and reducing overall process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the locking unit is designed with two jaws that can be moved back and forth, then the attachment to the guide ring segment is defined and secure, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidlocking unit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking unit incorporates dynamic elements with two jaws that can move back and forth relative to each other. This dynamic design allows the jaws to open for attachment to the hooks and close for secure engagement, providing reliable attachment while maintaining operational flexibility. The movable jaws adapt to the hook geometry and provide a form-fitting connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The locking unit structure employs a nested configuration where the two jaws are positioned within the base body framework. The jaws can be viewed as nested elements that slide within the structural boundaries of the base body, providing a compact design that achieves secure attachment without excessive external complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2904219B1Auxiliary device
Publication Date: 2020.09.16 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2904219B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2904219B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2904219B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to an aid device (1) for mounting and/or dismantling a guide ring segment (2) which is to be attached or is held on a support (3), in particular a turbine guide blade support of a gas turbine, having a main body (5) which can be fastened releasably to the guide ring segment (2), and having a holding device (18), to which a traction mechanism (28) can be fastened releasably, wherein the holding device (18) is configured to transmit a pulling force to the main body (5), which pulling force acts via the traction mechanism (28) in an installing direction or expelling direction (X) of the guide ring segment (2).