Combustor Bulkhead Hole Alignment for Uniform Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of a combustor in a turbofan engine, specifically the fitting of a bulkhead to an outer combustor, is hindered by the need to uniformly match the positions of through-holes for accurate fastening, with existing methods lacking a clear method for specifying the overlapping regions that require adjustment.
Innovation Solution
An assembly method and device utilizing a computer-controlled robot system with tools like a transport tool, hole alignment tool, and nut runner to detect and specify overlapping regions by adjusting the positional relationship between through-holes in tubular bodies, using alignment pins and bolts to ensure uniform alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the positions of through-holes are uniformly matched at all points, then the fastening accuracy is improved, but the complexity of specifying and adjusting overlapping regions increases
Solution Approach 1:
A shaft member is introduced as an intermediary tool to measure and verify the overlapping region between through-holes. The shaft member is inserted into the overlapping region, and its backlash measurement provides quantitative data about the alignment quality, serving as a mediator between the two tubular bodies' through-holes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment methods with a measurement-based approach. Instead of relying on purely mechanical fitting procedures, the system uses backlash measurement of the shaft member to detect overlapping region characteristics, and uses this information to control positional adjustment
2Ease of operation
If a method for specifying overlapping regions is established, then the assembly process becomes more controllable, but the device complexity increases due to additional measurement and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the backlash measurement of the shaft member provides feedback information about the overlapping region quality. This feedback is used by the control unit to determine whether positional adjustment is needed and to guide the adjustment process, making the assembly controllable based on actual measurement data
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft member serves a dual function: it is both the fastening element and the measurement tool. By utilizing the shaft member's own backlash characteristics to detect overlapping region quality, the system achieves self-diagnosis capability without requiring separate complex measurement devices
Data Source
AI summary
In this assembly method for assembling a bulkhead to an outer liner by fitting the bulkhead into the outer liner in a prescribed position, the bulkhead having a plurality of through-holes formed in a circumferential direction, with an axis as a central axis, and the outer liner having a plurality of through-holes formed in a circumferential direction, with an axis as a central axis, a computer executes: a size detection step for detecting a size of an overlapping region between each corresponding through-hole and through-hole, with the bulkhead fitted into the outer liner; and an overlapping region identification step for identifying, on the basis of the sizes of all the overlapping regions, overlapping regions in which a positional relationship between the through-hole and the through-hole requires adjustment.