Fixing Pin Mounting Tool for Turbine Rotor Groove Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual installation of small fixing pins for high pressure turbine rotors is challenging due to their small size and complex grooves, leading to difficulty in handling and a high risk of falling into irregular surfaces, which complicates the assembly process.

Innovation Solution

An installation tool comprising a tubular body with a cavity, a pressing pin, and a driving nut, designed to accommodate multiple fixing pins, which uses a converging portion with elastic grooves to guide and push the pins into place, reducing the risk of falling and simplifying the installation process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a tweezer is used to hold the fixing pin for manual installation, then the installation process can be performed manually, but the fixing pin may easily fall off into the complex grooves on the inner and outer sides of the turbine disk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual installation capabilityVSAvoidfixing pin retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A magnetic field is introduced as an intermediary force between the holder and the fixing pin. The holder contains a magnet that generates a magnetic field to attract and retain the magnetizable fixing pin during the installation process, preventing it from falling into the complex grooves while enabling controlled manual operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If the fixing pin is made very small to meet design requirements, then the assembly can be compact, but it becomes difficult to find and retrieve the pin if it falls into the irregular grooves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing pin sizeVSAvoidpin detectability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing pin is made magnetizable, which serves as a detectable property. The holder includes a magnet that can detect and retain the pin through magnetic attraction. This magnetic property allows the pin to be easily located and retrieved if it falls into the grooves, solving the detectability issue without increasing the pin's physical size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a complex special-shaped groove structure is used on the turbine disk for functional requirements, then the engine performance is improved, but the risk of fixing pin falling into the grooves increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveturbine disk functionalityVSAvoidpin falling risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A magnetic field acts as an intermediary retention mechanism between the holder and the fixing pin. The magnet in the holder generates a magnetic field that actively prevents the pin from falling into the complex grooves, allowing the turbine disk to maintain its functional groove structure without compromising pin retention safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Quantity of substance

If multiple fixing pins need to be installed, then the assembly becomes more complete, but the installation time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of fixing pinsVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is designed to accommodate multiple fixing pins simultaneously using a single magnet. This merging of multiple pin-retention functions into one tool allows the operator to install multiple pins in sequence without repeatedly picking up and putting down different tools, significantly reducing installation time and operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The tool effectively prevents pins from falling into complex grooves, enhances assembly safety, reduces installation difficulty, and improves efficiency with a simple structure and low cost.

Implementation Method 1

the holder is provided with a magnet, the magnetizable fixing pin is placed in the holder, and the magnetizable fixing pin is magnetically held by the magnet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP4227041B1Mounting tool and mounting method for fixing pins
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 AECC SHANGHAI COMML AIRCRAFT ENGINE MFG CO LTD
  • EP4227041B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4227041B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4227041B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mounting tool (100) and mounting method for fixing pins (20). The mounting tool (100) comprises a tube body (110), a pressing pin (120) and a driving nut (140). A cavity (111) is provided in the tube body (110), and the cavity (111) is adapted to accommodating a plurality of fixing pins (20). A surface of the tube body (110) is provided with a first sliding groove (112) and a second sliding groove, which are provided opposite each other and are in communication with the cavity (111). A first opening (113) and a second opening (114), which are in communication with the cavity (111), are respectively provided in two ends of the tube body (110). The plurality of fixing pins (20) are adapted to entering the cavity (111) via the first opening (113) and exiting the cavity (111) via the second opening (114). The pressing pin (120) passes through the first sliding groove (112) and the second sliding groove and is movably arranged on the tube body (110), and at least part of the pressing pin (120) is exposed out of the surface of the tube body (110). The driving nut (140) is connected to the tube body (110) and is adapted to driving the pressing pin (120) to move towards the second opening (114).