Quill Shaft Extractor for T-700 Engine Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current method for removing a quill shaft from an Apache Aircraft engine is hazardous and inefficient, requiring multiple personnel and up to five hours, with risks of injury and equipment damage due to the need for manual leverage and the potential for the shaft to fall or become jammed.
Innovation Solution
A Quill Shaft Extractor tool featuring an alignment housing with a threaded shaft and sliding jaws that securely grasp and remove the quill shaft, reducing the need for manual leverage and minimizing the risk of injury or damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual pulling method is used to remove quill shaft, then simplicity of tool is maintained, but safety hazard increases and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an extractor tool as an intermediary device between the mechanic and the quill shaft. The extractor includes a body with internal splines that engage with the shaft splines, providing a secure mechanical connection. This intermediary tool eliminates the need for mechanics to directly grip and pull the shaft, thereby preventing safety hazards while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Device complexity
If manual pulling method is used to remove quill shaft, then tool cost is reduced, but time consumption increases to one to five hours
Solution Approach 1:
The extractor tool serves as a mechanical intermediary that translates rotational motion into axial extraction force. By threading the extractor onto the quill shaft and rotating it, the mechanic efficiently removes the shaft in minutes rather than hours, dramatically reducing time loss while keeping the tool relatively simple in design.
3Device complexity
If manual pulling method is used to remove quill shaft, then equipment cost is reduced, but risk of shaft damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extractor tool acts as a protective intermediary between the mechanic's pulling force and the quill shaft. The internal splines of the extractor body engage with the external splines of the shaft, distributing the extraction force evenly across multiple contact points. This prevents concentrated stress that could damage the shaft, eliminating the risk of breakage while keeping the tool simple.
4Device complexity
If manual pulling method is used to remove quill shaft, then number of personnel required is reduced, but physical strain on workers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extractor tool serves as a mechanical intermediary that converts rotational motion into axial extraction force. By threading the extractor onto the quill shaft and rotating it, the mechanic efficiently removes the shaft in minutes rather than hours, dramatically reducing time loss while keeping the tool relatively simple in design.
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 Quill Shaft Extractor significantly reduces the time and risk of injury for mechanics while minimizing damage to the shaft, engine, and airframe by providing a safe and efficient means to extract the quill shaft, potentially saving thousands of dollars and man-hours.
Implementation Method 1
The extractor unit incorporates a threaded shaft with a machined point that is threaded through a crossbar
Implementation Method 2
two individual jaws that slide onto the crossbar and are used to grasp and remove the quill shaft
Implementation Method 3
The alignment unit consists of a top plate with alignment holes for the two pullers as well as a bottom plate that has mounting holes unique to the T-700 turboshaft engine with both plates held together by spacer sleeves
Data Source
AI summary
An extractor tool used to remove the quill shaft unique to the General Electric T-700 series turboshaft engine when used as the powerplant for the AH-64A & D model Apache Helicopters. The extractor incorporates an alignment housing coupled with an extractor unit. The alignment unit consists of a top plate with alignment holes for the 2 pullers as well as a bottom plate that has mounting holes unique to the T-700 turboshaft engine with both plates held together by spacer sleeves. The extractor unit incorporates a threaded shaft with a machined point that is threaded through a crossbar. The crossbar holds 2 individual jaws that slide onto the crossbar and are used to grasp and remove the quill shaft when the quill shaft is mounted in the T-700 Series engine and installed for use as the primary powerplant in the AH-64A & D model Apache Helicopters.