Gas Turbine Seal Housing Alignment Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for radially aligning a seal housing assembly with a gas turbine engine casing, such as using 4 inch×4 inch wood boards and hydraulic jacks, are inefficient and difficult to implement, especially during engine upgrades.
Innovation Solution
A process involving an adjustment tool with a main housing, bolts, and threaded bores is used to align the seal housing assembly relative to the casing by applying forces through bolts that threadedly engage with the casing's connecting sections, allowing precise radial adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If wood boards and hydraulic jacks are used for radial alignment, then alignment can be achieved, but the process becomes difficult to implement and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized alignment tool as an intermediary device between the hydraulic jack and the seal housing assembly. This tool includes a main housing with through bores and threaded bores, mounting bolts, and adjustment bolts that interface with the seal housing connecting sections. The intermediary tool translates the linear force from the hydraulic jack into precise radial positioning of the seal housing assembly, achieving both alignment precision and operational efficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If wood boards and hydraulic jacks are used for radial alignment, then alignment can be achieved, but the implementation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tool is segmented into distinct functional components: a main housing with mounting features, multiple through bores for positioning, threaded bores for adjustment, and specific interface features for the seal housing connecting sections. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall alignment process more manageable and easier to implement compared to using generic wood boards and hydraulic jacks.
3Productivity
If a specialized adjustment tool is used for radial alignment, then alignment efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tool is designed with universal features that allow it to interface with the seal housing assembly connecting sections through standard mounting patterns. The main housing can be mounted in different orientations and positions, and the threaded bores can accommodate various adjustment requirements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized tools, thereby justifying the increased complexity of this single versatile device.
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 process enables efficient and precise radial alignment of the seal housing assembly with the gas turbine engine casing, ensuring correct positioning of seals and improving the alignment efficiency during engine upgrades.
Implementation Method 1
a second bolt capable of threadedly engaging the threaded bore... causing the second bolt to move so as to apply a force against the casing causing the main housing and the seal housing assembly to move relative to the casing
Data Source
AI summary
A process is provided for aligning a seal housing assembly with a casing of a gas turbine engine. The casing may comprise a plurality of connecting portions and the seal housing assembly may comprise a plurality of connecting sections. The process may comprise: providing an adjustment tool comprising: a main housing including a first bore and a threaded bore, a first bolt capable of extending through the first bore, and a second bolt capable of threadedly engaging the threaded bore. The process may further comprise mounting the adjustment tool to one of the seal housing assembly connecting sections via the first bolt and adjusting the position of the seal housing assembly relative to the casing by causing the second bolt to move.