Torque Box Link Setting Fixture for Precise Variable Vane Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engine designs face challenges in precisely setting the length and angular position of the torque box assembly, and the torque box assembly, which are crucial for ensuring accurate synchronization of variable vanes, leading to potential assembly errors and increased time during installation.
Innovation Solution
A link setting assembly and method that includes a fixture with platform and linkage mounts, angle setting blocks, and a substitute actuator to adjust and lock the length and angular positions of links in the torque box assembly before mounting, ensuring precise alignment of sync-rings and vanes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If links are adjusted individually during assembly, then precise link lengths and angles can be set, but assembly time increases and assembly errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture pre-positions the torque box assembly and links at predetermined locations before assembly. The linkage mounts are spaced apart by distances corresponding to predetermined link lengths, allowing links to be connected at correct lengths and angles without individual adjustment during assembly, thus maintaining precision while speeding up the process
2Manufacturing precision
If links are adjusted individually during assembly, then precise link lengths and angles can be set, but assembly complexity and error-proneness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture combines multiple positioning functions into a single integrated device. Multiple linkage mounts are provided on a common fixture plate, each spaced at predetermined distances corresponding to different link lengths and angles. This merging of positioning functions eliminates the need for multiple separate adjustment operations, reducing assembly process complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy
Data Source
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AI summary
A link setting assembly (112) permitting to set the length of links for variable vanes of a gas turbine engine, before assembly to the engine. The links setting assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a fixture (114) including at least one platform mount (118, 120) and at least one linkage mount (126, 128, 130, 132). The at least one linkage mount (126...132) is spaced-apart from the platform mount (118, 120) by a distance corresponding to a predetermined link length.