Assembling Device for Rotary Machine Transition Piece

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing member assembling apparatuses for rotary machines, such as gas turbines, face challenges in smoothly rotating the ball screw when attaching or detaching members like combustor transition pieces, especially when these members are inclined, leading to increased load and bending issues due to deviation in movement distance along guide portions.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a sliding member that connects the female screw block and the member to be movable relative to each other in directions parallel or perpendicular to the line segment linking the rails, absorbing deviations and preventing loads from being applied to the screw shaft, thus allowing smooth rotation even when the member is inclined.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a ball screw is used to advance and retract the combustor transition piece along the guide portions, then the member can be moved along the axial direction of the combustor, but a load is applied to the ball screw when the member is inclined, causing bending and increasing rotation difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of rotating ball screwVSAvoidball screw bending
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A sliding member is introduced as an intermediary between the nut member and the combustor transition piece. This sliding member can move along the guide portions while the nut member rotates on the ball screw, allowing the system to accommodate inclination of the combustor transition piece without transmitting lateral loads to the ball screw, thereby preventing bending while maintaining operational capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a rigid direct connection (nut member fixed to combustor transition piece) to a dynamic configuration where the sliding member can move independently along the guide portions. This dynamic adjustment allows the combustor transition piece to be inclined during operation without causing bending moments on the ball screw

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the combustor transition piece is held rigidly by the nut member on the ball screw, then precise positioning is achieved, but inclination of the piece causes increased load and bending on the screw shaft

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidball screw bending
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is segmented into two functional parts: the nut member that provides precise positioning through rotation on the ball screw, and the sliding member that accommodates inclination by moving along the guide portions. This segmentation allows precise positioning to be maintained while preventing bending loads on the ball screw

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 configuration enables the ball screw to be smoothly rotated and the combustor transition piece to be efficiently attached and detached without applying a load, reducing the risk of bending and enhancing operational ease.

Implementation Method 1

a sliding member which is provided between the female screw block and the member and connects the female screw block and the member to be movable relative to each other in a plane perpendicular to a female screw axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2752567B1Member-assembling device for rotary machine
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 MITSUBISHI HITACHIPOWER SYST LTD
  • EP2752567B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2752567B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2752567B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A transition piece assembling apparatus according to the disclosure includes a pair of rails which is provided to be in the direction parallel with an axis of a combustor transition piece, and to be spaced at intervals and in a plane perpendicular to the axis of a combustor transition piece, support portions which are connected to the combustor transition piece and support the member to be movable in longitudinal directions of the rails, a trapezoidal screw which is disposed in parallel with the axis of the combustor transition piece between the pair of rails, a female screw block which is threaded onto the trapezoidal screw, and a sliding member which is provided between the female screw block and the combustor transition piece and connects the female screw block and the combustor transition piece to be movable relative to each other in a plane perpendicular to a female screw axis.