Turbine Casing Assembly External Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing turbine adjustment systems are cumbersome and expensive due to the need to disassemble the outer turbine casing for adjustments, repairs, and replacements, limiting their external adjustability and increasing maintenance time and costs.
Innovation Solution
An externally adjustable support assembly that includes a wedge, rod, and plate system, allowing for alignment of the inner turbine casing with respect to the outer casing without disassembling the outer casing, facilitating external adjustment and reducing repair costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the adjustment system is located entirely within the outer turbine casing, then the structure is compact and convenient, but the adjustment system cannot be externally adjusted and requires disassembly of the outer casing for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment system is segmented into two parts: a fixed portion attached to the inner turbine casing and a movable portion that extends through the outer casing. This segmentation allows the movable portion to be adjusted externally while maintaining the compact integrated structure, resolving the contradiction between external adjustability and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A support assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the inner and outer casings. It includes a wedge that can be adjusted externally through the outer casing to move the inner casing, while the rest of the adjustment system remains integrated within the casing structure. This intermediary mechanism enables external adjustment without requiring full disassembly.
2Ease of repair
If the outer turbine casing must be disassembled to adjust the inner and outer turbine casing, then the adjustment system is accessible, but the maintenance time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment system is pre-configured with a movable portion that extends through the outer casing, allowing adjustments to be made without the preliminary action of disassembling the casing. The system is prepared in advance to be externally accessible, eliminating the time-consuming disassembly step while maintaining full adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable portion of the adjustment system is extracted through the outer casing, allowing it to be accessed and adjusted from the outside. This extraction enables maintenance personnel to perform adjustments without disassembling the outer casing, significantly reducing maintenance time while keeping the adjustment system fully accessible.
3Manufacturing precision
If the upper half of the outer turbine casing is removed to perform final adjustment, then the adjustment can be performed, but the reassembly process may offset and alter the adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment system transitions from a static integrated structure to a dynamic configuration where the movable portion can be adjusted externally. This dynamic design allows precise adjustments to be made without removing the casing, and the adjusted position is maintained stably without being offset during reassembly, as the adjustment is locked in place externally.
4Reliability
If the turbine adjustment system malfunctions or is damaged, then the outer turbine casing must be disassembled for repair, but this increases repair time and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The movable portion of the adjustment system is extracted through the outer casing, allowing it to be accessed, repaired, or replaced from the outside without disassembling the casing. This extraction significantly improves ease of repair while maintaining the reliability of the adjustment system, as damaged components can be quickly replaced externally.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment system is designed to be self-serviceable through external access. Maintenance personnel can perform repairs and replacements on the movable portion without requiring disassembly of the outer casing, enabling the system to service itself with minimal intervention and downtime, thereby improving both reliability and ease of repair.
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
Enables efficient adjustment and alignment of turbine components without disassembling the outer casing, reducing maintenance time and costs, and allowing for easier replacement or repair of the adjustment system.
Implementation Method 1
a wedge configured to support a substantially horizontal surface of an inner turbine casing
Implementation Method 2
a ledge comprising a surface that is inclined with respect to the substantially horizontal surface, the ledge configured to be coupled to an outer turbine casing
Implementation Method 3
a plate threadably coupled to the rod for selectively moving the wedge across the ledge inclined surface when the plate is rotated about the rod
Implementation Method 4
a plate threadably coupled to the rod for selectively moving the wedge across the ledge inclined surface when the plate is rotated about the rod
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A turbine assembly (300) includes an inner turbine casing (100) and an outer turbine casing (302) radially outward from the inner turbine casing, the outer turbine casing including an aperture (304) extending therethrough and a support assembly (200) extending through the aperture, the support assembly being externally adjustable (208) outside of the outer turbine casing to adjust the inner turbine casing relative to the outer turbine casing.