Turbine Engine Centering Assembly for Precise Shaft Docking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of low-pressure turbine modules in multi-spool gas turbine engines faces challenges due to misalignment and uncontrolled displacement during docking, which can damage anti-corrosion coatings and apply excessive stress, requiring complex and heavy centering tools for precise alignment.
Innovation Solution
A centering device with a guide tube and shaft guide that slides along the central axis of the engine's hollow hub, allowing precise axial guidance and minimizing the risk of contact with internal components, enabling precise engagement of labyrinths and reducing the weight and bulk of the tooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional heavy centering tools are used for precise alignment during docking, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centering device is divided into multiple independent components: a centering element that fits into the hollow hub, a guide tube that slides within the centering element, and a shaft guide that passes through the guide tube. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while reducing the overall complexity compared to a single heavy centering tool.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide tube is nested inside the centering element, and the shaft guide is nested inside the guide tube, creating a telescopic structure. This nesting arrangement allows the components to be compact when not in use while providing extended functionality during docking operations, significantly reducing the weight and bulk of the tooling without compromising alignment precision.
2Ease of operation
If the guide tube is entirely on one side of the centering element, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to increased risk of contact and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The guide tube is designed to slide dynamically within the centering element along the central axis, transitioning between different positions. During insertion and initial centering, the guide tube can be positioned to facilitate easy handling. During the critical docking phase, the guide tube extends to provide precise axial guidance. This dynamic positioning allows the system to optimize for both ease of operation and manufacturing precision at different stages of the process.
3Manufacturing precision
If the guide tube protrudes from the centering element, then manufacturing precision is improved through better shaft guidance, but the risk of damage to anti-corrosion coatings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide tube acts as an intermediary element between the centering device and the shaft/shaft guide. It provides precise axial guidance for the shaft while its smooth inner surface and controlled positioning minimize the risk of contact with and damage to the anti-corrosion coatings on the shaft and internal surfaces of the first module.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide tube is positioned and oriented beforehand to ensure proper alignment before the shaft is inserted. This preliminary centering and alignment prevents misalignment during insertion that could cause the shaft to contact and damage the anti-corrosion coatings on the shaft or the internal surfaces of the first module.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for assembling a turbine engine, intended for centring a shaft (4) of a second module relative to a longitudinal axis (X) of the hollow central hub (21) placed in front of a first module (5), said first module (5) including a longitudinal cavity (20) following said axis (X), opening at the front into said hollow hub (21) and passing through the first module (5) following the longitudinal axis (X) until a rear end, said shaft (4) needing to be inserted into said longitudinal cavity (20) by said rear end, comprising a centring element (25) of the central axis, configured to be placed in said hollow hub (21) by inserting same by a first one of the ends (26') thereof and engaging with the latter in order to align the central axis thereof with said longitudinal axis (X), the device also including a guiding tube (36) configured to be able to enter into at least one portion of the longitudinal cavity (20) of the first module (5), to the rear of the hollow hub (21), and in that the device is arranged so that the guiding tube (36) slides inside the centring element (25) along said central axis, between a first position, in which the guiding tube (36) is entirely on the side of the centring element (25) relative to said first end (26'), and a rear position, in which the guiding tube (36) stands proud from said first end (26'), so as to penetrate into the longitudinal cavity (20) when the centring element (25) is placed in the hollow hub (21). The invention also relates to the assembly formed by the device and a calibration jig, as well as an assembly method using same.