U.S. patent application number 12/209257 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-18 for blade verification plates and method of use.
This patent application is currently assigned to General Electric Company. Invention is credited to Creston Lewis Dempsey, Roberto Anthony Nunez, Robert Michael Petroskie.
Application Number | 20100064537 12/209257 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42005947 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100064537 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Petroskie; Robert Michael ;
et al. |
March 18, 2010 |
BLADE VERIFICATION PLATES AND METHOD OF USE
Abstract
A first plate includes an opening configured to be placed over a
blade of a first rotor. A second plate includes an opening
configured to be placed over a blade of a second rotor. Each plate
includes a first pin configured to contact a leading edge of a
blade located on one side of the blade in the opening and a second
pin configured to contact a leading edge of a blade located on an
opposite side of the blade in the opening, and a third pin
configured to contact a leading edge of the blade in the opening.
An indicator line is marked on the first plate and a pair of
boundary lines marked on the second plate are spaced apart a
distance indicative of an acceptable range for blade clocking
between the first and second rotors when the indicator line is
located between the boundary lines.
Inventors: |
Petroskie; Robert Michael;
(Roebuck, SC) ; Dempsey; Creston Lewis; (Mauldin,
SC) ; Nunez; Roberto Anthony; (Greenville,
SC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CANTOR COLBURN, LLP
20 Church Street, 22nd Floor
Hartford
CT
06103
US
|
Assignee: |
General Electric Company
Schenectady
NY
|
Family ID: |
42005947 |
Appl. No.: |
12/209257 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
33/533 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01B 5/25 20130101; G01B
5/205 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
33/533 |
International
Class: |
G01B 5/25 20060101
G01B005/25 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a first blade verification plate
having an opening configured to be placed over a blade on a first
rotor; and a second blade verification plate having an opening
configured to be placed over a blade on a second rotor; each plate
including a first pin configured to contact a leading edge of a
blade located on one side of the blade within the opening and a
second pin configured to contact a leading edge of a blade located
on an opposite side of the blade within the opening when each plate
is placed over the corresponding blade on each of the first and
second rotors; each plate including a third pin configured to
contact a leading edge of the blade located within the opening; an
indicator line marked on the first plate and a pair of boundary
lines marked on the second plate and spaced apart a predetermined
distance indicative of an acceptable range for blade clocking
between the first and second rotors when the indicator line is
located between the boundary lines when each plate is placed over
the corresponding blade of the first and second rotors.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a third blade
verification plate having an opening configured to be placed over a
blade on a third rotor; the third plate including a first pin
configured to contact a leading edge of a blade located on one side
of the blade within the opening, a second pin configured to contact
a leading edge of a blade located on an opposite side of the blade
within the opening when the third plate is placed over the blade on
the third rotor, and a third pin configured to contact a leading
edge of the blade located within the opening; an indicator marked
on the second plate and a pair of boundary lines marked on the
third plate and spaced apart a predetermined distance indicative of
an acceptable range for blade clocking between the second and third
rotors when the indicator line is located between the boundary
lines when the second and third plates are placed over the
corresponding blade of the second and third rotors.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third
pins each comprise dowel pins.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second pins of
each plate are coaxial with each other.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third pin of each plate is
perpendicular to the first and second pins.
6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second pins of
the third plate are coaxial with each other.
7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the third pin of the third
plate is perpendicular to the first and second pins of the third
plate.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an extension scribe
disposed between the first and second plates, the extension scribe
including a scribe line marked on the extension scribe, the scribe
line on the extension scribe being co-linear with the indicator
line on the first plate, the boundary lines are spaced apart a
predetermined distance indicative of an acceptable range for blade
clocking between the first and second rotors when the scribe line
on the extension scribe is located between the boundary lines when
each plate is placed over the corresponding blade of the first and
second rotors.
9. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an extension scribe
disposed between the second and third plates, the extension scribe
including a scribe line marked on the extension scribe, the scribe
line on the extension scribe being co-linear with the indicator
line on the second plate, the boundary lines are spaced apart a
predetermined distance indicative of an acceptable range for blade
clocking between the second and third rotors when the scribe line
on the extension scribe is located between the boundary lines when
the second and third plate are each placed over the corresponding
blade of the second and third rotors.
10. A method for determining whether blade clocking between first
and second rotors each having blades is within an acceptable
tolerance range, comprising: placing a first blade verification
plate having an opening over a blade of the first rotor; placing a
second blade verification plate having an opening over a blade of
the second rotor; and determining whether blade clocking between
the first and second rotors is within an acceptable tolerance range
by inspecting a position of an indicator line marked on the first
plate with respect to a pair of boundary lines marked on the second
plate, the boundary lines are spaced apart a predetermined distance
indicative of an acceptable range for blade clocking between the
first and second rotors when the indicator line is located between
the boundary lines when each plate is placed over the corresponding
blade of the first and second rotors.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising locating the first
plate with respect a blade of the first rotor on either side of the
blade within the opening of the first plate by contacting a first
pin with a leading edge of a blade located on one side of the blade
within the opening and by contacting a second pin with a leading
edge of a blade located on an opposite side of the blade within the
opening.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising locating the second
plate with respect a blade of the second rotor on either side of
the blade within the opening of the second plate by contacting a
first pin with a leading edge of a blade located on one side of the
blade within the opening and by contacting a second pin with a
leading edge of a blade located on an opposite side of the blade
within the opening.
13. The method of claim 10, further comprising locating the first
plate with respect to a leading edge of the blade within the
opening of the first plate by contacting a third pin with the
leading edge of the blade located within the opening of the first
plate.
14. The method of claim 10, further comprising locating the second
plate with respect to a leading edge of the blade within the
opening of the second plate by contacting a third pin with the
leading edge of the blade located within the opening of the second
plate.
15. An apparatus for determining whether a blade clocking between
blades of any two rotors is within an acceptable tolerance range,
comprising: a first blade verification plate having an opening
configured to be placed over a blade on a first rotor; and a second
blade verification plate having an opening configured to be placed
over a blade on a second rotor; an indicator line marked on the
first plate and a pair of boundary lines marked on the second plate
and spaced apart a predetermined distance indicative of an
acceptable range for blade clocking between the first and second
rotors when the indicator line is located between the boundary
lines when each plate is placed over the corresponding blade of the
first and second rotors.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each plate includes a first
pin configured to contact a leading edge of a blade located on one
side of the blade within the opening and a second pin configured to
contact a leading edge of a blade located on an opposite side of
the blade within the opening when each plate is placed over the
corresponding blade on each of the first and second rotors.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each plate includes a third
pin configured to contact a leading edge of the blade located
within the opening.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising an extension
scribe disposed between the first and second plates, the extension
scribe includes a scribe line marked on the extension scribe, the
scribe line on the extension scribe being co-linear with the
indicator line on the first plate, the boundary lines are spaced
apart a predetermined distance indicative of an acceptable range
for blade clocking between the first and second rotors when the
scribe line on the extension scribe is located between the boundary
lines when each plate is placed over the corresponding blade of the
first and second rotors.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a third blade
verification plate having an opening configured to be placed over a
blade on a third rotor; an indicator line marked on the second
plate and a pair of boundary lines marked on the third plate and
spaced apart a predetermined distance indicative of an acceptable
range for blade clocking between the second and third rotors when
the indicator line is located between the boundary lines when the
second and third plates are placed over the corresponding blade of
the second and third rotors.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the third plate includes a
first pin configured to contact a leading edge of a blade located
on one side of the blade within the opening, a second pin
configured to contact a leading edge of a blade located on an
opposite side of the blade within the opening when the third plate
is placed over the blade on the third rotor, and a third pin
configured to contact a leading edge of the blade located within
the opening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to gas turbine
engines and, more particularly, to blade verification plates that
facilitate the location of the leading edge of the blades on a
rotor within a turbine engine, such as a gas turbine engine or a
steam turbine engine, and further provide an indication as to
whether the blade clocking is within an acceptable tolerance
range.
[0002] Clocking of blades on rotating rotors or wheels is common in
gas turbine engines, especially on modern rotors. Clocking
generally refers to the relative positioning of two rows of blades
or airfoils with respect to each other (e.g., the blades on two
adjacent stages of a compressor), wherein such blade positioning
can affect the efficiency of the gas turbine. Prior methods for
determining whether the blade clocking is within an acceptable
tolerance range involve manual measurements taken using a plum line
and a ruler with two or more stages stacked on top of each other.
This method suffers from obvious inherent inaccuracies associated
with manual measurements and is time consuming. It is also known to
use a computerized measurement system for ascertaining blade
clocking. However, this method is costly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0003] According to one aspect of the invention, a first blade
verification plate includes an opening configured to be placed over
a blade affixed to a first rotor, and a second blade verification
plate includes an opening configured to be placed over a blade
affixed to a second rotor. An indicator line is marked on the first
plate and a pair of boundary lines are marked on the second plate,
wherein the boundary lines are spaced apart a predetermined
distance indicative of an acceptable range for blade clocking
between the first and second rotors when the indicator line is
located between the boundary lines when each plate is placed over
the corresponding blade affixed to the first and second rotors.
[0004] According to another aspect of the invention, a method for
determining whether blade clocking between first and second rotors
each having blades is within an acceptable tolerance range includes
placing a first blade verification plate having an opening over a
blade of the first rotor; placing a second blade verification plate
having an opening over a blade of the second rotor; and determining
whether blade clocking between the first and second rotors is
within an acceptable tolerance range by inspecting a position of an
indicator line marked on the first plate with respect to a pair of
boundary lines marked on the second plate, wherein the boundary
lines are spaced apart a predetermined distance indicative of an
acceptable range for blade clocking between the first and second
rotors when the indicator line is located between the boundary
lines when each plate is placed over the corresponding blade of the
first and second rotors.
[0005] These and other advantages and features will become more
apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with
the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0006] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is
particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at
the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other
objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent
from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is perspective view of three adjacent compressor
rotor stages having the blade verification plates of an embodiment
of the invention placed over one of the blades of each stage;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front view of the rotor stages and blade
verification plates of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of three blade verification
plates in another embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a front view of the plates of FIG. 3 placed over
one of the blades of each of three compressor rotor stages; and
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the plates of FIG. 3 placed
over one of the blades of each of the three compressor rotor
stages.
[0012] The detailed description explains embodiments of the
invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example
with reference to the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there illustrated are three
adjacent rotor stages 100, 102, 104 stacked together such that the
stages 100-104 are adjacent one another, for example, in a final
assembly condition. Each stage 100-104 includes a plurality of
blades or airfoils 106 placed around the outer periphery of the
corresponding rotor 100-104. Typically, in modern rotors the blades
106 are in a clocked relationship as between any two stages
100-104. The stages 100-104 may comprise those of a turbine engine,
such as a steam turbine engine or those that are a part of a
compressor of a gas turbine engine. For description purposes, the
turbine engine herein will refer to a gas turbine engine, however
this is merely for descriptive purposes, and is not intended to
limit the invention.
[0014] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, three
blade verification plates 108, 110, 112 are provided wherein each
plate 108-112 is placed over a corresponding single blade 106 in
each of the three rotor stages 100-104. Each plate 108-112 may
comprise aluminum or other suitable material and includes an
opening 114 through which the blade 106 protrudes. Each
verification plate 108-112 includes a pair of dowel pins 116, 118,
wherein a first pin 116 contacts the leading edge of the blade 106
on one side of the blade 106 within the opening 114, and a second
pin 118 contacts the leading edge of the blade 106 on the other
side of the blade 106 within the opening 114. The pins 116, 118 may
be coaxial with each other. This way, the leading edge of the blade
106 is properly situated within the opening 114 and the plate
108-112 is positioned "square" with respect to the corresponding
rotor 100-104.
[0015] Each verification plate 108-112 has another dowel pin 120,
disposed perpendicular to the other two pins 116, 118, that
contacts the leading edge of the blade 106 within the opening 114
of the corresponding plate 108-112, thereby locating the leading
edge of that blade 106. The pins 116-120 may comprise steel or
other suitable material. An indicator scribe line 122 is marked on
a top surface of at least two of the plates 108, 110 in FIGS. 1-2.
The indicator scribe line 122 is positioned with respect to a pair
of boundary scribe lines 124, 126 spaced apart a predetermined
distance and marked on a top surface of an adjacent plate 110, 112,
respectively. The predetermined spacing of the boundary scribe
lines 124, 126 is indicative of an acceptable tolerance range for
blade clocking between two adjacent rotor stages 100-104. If the
indicator scribe line 122 falls within the pair of scribe lines
124, 126 when the blade verification plates 108-112 are placed on
the rotor stages 100-104, then a simple indicator is provided that
informs the user of the blade verification plates 108-112 that the
clocking of the blades of the adjacent rotor stages 100-104 is
within an acceptable tolerance range. Conversely, if the indicator
scribe line 122 falls outside of the pair of scribe lines 124, 126
when the blade verification plates 108-112 are placed on the rotor
stages 100-104, then the clocking of the blades of the adjacent
rotor stages 100-104 is outside of an acceptable tolerance range.
Thus, the blade verification plates 108-112 of an embodiment of the
present invention provide a relatively quick and inexpensive way to
determine whether two adjacent rotor stages are properly
clocked.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 3-5, there illustrated is another
embodiment of the blade verification plates 108-112 of the present
invention. The three blade verification plates 108-112 of FIGS. 3-5
are similar in all respects to those illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 and
described hereinabove. Thus, like elements are designated with like
reference numbers in the figures. In this embodiment, the three
rotor stages 100-104 (FIGS. 4-5) have not yet been stacked in a
final assembly and are, thus, in a "pre-stacked", spaced apart
configuration. Nevertheless, the blade clocking of these stages
100-104 can be checked with the blade verification plates 108-112
of an embodiment of the present invention. The difference between
the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 and that of FIGS. 1-2 is the use of an
additional extension scribe 130 that comprises a block of, e.g.
aluminum or other suitable material. The purpose of the extension
scribe 130 is to compensate for the distance separating the rotor
stages 100-104 in the pre-stacked position while still allowing for
determining if the blade clocking is within an acceptable tolerance
range.
[0017] The extension scribe 130 may have an L-shaped cutout that
contacts a corner of the corresponding plate 108. An opposite side
of the scribe 130 is adjacent the blade verification plate 110
without contacting the plate 110. The extension scribe 130 has a
scribe line 132 marked on a top surface thereon that acts as an
extension of the indicator scribe line 122 on the plates 108- 110
and is co-linear therewith. As such, the scribe line 132 on the
extension scribe 130 falls within the pair of scribe lines 124, 126
when the blade clocking is within an acceptable tolerance range.
This is so because the position of one of the plates 108 as
determined by the position of the blade 106 within the opening 114
of that plate 108 with respect to the position of an adjacent plate
110 is kept constant by the extension scribe 130. That is, the
scribe line 132 on the extension scribe 130 follows the position of
the indicator scribe line 122 on the plates 108-112. Again, as with
the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2, if the scribe line 132 on the
extension scribe 130 falls outside of the pair of scribe lines 124,
126 on the adjacent plate 110, then the blade clocking between the
blades 106 of the rotor stages 100, 102 is outside of an acceptable
tolerance range.
[0018] The various embodiments of the invention described and
illustrated herein have involved three blade verification plates
108-112; one plate for a blade in each rotor stage 100-104 or "row"
of blades. However, it suffices that only two blade verification
plates required for the broadest scope of the invention. This is
because of the nature of blade clocking described above in which
such clocking generally refers to the relative positioning of two
rows of blades or airfoils with respect to each other (e.g., the
blades on two adjacent stages of a compressor). On the other hand,
more than three blade verification plates may also be utilized in
embodiments of the invention. The number of plates is primarily a
design choice as to how many rotor stages or rows of blades are
desired to have their clocking checked at one time.
[0019] While the invention has been described in detail in
connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be
readily understood that the invention is not limited to such
disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to
incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or
equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are
commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention.
Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been
described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may
include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the
invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing
description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *