Cross fire tube installation/removal methods and apparatus

Inventors: Piotr Dzieciol (Warsaw, PL); Mateusz Dolecki (Warsaw, PL); Piotr Wojciechowski (Warsaw, PL); Szymon Perkowski (Warsaw, PL); Marek Szyszkowski (Warsaw, PL)

Assignee: GE VERNOVA INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC

F23R3/48 F05D2230/60 F05D2240/35

View Patent ↗

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…

Monitor This Case

Get email alerts when status or documents change.

Order Certified Copies

Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.

Order via The Patent Place →

Pre-filled with this patent's details

Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12669246
App. No.: 16/890,142
Granted: Jun 30, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

The present application provides a cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus ( 100 ) for use with a combustor ( 25 ) of a gas turbine engine ( 10 ). The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus ( 100 ) includes a cross fire tube assembly ( 110 ) having a sleeve ( 120, 130 ) with a tube groove ( 170, 180 ) therein and a cross fire tube tool ( 300 ) having a spring ( 390 ) with a spring flange ( 440 ). The spring flange ( 340 ) is sized to engage the tube groove ( 170, 180 ).

Claims (29)

1 . A cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus for use with a combustor of a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a cross fire tube assembly;

the cross fire tube assembly comprising a sleeve with a tube groove therein; and

a cross fire tube tool;

the cross fire tube tool comprising a spring with a spring flange;

wherein the spring flange is sized to engage the tube groove; and

a reaction arm positioned on one end of the spring;

wherein the spring is retractable within the reaction arm such that the spring flange engages the tube groove.

2 . The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises a tubular spring.

3 . The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tubular spring comprises a plurality of spring slots therein.

4 . The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spring is retractable within the reaction arm via a locking knob.

5 . The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cross fire tube tool comprises a driving screw positioned within the reaction arm and the spring.

6 . The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the cross fire tube tool comprises a holder attached to the driving screw.

7 . The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the holder comprises a plurality of holder arms.

8 . A cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus comprising:

a cross fire tube assembly;

the cross fire tube assembly comprising a sleeve with a tube groove therein; and

a cross fire tube tool;

the cross fire tube tool comprising a spring with a spring flange;

wherein the spring flange is sized to engage the tube groove;

a reaction arm positioned on one end of the spring; and

a driving screw positioned within the reaction arm and the spring;

wherein the driving screw comprises a cone end for engagement with the spring flange; and

wherein the spring is retractable within the reaction arm such that the spring flange engages the tube groove and is locked into place by the cone end.

9 . The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the driving screw comprises a bearing journal positioned thereon about the cone end.

10 . The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the driving screw comprises a sleeve bearing positioned about the cone end.

11 . The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cross fire tube assembly comprises a pair of sleeves and a bias.

12 . The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a flange with the tube groove therein.

13 . The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cross fire tube assembly comprises a collar sized to accommodate the flange.