Repair fixture
View Patent ↗A repair fixture for supporting large cylindrical objects such as a generator rotor, to facilitate field maintenance operations. The fixture has two spaced Vee-blocks that are supported by and moved within vertical channels formed within peripheral stanchions. Clevises are rotatably connected at one end to both lateral sides of the Vee-block and at the other end to a hydraulic piston that is employed to raise and lower the Vee-blocks in unison to accommodate various maintenance requirements.
1. A repair fixture for supporting large cylindrical objects, such as a generator rotor, for disassembly, assembly and/or machining, that can vary the height of a centerline of the cylindrical object to accommodate various operations comprising:
a plurality of spaced, parallel Vee-block supports having inclined upper surfaces defining a “V” with the nadir of “V” shape of each Vee-block aligned along the same axis so that the cylindrical object can be supported within the “V” groove;
a stanchion positioned on either side of each Vee-block having a vertical groove that receives an end of the Vee-block so that the end of the Vee-block can translate vertically within the stanchion groove and be supported against movement in other directions;
a plurality of devises rotatably affixed at a lower end respectively to a front side and a rear side of each Vee-block at each end of the Vee-block, so the clevises at each end are opposed to each other with the clevises at each end that are opposed being attached to each other at an upper end of the clevises with a brace therebetween to maintain the upper end of the devises spaced apart;
a plurality of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders each having a piston with an end of each piston connected to an upper end of the corresponding clevis, which upper end is spaced from the lower end, and with an end of the cylinder supported by a floor; and
means for activating the pistons in unison so that the Vee-blocks are raised or lowered at the same time and at the same rate to maintain the cylindrical object level.
2. The repair fixture of claim 1 wherein the clevis is affixed to the Vee-block through a pin connection.
3. The repair fixture of claim 2 wherein the clevises on the same end of each Vee-block are aligned and coupled together through the same pin connection that extends through the Vee-block.
4. The repair fixture of claim 1 wherein the clevis is removeably attached to the piston.
5. The repair fixture of claim 1 wherein the means for activating the pistons in unison includes two position sensors connected to each Vee-block.
6. The repair fixture of claim 1 including a bedplate that the stanchions are anchored to once the Vee-blocks are aligned.
7. The repair fixture of claim 6 including a cylinder bracket affixed to the bedplate at each location where the cylinder is supported by the floor to hold the cylinder in proper position.
8. The repair fixture of claim 1 including a cylinder bracket stationarily affixed at each location where the cylinder is supported by the floor to hold the cylinder in proper position.
9. The repair fixture of claim 1 including a grease fitting within each vertical groove in each stanchion to assist smooth vertical translation of the V-block.
10. The repair fixture of claim 9 including a grease fitting within the end of each Vee-block.
11. The repair fixture of claim 1 wherein the piston further includes a spacer such that the piston is not fully retractable into the cylinder.
12. The repair fixture of claim 1 wherein the piston has approximately a 24 inch stroke and can lift the cylindrical object approximately 19 inches.