IP Library Granted Patent US 8,127,581
Granted Patent B2
US 8,127,581 · App. 12/082,896 · Granted Mar 6, 2012

Turbine blade twist angle correction tooling

Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,127,581
App. No.
12/082,896
Filed
Apr 15, 2008
Granted
Mar 6, 2012
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3725
USPC
72/31.03
Abstract

A tool for correcting the twist angle of a turbine blade includes an adaptor configured to engage a tip of the blade, a socket drive configured to engage the adaptor, a first handle connected to a first side of the socket drive, a second handle connected to a second side of the socket drive, and a torque gauge configured to measure a load applied to the blade.

Claims (47)

1. A tool for correcting a twist angle of a turbine airfoil, the tool comprising:

an adaptor configured to engage a tip of the airfoil;

a drive member configured to engage the adaptor;

a first handle connected to a first side of the drive member;

a second handle connected to a second side of the drive member, the first and second handles configured to transmit a twisting load to the tip of the airfoil through the drive member and the adaptor; and

a torque gauge mounted on the tool and configured to measure the twisting load applied to the airfoil by the tool.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the adaptor is configured to engage at least one of: a shrouded turbine airfoil and an unshrouded turbine airfoil.

3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the adaptor comprises a pocket configured to receive the tip of the airfoil.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the torque gauge comprises at least one of the following:

an electronic indicator configured to display the twisting load applied to the airfoil; and

an analog indicator configured to display the twisting load applied to the airfoil.

5. An apparatus for correcting a twist angle of a turbine airfoil, the apparatus comprising:

a base plate;

a fixture connected to the base plate and configured to engage the root of the airfoil;

a twist angle gauge connected to the base plate and configured to measure the twist angle of the airfoil; and

a tool configured to apply a measured load to a tip of the airfoil, wherein the tool comprises:

an adaptor configured to engage a tip of the airfoil;

a socket drive configured to engage the adaptor;

a first handle connected to a first side of the socket drive;

a second handle connected to a second side of the socket drive, the first and second handles configured to transmit a twisting load to the tip of the airfoil through the socket drive and the adaptor; and

a torque gauge configured to measure the twisting load applied to the airfoil.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the fixture is configured to engage a turbine airfoil having a fir tree root geometry.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the twist angle gauge comprises:

jaws configured to contact the airfoil at two or more points; wherein the twist angle gauge extrapolates the twist angle of the airfoil by measuring relative displacement of the jaws at the two or more contact points.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the jaws are configured to contact the airfoil at two or more points on the tip of the airfoil.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the jaws are configured to contact the airfoil at two or more points on a shroud of the airfoil.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the jaws are configured to contact the shroud at two or more points on a knife edge connected to the shroud.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the adaptor is configured to engage at least one of: a shrouded turbine airfoil and an unshrouded turbine airfoil.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the torque gauge comprises at least one of the following:

an electronic indicator configured to display the twisting load applied to the airfoil; and

an analog indicator configured to display the twisting load applied to the airfoil.

13. A apparatus for correcting a twist angle of a turbine airfoil, the apparatus comprising:

a base plate;

a fixture connected to the base plate and configured to engage the root of the airfoil;

a twist angle gauge connected to the base plate and configured to measure the twist angle of the airfoil; and

a tool comprising:

an adaptor configured to engage a tip of the airfoil;

a socket drive configured to engage the adaptor;

a first handle connected to a first side of the socket drive;

a second handle connected to a second side of the socket drive, the first and second handles configured to transmit a twisting load to the tip of the airfoil through the socket drive and the adaptor; and

a torque gauge configured to measure the twisting load applied to the airfoil.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the adaptor is configured to engage a shrouded turbine airfoil.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the twist angle gauge comprises:

jaws configured to contact the airfoil at two or more points; wherein the twist angle gauge extrapolates the twist angle of the airfoil by measuring relative displacement of the jaws at the two or more contact points.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the jaws are configured to contact the turbine airfoil at two or more points.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the jaws are configured to contact the airfoil at two or more points on a shroud of the airfoil.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the jaws are configured to contact the shroud at two or more points on a knife edge connected to the shroud.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Apr 11, 2013
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: USAF
Reel/Frame 030193/0660 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2008
From: DAVIS, EPHRAIM C.; PARRETTE, BRYAN G.; CRONIN, LARRY D.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020854/0895 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090255307A1 · Oct 15, 2009