Apparatus for broaching repair of turbine rotor steeples
View Patent ↗A broaching apparatus ( 200, 400 ) includes; a broach ( 300, 600 ) having a cross-section corresponding to a geometry of slot ( 115 ) between adjacent steeples ( 110 ) of a turbine rotor ( 100 ), and a mechanism ( 210, 220, 230, 410, 420, 430 ) which moves the broach ( 300,600 ) through the slot ( 115 ) in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of extension of the slot ( 115 ).
1. A broaching apparatus, the broaching apparatus comprising:
a broach having a cross-section corresponding to a geometry of a slot between two adjacent steeples of a turbine rotor;
a mechanism that moves the broach through the slot between the adjacent steeples in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of extension of the slot;
a fixture assembly configured for mounting the mechanism to the turbine rotor,
wherein the mechanism comprises:
an actuator frame coupled to the fixture assembly; and
an actuator coupled to the actuator frame;
a first pulley coupled to an end of the actuator opposite the actuator frame;
a chain anchor disposed on one of the fixture assembly and the actuator frame; and
a chain having a first end coupled to the chain anchor, a middle section thereof passed through the first pulley, and a second end thereof coupled to the broach,
wherein the broach is motively coupled to the actuator.
2. The broaching apparatus of claim 1 , the broaching apparatus further comprising:
a second pulley coupled to one of the fixture assembly and the actuator frame and receiving the middle section of the chain,
wherein the second pulley is positioned to redirect a force applied to the chain by the actuator in a predetermined direction.
3. The broaching apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the chain displacement is about twice the length of a stroke of the actuator.
4. The broaching apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is one of a hydraulic and pneumatic actuator.
5. The broaching apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a width of the broaching apparatus is equal to or less than a width of the turbine rotor.
6. The broaching apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the broach has substantially an inverse shape of the hooks and grooves of the two adjacent steeples of the turbine rotor.
7. The broaching apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the broach includes a lead-in section that has a cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the slot.
8. The broaching apparatus of claim 1 , the mechanism further comprising:
an actuator disk mechanically linked to the actuator,
wherein the broach is curved and is coupled to the actuator disk.
9. The broaching apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a second pulley coupled to one of the fixture assembly and the actuator frame and receiving the middle section of the chain,
wherein the second pulley is positioned to redirect a force applied to the chain by the actuator in a predetermined direction.
10. The broaching apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the actuator disk is rotated by about 200° over the length of a stroke of the actuator.
11. The broaching apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is one of a hydraulic and pneumatic actuator.
12. The broaching apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:
a pair of shoulder pins disposed on the broach; and
a pair of race-track slots in the actuator disk which receive the shoulder pins of the broach.
13. The broaching apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a cross-section of the broach has substantially an inverse shape of hooks and grooves of the two adjacent steeples on the turbine rotor.