IP Library Granted Patent US 8,720,057
Granted Patent B2
US 8,720,057 · App. 13/567,542 · Granted May 13, 2014

Method for reconditioning a rotor of a turbomachine

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,720,057
App. No.
13/567,542
Granted
May 13, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method is provided for reconditioning a turbomachine rotor, equipped with circumferentially extending grooves for accommodating blades retained in the grooves at a distance from each other by spacers. The method includes removing the blades and spacers from the grooves and hollowing out the exposed grooves, simultaneously widening the grooves to remove damage-inflicted material. At least one circumferentially extending lateral groove is introduced for accommodating a filler piece in the grooves to fill a gap between blades and hollowed-out rotor grooves. New spacers are provided which are matched to the hollowed-out grooves and have recesses which are matched to the introduced lateral grooves. Filler pieces are provided for inserting into the circumferentially extending lateral grooves and recesses of the new spacers. The blades and new spacers are inserted into the hollowed-out rotor grooves and corresponding filler pieces are inserted into the lateral grooves and matched recesses of the new spacers.

Claims (12)

1. A method for reconditioning a turbomachine rotor ( 10 ), which is equipped with circumferentially extending rotor grooves ( 12 ) for accommodating rotor blades ( 13 ) which are retained in the rotor grooves ( 12 ) at a distance from each other by spacers ( 14 , 15 ), the method comprising:

a) removing the rotor blades ( 13 ) and spacers ( 14 , 15 ) from the rotor grooves ( 12 ) which are to be reworked;

b) hollowing out the exposed rotor grooves ( 12 ), simultaneously widening the rotor grooves ( 12 ) in order to remove damage-inflicted material;

c) introducing at least one circumferentially extending lateral groove ( 21 ) for accommodating a filler piece ( 22 , 23 ) in the rotor grooves ( 12 ) such that a gap (S) between rotor blades ( 13 ) and hollowed-out rotor grooves ( 12 ) is filled out by the filler piece ( 22 , 23 );

d) providing new spacers ( 14 ′, 14 ″, 15 ′, 15 ″) which are matched to the hollowed-out rotor grooves ( 12 ) and have recesses ( 17 ) which are matched to the introduced lateral grooves ( 21 );

e) providing filler pieces ( 22 , 23 ) for inserting into the circumferentially extending lateral grooves ( 21 ) and recesses ( 17 ) of the new spacers ( 14 ′, 14 ″, 15 ′, 15 ″); and

f) inserting the rotor blades ( 13 ) and new spacers ( 14 ′, 14 ″, 15 ′, 15 ″) into the hollowed-out rotor grooves ( 12 ) and inserting corresponding filler pieces ( 22 , 23 ) into the lateral grooves ( 21 ) and matched recesses ( 17 ) of the new spacers ( 14 ′, 14 ″, 15 ′, 15 ″).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circumferentially extending lateral grooves ( 21 ) are provided only on one side of the hollowed-out rotor grooves ( 12 ).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein provision is made for a plurality of circumferentially extending lateral grooves ( 21 ) with corresponding filler pieces ( 23 ) per hollowed-out rotor groove ( 12 ).

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the introduced lateral grooves ( 21 ) and the matched recesses of the new spacers ( 14 ′, 14 ″, 15 ′, 15 ″) form tubular passages in an installed state, and filler pieces ( 22 , 23 ) in the form of tubes are used.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rotor grooves ( 12 ) have circumferentially extending hooks ( 16 , 16 ′) on sides thereof, which are engaged by blade roots ( 13 b ) of the inserted rotor blades ( 13 ), and a circumferentially extending lateral groove ( 21 ) is arranged above the hooks ( 16 , 16 ′).

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rotor grooves ( 12 ) have circumferentially extending hooks ( 16 , 16 ′) on sides thereof, which are engaged by blade roots ( 13 b ) of the inserted rotor blades ( 13 ), and circumferentially extending lateral grooves are arranged beneath the hooks ( 16 , 16 ′).

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 17, 2016
From: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
Reel/Frame 039714/0578 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2012
From: WELLENKAMP, ULRICH; PUERTA, LUIS FEDERICO; KAPPIS, WOLFGANG
To: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
Reel/Frame 029401/0372 →