Turbine bearing maintenance apparatus and method

1. A method of performing maintenance on a bearing area of a gas turbine, the method comprising:

separating sections of an inlet bellmouth of the gas turbine without removing the sections of the inlet bellmouth from the gas turbine;

removing a housing from over a bearing of the gas turbine;

mounting a bearing maintenance apparatus adjacent the inlet bellmouth and the bearing, the bearing maintenance apparatus having:

a set of rails sized to couple with the gas turbine and rest coaxially with the bearing, the set of rails for supporting a portion of the housing;

a first platform spanning between the set of rails;

a lifting device coupled to the first platform for engaging the inlet bellmouth; and

a second platform suspended from the set of rails sized to accommodate an operator; and

performing maintenance on the bearing area while the sections of the inlet bellmouth remain separated.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second platform is positioned below the bearing area while the maintenance apparatus is mounted to the gas turbine.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of rails includes two rails, and wherein each of the two rails is substantially perpendicular with a primary axis of the gas turbine while the maintenance apparatus is mounted to the gas turbine, wherein the bearing is configured to be located between the two rails while the apparatus is mounted to the gas turbine.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maintenance apparatus includes a cart system coupled with the set of rails, the cart system for sliding the bearing housing axially along the set of rails.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing maintenance on the bearing area includes elevating a rotor of the gas turbine and rotating a journal bearing in the bearing area bearing to top-dead-center.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein performing maintenance on the bearing area further includes removing the bearing from the rotor.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein performing maintenance on the bearing area further includes replacing the bearing with a replacement bearing.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein performing maintenance on the bearing area further includes refurbishing the bearing and installing the refurbished bearing around the rotor.

9. A method of performing maintenance on a gas turbine having a shaft, a bearing for the shaft, a bearing housing and a turbine inlet bellmouth adjacent the bearing housing, the method comprising performing in-situ maintenance on a bearing area of the gas turbine by:

separating sections of an inlet bellmouth of the gas turbine without removing the sections of the inlet bellmouth from the gas turbine;

removing a housing from over the bearing of the gas turbine;

mounting a bearing maintenance apparatus adjacent the inlet bellmouth and the bearing, wherein the bearing maintenance apparatus includes a first platform spanning between a set of rails and a second platform suspended from the set of rails; and

performing maintenance on the bearing area while the sections of the inlet bellmouth remain separated,

wherein while performing the in-situ maintenance, the bearing maintenance apparatus is mounted to the gas turbine such that an operator can access the bearing area from below the shaft.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bearing maintenance apparatus further comprises:

a lifting device coupled to the first platform for engaging the inlet bellmouth.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein while the bearing maintenance apparatus is mounted to the gas turbine, the second platform is positioned below the bearing area enabling the operator to access the bearing area from below the shaft.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the rails are separated by a distance that is less than approximately an outer diameter of the bearing housing and greater than approximately an inner diameter of the bearing housing.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the rails comprise mounts adapted to couple with the gas turbine.