Service apparatus for use with rotary machines

{
  "publication_number": "US11103964B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Service apparatus for use with rotary machines",
  "abstract": "A system for use in maintaining a turbine assembly includes a plurality of blades and a plurality of vanes. The system includes an insertion apparatus including an insertion end, a steering end opposite the insertion end, and a body extending from the insertion end to the steering end. The insertion end is positionable proximate at least one blade of the plurality of blades using a steering interface. The system also includes a service apparatus for use in maintaining the turbine assembly. The service apparatus includes at least one maintenance device and an anchoring feature. The service apparatus is proximate the insertion end of the insertion apparatus and is positionable in a plurality of orientations via the steering interface. The anchoring feature is configured to releasably couple the service apparatus to at least one blade of the plurality of blades.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for use in maintaining a turbine assembly, the turbine assembly including a plurality of blades and a plurality of vanes, said system comprising: an insertion apparatus comprising an insertion end, a steering end opposite said insertion end, and a body extending from said insertion end to said steering end, wherein said insertion end is positionable proximate to at least one blade of the plurality of blades using a steering interface; a service apparatus for use in maintaining the turbine assembly, said service apparatus including at least one maintenance device and an anchoring feature, wherein said service apparatus is proximate said insertion end of said insertion apparatus and is positionable in a plurality of orientations via said steering interface, and wherein said anchoring feature is configured to releasably couple said service apparatus to at least one blade of the plurality of blades; and a guide apparatus configured to extend through a port of the turbine assembly and define a path for said insertion apparatus, wherein said body includes a first elastic sheet and a second elastic sheet, and wherein said first elastic sheet and said second elastic sheet extend from said steering end to said insertion end along a translation direction defined by said guide apparatus, wherein said steering interface is coupled to said first elastic sheet and to said second elastic sheet at said steering end of said insertion apparatus.",
    "2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said guide apparatus comprises a curved tube.",
    "3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said guide apparatus comprises a flange coupleable to a port of the turbine assembly to support said guide apparatus when said guide apparatus extends through the port.",
    "4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one maintenance device comprises at least one of the following: an applicator, a drill, a grinder, a heater, a welding electrode, a sprayer, an optical sensor, a mechanical sensor, a thermal sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acoustic sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor.",
    "5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said steering interface is coupled to said steering end of said insertion apparatus, wherein said insertion end is positionable using the steering interface by moving said body along and/or about a translation direction.",
    "6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said insertion end is positionable along the translation direction by moving said first elastic sheet and said second elastic sheet along the translation direction, and wherein said insertion end is rotatable about a direction perpendicular to the translation direction by moving said first elastic sheet and said second elastic sheet relative to one another.",
    "7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said body includes a generally cylindrical shape compliant in bending and extending from said steering end to said insertion end along a translation direction defined by said guide apparatus, wherein the steering interface is located at said steering end of said insertion apparatus and configured to steer said insertion end relative to the turbine assembly by translating said body along the guide apparatus direction and rotating said body about the guide apparatus direction.",
    "8. The system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a tether extending from said service apparatus to said insertion end of said insertion apparatus and a tensioning mechanism configured to control tension in said tether when said service apparatus is positioned within a primary flowpath of the turbine assembly.",
    "9. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said service apparatus is sized to fit between adjacent blades of the turbine assembly.",
    "10. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said service apparatus is releasably coupleable to said insertion end of said insertion apparatus.",
    "11. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said insertion apparatus further includes a plurality of linkages that facilitate pivoting of said service apparatus.",
    "12. A method of operating a service apparatus for use with a turbine assembly, the turbine assembly including a plurality of vanes and a rotor having a plurality of blades, said method comprising: inserting a guide apparatus through a port of the turbine assembly to define a path for an insertion apparatus; positioning the service apparatus within a primary flowpath of the turbine assembly using the insertion apparatus, the insertion apparatus including an insertion end, a steering end opposite the insertion end, and a body extending from the insertion end to the steering end, the service apparatus including at least one maintenance device and an anchoring feature configured to releasably couple said service apparatus to at least one blade of the plurality of blades, wherein said body includes a first elastic sheet and a second elastic sheet, and wherein said first elastic sheet and said second elastic sheet extend from said steering end to said insertion end along a translation direction defined by said guide apparatus, wherein said steering interface is coupled to said first elastic sheet and to said second elastic sheet at said steering end of said insertion apparatus; directing the insertion end of the insertion apparatus through the turbine assembly using a steering interface on the steering end of the insertion apparatus, wherein the service apparatus is coupled to the insertion end of the insertion apparatus and is positionable in a plurality of orientations via the steering interface on the steering end of the insertion apparatus; positioning the insertion end of the service apparatus proximate at least one blade of the plurality of blades by transitioning the service apparatus from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein the first orientation facilitates positioning the service apparatus relative to adjacent vanes of the plurality of vanes and the second orientation facilitates positioning the service apparatus relative to adjacent blades; releasably coupling the service apparatus to the at least one blade of the plurality of blades in the second orientation using the anchoring feature on the service apparatus; positioning the service apparatus adjacent a portion of the turbine assembly using the rotor to rotate the service apparatus about an axis of rotation of the rotor; and executing a maintenance operation on a portion of the turbine assembly, said maintenance operation including at least one of inspection, cleaning, and repair of a portion of the turbine assembly.",
    "13. The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein inserting a guide apparatus through a port comprises inserting a curved tube through the port, the curved tube defining a path for the insertion apparatus and coupling said guide apparatus to the turbine assembly via an integral flange positioned onto the port of the turbine assembly.",
    "14. The method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising detecting a characteristic of an interior portion of the turbine assembly defining the primary flowpath using the service apparatus.",
    "15. The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein directing the insertion end of the insertion apparatus comprises moving the body along said guide apparatus and transitioning the service apparatus from a first orientation in which the service apparatus is aligned with a translation direction and a second orientation in which the service apparatus extends at an angle relative to the translation direction.",
    "16. The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein directing the insertion end of the insertion apparatus comprises moving the first elastic sheet and the second elastic sheet in the same direction along the guide apparatus and wherein transitioning the service apparatus from a first orientation to a second orientation comprises moving the first elastic sheet and the second elastic sheet relative to each other along the guide apparatus direction.",
    "17. The method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising controlling tension in a tether coupled to the service apparatus using a tensioning mechanism, wherein the tether is configured to extend from the service apparatus to an exterior of the turbine assembly when said service apparatus is positioned within the primary flowpath of the turbine assembly.",
    "18. The method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising repairing an interior portion of the turbine assembly defining the primary flowpath using the service apparatus."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The field of the disclosure relates generally to a service apparatus and, more particularly, to a service apparatus for inspecting and/or repairing rotary machines.\n\nAt least some known rotary machines, such as turbines for aircraft engines and gas and steam powered turbines for industrial applications, include an outer case and at least one rotor that carries multiple stages of rotating airfoils, i.e., blades, which rotate with respect to the outer case. In addition, the outer case carries multiple stages of stationary airfoils, i.e., guide vanes. The blades and guide vanes are arranged in alternating stages. In at least some known rotary machines, shrouds are disposed on the radially inner surfaces of a stator to form a ring seal around tips of the blades. Together, the blades, guide vanes, and shrouds define a primary flowpath inside the compressor and turbine sections of the rotary machine. This flowpath, combined with a flowpath through the combustor, defines a primary cavity within the rotary machine.\n\nDuring operation, the components of the rotary machine experience at least some material degradation as a function of the components' service history. Accordingly, for at least some known rotary machines, periodic inspections, such as borescope inspections, are performed to assess the condition of the rotary machine between service intervals.",
  "cpc": [
    "B23P 6/002",
    "B23P 23/04",
    "B25J 1/02",
    "B25J 11/005",
    "F01D 21/003",
    "F01D 25/00",
    "F01D 25/002",
    "F01D 5/005",
    "F05D 2220/32",
    "F05D 2230/72",
    "F05D 2260/80",
    "G01M 13/00",
    "G01M 15/14"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B23P 6/00",
    "B25J 1/02",
    "B25J 11/00",
    "F01D 25/00",
    "G06F 17/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "General Electric Co"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Don Mark Lipkin",
    "Todd William DANKO",
    "Mark John Zajkowski"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-12-06",
  "publication_date": "2021-08-31",
  "grant_date": "2021-08-31",
  "priority_date": "2018-12-06",
  "application_number": "US-201816212102-A",
  "family_id": "68808156",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
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}