DEVICE HAVING A LOAD ARM FOR INSTALLING AND REMOVING A COMPONENT OF A GAS TURBINE

Abstract

A device for installing and removing a component in a gas turbine, includes a rail system for fastening to the gas turbine, on which rail system at least one runner is provided, which can be moved along a predetermined movement axis. A load arm is fastened to the runner, which load arm is designed to be pivoted in at least two spatial directions, and wherein the load arm has a fastening segment, which is designed to form a detachable connection to the component in question. The load arm has three joints each having a defined pivot axis, of which pivot axes preferably at least two are parallel to each other, wherein the joints each have a pivoting resistance device, which pivoting resistance devices are designed to set the pivoting resistance of the respective joints.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A device for installing and removing a component of a gas turbine, comprising a rail system for attaching to the gas turbine, on which rail system there is provided at least one runner which can be displaced along a predetermined displacement axis, wherein a load arm is attached to the runner and is designed to be pivoted in at least two spatial directions, and wherein the load arm has an attachment section which is designed to establish a releasable connection with the relevant component, wherein the load arm has three articulations each having one defined pivot axis, of which pivot axes all are mutually parallel, wherein the articulations each have a pivot-resistance device which are designed to set the pivot resistance of the respective articulation.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the load arm has articulations which allow the load arm to be pivoted in exactly two spatial directions.

13. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein one articulation is attached to the runner and the pivot axis of the articulation runs essentially perpendicular to the displacement axis.

14. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a first and a second articulation are connected to one another with a first connecting section, and the second and a third articulation are connected to one another with a second connecting section, wherein the two connecting sections provide different distances between the respective articulations.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the attachment section is directly or indirectly fixed to the end of one of the articulations and a connecting section which is also fixed to the articulation in question is longer than the respective other connecting section.

16. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the articulations each have an immobilizing device which is designed to immobilize the respective articulation.

17. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the attachment section is directly or indirectly connected to one of the articulations.

18. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the attachment section is designed to be connected to the burner-side end of the relevant component.

19. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the attachment section has a lifting device.

20. The device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the lifting device is designed to move at least one part of the attachment section parallel to one of the pivot axes.

21. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lifting device is designed to move at least one part of the attachment section parallel to the locally closest pivot axis.

22. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein one articulation is attached to the runner in a fixed position.

23. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the attachment section is designed to be connected to the burner-side end of the relevant component to a transition piece.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] In the figures:

[0041] FIG. 1 is a side view in perspective of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention for installing and removing a component, to which is attached a corresponding component;

[0042] FIG. 2 is an isolated perspective representation of the load arm of the embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, of the device for installing and removing a component;

[0043] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device, shown in FIG. 1, for installing and removing a component, with a component attached thereto;

[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of an embodiment of the load arm according to the invention, as represented for example in FIG. 2;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the device, according to the invention, for installing and removing a component, with a component attached thereto, during execution of a tipping movement for installing or removing such a component relative to a burner opening of the casing of a gas turbine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention for installing and removing a component 11 in a gas turbine 10 (not shown here). In this context, the device 1 comprises a rail system 20 which has two mutually parallel rails 21 on which there is movably arranged a runner 22 that can move along a displacement axis VA. The rail system 20 is designed to be attached to a gas turbine 10, in particular to the casing 5 of a gas turbine 10, in the region of the burner opening 13 (not shown here).

[0047] A load arm 30 is attached to the runner 22 and has a total of three articulations 31, 32 and 33 which in each case permit pivoting about a respectively defined pivot axis SA (not shown here). The three articulations 31, 32, 33 are in each case connected to one another via a first connection section 41 or via a second connection section 42, and thus permit a combined pivot movement of the individual articulations 31, 32, 33.

[0048] At the end of the load arm 30 there is provided an attachment section 40 which is designed to establish a releasable connection with a component 11 that is in the form of a transition piece. In this context, the component 11 is temporarily connected to the attachment section 40 at the burner-side end such that, during installation and removal, the weight of the component 11 can be borne by the rail system 20 via the attachment section 40 and the articulations 31, 32, 33.

[0049] In the present case, the articulations 31, 32, 33 are designed such that the individual pivot axes SA are all mutually parallel. This permits pivoting of the component 11 on the load arm 30 in only two spatial directions, or in a defined pivot plane (not explicitly shown here), relative to which the respective pivot axes SA are normal.

[0050] In order to be able to appropriately set the pivot resistances of the individual articulations, each articulation 31, 32, 33 has its own pivot-resistance device 34, 35, 36 such that a corresponding pivot resistance can be made to counteract pivoting about the relevant pivot axis SA. In the present case, the pivot-resistance devices 34, 35, 36 are identical to an immobilizing device 37, 38, 39 which permits complete immobilization of the individual articulations 31, 32, 33. Immobilization makes pivoting of the respective articulations 31, 32, 33 no longer possible.

[0051] Now, if a component 11 is installed in or removed from a gas turbine, it is necessary to first secure the component 11 to the attachment section 40. By virtue of a combined movement along the displacement axis VA, imparted by the runner 22 running on the rails 21, and by the pivot movements about the three pivot axes SA of the articulations 31, 32, 33, the operating and maintenance personnel, suitably coordinated, can guide the component into or out of the burner opening of the casing. In order to support the individual movement sequences, the individual pivot-resistance devices 34, 35 and 36, or the immobilizing devices 37, 38, 39 can be set temporarily, and hence the number of degrees of freedom of movement can be temporarily reduced. During operation, this can save effort for the operating personnel, or can make it possible to better control the precision of the individual movement procedures.

[0052] The attachment section 40 also comprises a lifting device 45 which is designed as a linear transmission driven by a crank. The associated lifting movement, which can be brought about using the lifting device 45, runs parallel to the individual pivot axes SA and thus permits fine adjustment of the component during installation in the gas turbine, or alignment of the attachment section 40 relative to the burner-side end of the component 11 during removal.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, of the load arm 30, but with both the rail system 20 and the component 11 being omitted. The pivot axes of the three articulations 31, 32, 33, which are all parallel to one another, are now clearly visible. Also, these pivot axes SA run perpendicular to the displacement axis VA defined by the rail system 20.

[0054] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, of the device 1 according to the invention, wherein in this case the different lengths of the connection sections 41 and 42 are clearly visible. The different lengths provide improved flexibility when carrying out the tipping procedure for guiding the component into or out of the gas turbine.

[0055] FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of the load arm 30, as shown for example in FIG. 2.

[0056] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention, which is illustrated during execution of the tipping movement necessary for installation or removal. In this case, the device 1 is attached to the casing 5 of a gas turbine 10 by means of suitable attachment bolts in the region of the burner mating flange 12. In this context, the burner mating flange 12 normally serves for attachment of the burner flange (not shown here) in order to attach the burner to the casing 5. The burner mating flange 12 also defines a burner opening 13 through which the component must be guided into or out of the gas turbine. Due to the shape of the component, the component 11 can be guided into the casing 5 of the gas turbine 10, in order that it can then be attached at its intended location, only by means of a suitable tipping movement. This tipping movement can be carried out by combining a linear movement along the displacement axis VA defined by the rail system 20 and a pivot movement about the pivot axes SA of the articulations 31, 32 and 33.

[0057] Further embodiments are to be found in the subclaims.