Method for assembling a turbomachine

Abstract

Method for assembling a turbomachine (1) by means of a device (10), the turbomachine comprising at least two modules (3) which are assembled by the insertion of a shaft of one of the modules into a housing of the other of the modules, the device comprising: means (11) for supporting a first of the modules, means (20, 21) for suspending a second of the modules and for moving this second module along an axis of movement (Z), a laser beam emitter (30) intended to be fixed to the said first module and configured to emit a laser beam (31) that coincides with a longitudinal axis (X) of this first module, and a target (40) intended to be fixed to the said suspension and movement means so that it can be moved along the said axis of movement, and so that in at least two axial positions on this axis which are distant from one another, a spot from the said laser beam is located at the centre of the said target, the method being characterized in that it comprises the steps of: a) positioning the said first module (3) on the said support means (11), b) fixing the said target (40) to the said suspension and movement means, c) determining a first axial position of the said target, for which position a spot from the said laser beam (31) is positioned at the centre of the said target, d) moving the said target along the said movement axis (Z), and e) determining a second axial position of the said target, for which position a spot from the said laser beam is located at the centre of the said target, so as to validate the parallelism between the said longitudinal axis (X) of the said first module and the said movement axis.

Claims

1. Method for assembling a turbomachine, by means of a device, the turbomachine comprising at least two modules assembled by insertion of a shaft of one of the modules into a housing of another one of the modules, the device comprising: support means for supporting a first of the modules, suspension and movement means for suspending and moving a second of the modules along a movement axis, a laser beam emitter intended to be fixed to said first module and configured to emit a laser beam that coincides with a longitudinal axis of this first module, and a target intended to be fixed to said suspension and movement means, such that it can be moved along said movement axis, and such that in at least two separate axial positions on this axis, a mark from said laser beam is located at the centre of said target, the method being wherein it comprises the steps of: a) positioning said first module on said support means, b) fixing said target to said suspension and movement means, c) determining a first axial position of said target, for which said mark of said laser beam is located at the centre of said target, d) moving said target along said movement axis, and e) determining a second axial position of said target, for which said mark of said laser beam is located at the centre of said target, in order to validate the parallelism between said longitudinal axis of said first module and said movement axis.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein it comprises the following steps of: f) disassembling said target from said suspension and movement means, g) fixing said second module to said suspension and movement means, and h) inserting said first and second modules into one another, by moving said second module along said movement axis.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said first axial position is located in the vicinity of the first module.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein it comprises, between steps d) and e), the sub-steps of: verifying the position of said mark on said target, and adjusting the position of the first module such that said mark is located at the centre of said target.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said support means are configured to enable the adjustment of the positioning of said first module in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said first module.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said support means are configured to enable the adjustment of the positioning of said first module in two directions substantially perpendicular to one another and to said longitudinal axis of said first module.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein said suspension and movement means comprise at least one hoist suspended from a girder and able to be moved along the girder defining said movement axis.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein said first module is the module comprising said housing.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein said emitter is housed in said housing of said first module.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention will be better understood, and other details, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, provided by way of an example and not limited thereto, and with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a device for the assembly of a turbomachine used in the method according to the invention; two modules of the turbomachine being mounted on the device;

(3) FIG. 2 is another schematic perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, one of the modules being mounted on the device and a target also being mounted on the device instead of the other module;

(4) FIG. 3 is another schematic side view of the device of FIG. 1 equipped with the target and of one of the modules, here along an axial cross-section;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a module mounted on the support means of the device of FIG. 1; and

(6) FIG. 5 is schematic and perspective exploded view of means for adjusting the support means of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 1 shows a turbomachine 1 during assembly, at the beginning of the docking operation defined above. In this case, it is a twin-spool turbojet engine. It comprises a front fan 2 and a high-pressure module, termed first module 3, consisting of the high-pressure body with the shaft 3a thereof, termed first shaft, which can be seen in FIG. 3. These elements have already been assembled.

(8) In the example, the low-pressure turbine module, termed second module 4, is assembled, of which the shaft 5, termed second shaft, must be engaged in the high-pressure body following the direction of the arrow F, parallel with the longitudinal axis X of the first module 3. This longitudinal axis X is substantially horizontal during assembly.

(9) Below, in the description, the assembly of the second module 4 in the first module 3 will therefore be described. The terms “upstream” and “downstream” are used with reference to the longitudinal axis X based on the primary direction of flow of the gases, from the high-pressure body towards the low-pressure turbine.

(10) In the downstream end thereof, the first module 3 comprises a housing 6 wherein the shaft 5 of the second module 4 is intended to be housed. This shaft 5 extends along the longitudinal axis Y of the second module 4.

(11) The drawings show an example embodiment of a device 10 for the assembly of the turbomachine 1. The device 10 comprises means 11 for supporting the first module 3, and means for suspending the second module 4, and for moving this second module 4 along a movement axis Z.

(12) The support means 11 can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. They comprise a first support 11a of the downstream end of the first module 3 and a second support 11b of the upstream end of the first module 3. The supports 11a, 11b are similar to a base resting on the ground.

(13) The first support 11a can comprise means 12a for adjusting the positioning of the first module 3, preferably in a first vertical direction (double arrow f1). The second support 11b can comprise means 12b for adjusting the positioning of the first module 3, preferably in a first vertical direction (double arrow f1) and in a second horizontal direction (double arrow f2).

(14) FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example embodiment of the adjustment means 12b.

(15) The accuracy of the vertical adjustment of the means 12b, and of the means 12a, can be achieved by means of threaded rods 13 oriented vertically that can be screwed or unscrewed to adjust the height of the attachment means 12c to the first module 3. In addition, the accuracy of the horizontal adjustment of the means 12b can be achieved by means of another threaded rod 14 oriented horizontally and that can be screwed in the attachment means 12c or unscrewed from said attachment means, to adjust the position of the first module in a horizontal plane. The threaded rod 14 has an end engaged in a tapped orifice of the attachment means 12c and an opposite end connected to a flywheel 15. This flywheel 15 is mounted on a plate 16 that is attached removable to a head of one of the threaded rods 13. The plate 16 is L-shaped, one branch of which supports the flywheel 15, which is rotationally mobile about the axis thereof, the other branch being horizontal and comprising a series of holes 17. The abovementioned head of the threaded rod 13 comprises a through-hole 18 for the passage of a pin 19 intended to be engaged through this hole and to reach one of the holes 17 of the plate. One of the holes 17 of the plate is aligned with the hole 18 for the mounting of the pin 19, depending on the desired position of the attachment means in a horizontal direction. This engagement makes it possible for a rough adjustment of the horizontal position of the attachment means 12c and therefore of the first module 3, and the screwing/unscrewing of the threaded rod 14 in the attachment means 12c makes it possible for a more accurate adjustment of this position.

(16) The suspension and movement means comprise a horizontal girder 20 from which a hoist 21 is suspended. The hoist 21 is capable of moving along the girder 20, which defines an axis Z of movement of the hoist 21.

(17) The second module 4 is intended to be fixed to the hoist 21. It is fixed to the hoist 21 so that the axis Y thereof is parallel to the axis Z. To assemble modules 3, 4 of the turbomachine 1, the shaft of module 4 must be inserted in the housing 6 of the module 3. For this purpose, the axes X and Y must be parallel with one another. Since the axis Y is parallel with the axis Z, the axes X and Z must be parallel with one another.

(18) The present invention makes it possible to achieve this objective quickly and reliably. The assembly device comprises a laser beam emitter 30 intended to be fixed to said module 3, and configured to emit a laser beam 31 that coincides with the axis X, and a target 40 intended to be fixed to the suspension and movement means, such that it can be moved along the axis Z.

(19) The emitter 30 is for example, inserted in the housing 6 of the module 3 and immobilised in this housing 6 by appropriate means. It is mounted in the housing from the downstream portion of the module 3 and is oriented such that the laser beam 31 is orientated in the downstream direction.

(20) The target 40 is fixed to the hoist 21 instead of the second module 4 and can therefore be moved along the axis Z. To ensure the parallelism of the axes X and Z, there must be at least two separate axial positions P1, P2, of the target 40 for which a mark 41 of the laser beam is located at the centre 42 of the target 40. Indeed, if two axial positions of the target 40 are identified as meeting this criterion, all the intermediate positions between the positions P1, P2 meet this criterion and the axes X and Z are parallel.

(21) In practice, the positions P1, P2 are at a distance D of 2 to 3 metres from one another. The first position P1 is an axial position of the target 40 as close as possible to the first module 3. The target is thus positioned just downstream from the module 3, and the mark of the beam is inspected to confirm that it is centred on the target 40. If this is not the case, the position of the first module 3 is adjusted until the mark is located at the centre of the target. The adjustment is carried out with the means 12a, 12b.

(22) The target 40 is then moved with the hoist 21 to the position P2 and the position of the mark of the beam on the target is verified. If this is not centred, the position of the first module 3 is adjusted until the mark is located at the centre of the target. The adjustment is carried out with the means 12a, 12b. In such a case, it is possible to verify once again whether the mark of the beam is properly centred on the target when the target is in the position P1.