Device for applying abradable material to a surface of a turbine engine casing

Abstract

A device for applying abradable material to a surface of an annular casing of a turbine engine, wherein the casing extends along a longitudinal axis, comprises a support equipped with first guiding means capable of guiding the support in relation to the casing in a radial direction in relation to the axis of the casing. The support is equipped with second guiding means capable of guiding the support in relation to the casing in an axial direction. The device further includes an application roller pivotally mounted in relation to the support in the axial direction and adjustment means allowing adjustment of the position of the roller in relation to the first guiding means, in the radial direction.

Claims

1. A device for applying abradable material, designed to apply abradable material to a surface of an annular casing of a turbine engine, wherein the casing extends along a longitudinal axis and the device comprises a support equipped with first guiding means capable of guiding the support in relation to the casing in a radial direction in relation to the axis of the casing, the support being equipped with second guiding means capable of guiding the support in relation to the casing in an axial direction of the casing, an application roller being pivotally mounted in relation to the support in the axial direction and adjustment means allowing adjustment of the position of the roller in relation to the first guiding means, in the radial direction, wherein the device is configured to be mounted on the casing and move relative to a fixed location of the casing during application of the abradable material.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first guiding means comprises rolling means capable of bearing on the casing in the radial direction and capable of moving on said casing.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second guiding means comprises rolling means capable of bearing on the casing in the axial direction and capable of moving on said casing.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the support comprises a first part and a second part movable in the radial direction in relation to the first part, with the roller being pivotally mounted on the second part of the support and the first guiding means and the second guiding means being mounted on the first part of the support.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment means can be mounted between the first part and the second part of the support and are designed to adjust the position of the second part in relation to the first part, in the radial direction.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the adjustment means comprise at least one screw interacting with at least one nut, with pivoting of the screw in relation to the nut causing translational movement of the second part in relation to the first part.

7. The device according to claim 5, further comprising translational guiding means for guiding the second part in relation to the first part, in the radial direction.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the support comprises gripping means.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the roller comprises at least two parts capable of pivoting independently of each other.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the gripping means comprises a handle.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the at least two parts capable of pivoting independently of each other comprise at least one cylindrical part and at least one frustoconical part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood and other details, characteristics, and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a turbine engine fan casing comprising a layer of abradable material,

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional half-view illustrating a section of the fan casing in FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 is a detailed diagrammatic view illustrating in particular the application of portions of abradable material paste on the corresponding cylindrical surface of the fan casing,

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention,

(6) FIG. 5 is a front view of the device in FIG. 4,

(7) FIG. 6 represents the method of applying the abradable material according to an embodiment of the invention in which the axis of the casing is oriented vertically,

(8) FIG. 7 represents the method of applying the abradable material according to an embodiment of the invention in which the axis of the casing is oriented horizontally.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a device 11 for applying abradable material, designed to apply abradable material to a surface of a turbine engine casing 1.

(10) The device 11 features a support comprising a first part 12 and a second part 13. The first part 12 has, when viewed from the front, an overall U shape comprising a base 12a from which two branches 12b extend. The free end of each branch 12b has two opposite legs 12c, each leg 12c carrying a running roller 14, the axes of rotation 15 of which are parallel to the base 12a. The first part 12 of the support furthermore comprises an additional branch 12d, extending from a lateral end of the base 12a and extending parallel to the branches 12b. The free end of the additional branch 12d has two opposite legs 12e each carrying a running roller 16, the axis of rotation 17 of which is parallel to the branches 12b, 12d i.e. perpendicular to the axes of rotation 15 of the running rollers 14.

(11) Two gripping handles 18 are fixed to the base 12a and a handle 19 is fixed to the legs 12e of the additional branch 12d.

(12) The second part 13 of the support is mounted between the branches 12b of the first part 12, with the second part 13 having an overall U shape and comprising a base 13a with two branches 13b extending on either side thereof. A roller 20 is pivotally mounted around a shaft 21 extending parallel to the pivot axes 15 of the running rollers 14. The ends of the shaft 21 are engaged in the branches 13b of the second part 13, the latter thereby forming a yoke. The roller 20 has three constituent parts 20a, 20b and 20c capable of pivoting independently of each other around the shaft 21. In particular, the roller 21 comprises two cylindrical parts 20a, 20b of different diameters, connected by a frustoconical medial part 20c. The part 20a located near the additional branch 12d is for example smaller in diameter than the part 20b. The different parts 20a, 20b, 20c are dimensioned so as to ensure surface continuity of the roller 20.

(13) The support 12, 13 is equipped with adjustment means for adjusting the position of the roller 20. Said adjustment means comprise a bolt formed or mounted in the base 13a of the second part 13 for example, and a screw 22 engaged in a pivot in the base 12a of the first part 12. The screw 22 is equipped with a gripping head 23. The screw 22 and the corresponding nut are arranged in such a way that rotation of the screw 22 makes it possible to change the position of the second part 13 relative to the first part 12, along the axis of the screw 22, i.e. along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the roller 20.

(14) In order to guide such translational movement, the support 12, 13 can be equipped with guiding rods 24 arranged laterally for example on either side of the screw 22 and the nut. In particular, the rods 24 can be fixed to the base 12a of the first part 12 and be engaged in holes with a matching section or in guiding rings of the second part 13.

(15) Likewise, the tool can allow adjustment in the axial direction, for example, between parts 12d and 12b, it would also be possible to have an adjustment means that would make it possible to adapt the invention to different casing sizes.

(16) As shown in FIG. 6, such a device 11 can be used to form the layer 6 of abradable material of a fan casing 1 of a turbine engine, such as an aircraft turboprop engine.

(17) In the case illustrated in FIG. 6, the fan 1 is arranged such that its axis extends vertically, abradable material in paste form being applied, for example in portions 7, to an area to be covered, for example to the radially inner skin of a panel 5 of the fan casing 1. The abradable material used is for example an epoxy resin-based polymer material comprising hollow beads, for example hollow glass beads.

(18) The aforementioned device 11 is subsequently arranged on the casing 1 such that the roller 20 extends along the axis of the casing 1, the running rollers 16 rest on one of the end flanges 3, 4 of the casing 1 and the running rollers 14 rest on the radially inner surface 2 of the casing 1, axially on either side of the panel 5 bearing the abradable material.

(19) The running rollers 14, 16 are kept in contact with the areas involved of the casing 1 by the operator's pressing on the handles 18, 19. The handles 18 are thus used to hold the device 11 radially on the inner surface 2 of the casing 1 and the handle 19 is used to hold the device 11 axially on the corresponding end flange 3, 4.

(20) The device 11 is subsequently moved in relation to the casing 2 over the entire periphery of the casing 1 so as to smooth the abradable material in paste form and define the layer of abradable material 6. During this stage, the different parts 20a, 20b, 20c of the roller 20 pivot around their axis 21 and press or repel the malleable paste. It should be noted that constructing the roller 20 in several parts 20a, 20b, 20c limits sliding phenomena at the interface between the roller 20 and the abradable material, in order to avoid detachment or tearing off of abradable material during its application.

(21) One or more rough passes followed by one or more finishing passes can be performed successively. For this purpose, the radial position of the roller 20 in relation to the cylindrical surface to which the abradable material is applied can be adjusted between passes using the adjusting screw 23.

(22) Following the different passes, the radially inner surface of the layer of abradable material 6 has two cylindrical sections 8, 9 of different diameters and a frustoconical section 10 connecting the two cylindrical sections (FIG. 2).

(23) The abradable layer 6 is subsequently allowed to air dry so that it hardens and acquires the necessary mechanical characteristics.

(24) FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the casing 1 is positioned so that its axis extends horizontally.

(25) The invention thus provides for a device and a method allowing quick and easy forming of the layer of abradable material 6 of a fan casing 1 of a turbine engine for example.