USRE43928E1 - Borescope inspection port device for gas turbine engine and gas turbine engine using same - Google Patents
Borescope inspection port device for gas turbine engine and gas turbine engine using same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- USRE43928E1 USRE43928E1 US13/171,708 US201113171708A USRE43928E US RE43928 E1 USRE43928 E1 US RE43928E1 US 201113171708 A US201113171708 A US 201113171708A US RE43928 E USRE43928 E US RE43928E
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- compressor stator
- outer casing
- stator segment
- adapter
- gas turbine
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
- F01D17/00—Regulating or controlling by varying flow
- F01D17/02—Arrangement of sensing elements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F05D2260/00—Function
- F05D2260/80—Diagnostics
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
Abstract
An adapter to permit borescope access inside a gas turbine engine including a compressor stator having a plurality of compressor stator segments comprises a body portion defining a bore extending longitudinally therethrough from a first end to be disposed adjacent to outside surfaces of adjacent compressor stator segments to a second end to be disposed adjacent to inside surfaces of adjacent compressor stator segments. The bore permits a borescope to enter therethrough. The adapter further comprises an attachment portion for circumferentially coupling at least one compressor stator segment to an outer casing of the gas turbine engine.
Description
This invention was made with Government support under N00019-02-C-3003 awarded by the United States Navy. The Government has certain rights in this invention.
This invention relates generally to gas turbine engines, and more particularly to borescope inspection port devices for gas turbine engines.
Gas turbine engines are commonly equipped with pluggable holes in their outer casings to allow use of borescopes. These are fiber-optic devices that allow visual inspection of the interior of the engine without disassembling it, which is a major advantage to operators. However, the presence of the hole in the casing tends to locally disrupt the smooth flow of air through the engine along the casing walls. It can also be a path of leakage of high-pressure air into areas where it does not contribute to the engine's performance. This is true even though the ports are filled with a plug that is removed for borescope access, since the fit of the plug may not be—and normally is not—perfect.
Because the borescope access hole typically penetrates more than one component of a gas turbine engine, some allowance must be made for variations in the location of the hole in each of these components. This is usually accomplished by making the holes larger than they would otherwise need to be for borescope access. The increased size of the holes aggravates the airflow disruption and leakage problem.
One common design for a gas turbine engine compressor uses multiple segments of stator vanes inserted into the casing. Design features, such as anti-rotation lugs, fix the stator segments into the casing circumferentially, preventing them from spinning in place. Although this approach provides a number of advantages, it adds a part into the “stack” of engine parts through which the borescope access port must penetrate. The port's location is normally fixed by the locations and designs of the engine components on the outside of the casings, and of the aircraft or other location in which the engine is installed. The further away from the anti-rotation lugs the stator segments' borescope port is placed, the more variation there can be in the port's location relative to the external features, which usually are used to locate the removable plug itself.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a borescope port and gas turbine engine incorporating such port that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks and disadvantages.
In a first aspect of the present invention, an adapter, to permit borescope access inside a gas turbine engine having an outer casing including a Compressor stator having at least one compressor stator segment, comprises a body portion defining a bore extending longitudinally therethrough from a first end to be disposed adjacent to outside surfaces of the outer casing to a second end to be disposed adjacent to an inside surface of the at least one compressor stator segment. The bore permits a borescope to enter therethrough. The adapter further comprises an attachment portion for circumferentially coupling the at least one compressor stator segment to the outer casing.
In a second aspect of the present invention, a gas turbine engine comprises a compressor section having an outer casing and includes a compressor stator and rotor. The compressor stator includes a plurality of compressor stator segments. A combustion section communicates with and is disposed downstream of the compressor section relative to a direction of airflow. A gas turbine section communicates with and is disposed downstream of the combustion section relative to a direction of airflow. An adapter circumferentially couples at least one of the compressor stator segments to the outer casing. The adapter includes a body portion defining a bore extending therethrough from at least an outside surface to an inside surface of an associated compressor stator segment. The bore permits a borescope to enter therethrough.
With reference to FIGS. 2-4 , an adapter 40 permits access inside a gas turbine engine such as, for example, the gas turbine engine 10 described by way of example only with respect to FIG. 1 . The adapter 40 includes a generally cylindrical body portion 42 defining a bore 44 extending longitudinally therethrough from a first end 46 to a second end 48. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the bore 44 defined by the body portion 42 is generally circular, but can take other shapes. The adapter 40 further includes an attachment portion such as, for example, a flange 50 for circumferentially coupling compressor stator segments 52a, 52b to an outer casing 51 of the gas turbine engine. More specifically, the flange 50 has a first portion 50a extending outwardly from the body portion 42 for coupling the compressor stator segment 52a to the outer casing 51, and includes a second portion 50b, extending outwardly from the body portion in a direction generally opposite to that of the first portion, for coupling the compressor stator segment 52b to the outer casing 51. The first portion 50a and the second portion 50b of the flange 50 each define a hole 54 extending therethrough for receiving a fastener (not shown) to couple the compressor stator segments 52a, 52b to the outer casing 51.
Preferably, a circumferential portion of an outer wall 56 of the body portion 42 is shaped for engaging a similarly shaped portion of at least one compressor stator segment 52 to prevent rotation of the compressor stator segment and the outer casing 51 relative to each other. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , for example, the adapter 40 has two circumferential portions 58a, 58b disposed generally at opposite sides of the outer wall 56 of the body portion 42 relative to each other. The circumferential portions 58a, 58b are each generally flat for engaging a similarly shaped portion of an associated compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.
Providing the adapter 40, for coupling the compressor stator segments 52 to the outer casing 51 in a circumferential direction, with a bore 44 for borescope access within a gas turbine engine eliminates variations in the location of a borescope port relative to the outer casing of the gas turbine engine. The adapter 40 in accordance with the present invention allows a smaller and less leak-prone design to be employed, and results in increased engine performance. The gas turbine engine and adapter in accordance with the present invention also reduces the number of machined components, thus resulting in a lighter and less costly engine.
As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, numerous modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiment of the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the preceding portion of this specification is to be taken in an illustrative, as opposed to a limiting sense.
Claims (21)
1. An adapter to permit borescope access inside a gas turbine engine having an outer casing and including a compressor stator having at least one compressor stator segment, the adapter comprising:
a body portion defining a bore extending longitudinally therethrough from a first end to be disposed adjacent to outside surfaces of the outer casing to a second end to be disposed adjacent to an inside surface of the at least one compressor stator segment, the bore permitting a borescope to enter therethrough, the body portion including an outer wall having a shaped feature configured to engage a correspondingly shaped feature on the at least one compressor stator segment; and
an attachment portion for circumferentially coupling the at least one compressor stator segment to the outer casing, the attachment portion including a flange extending from the outer wall and configured to be secured to the outer casing.
2. An adapter as defined in claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion includes a flange.
3. An adapter as defined in claim 2 , wherein the flange includes a first portion extending outwardly from the body portion for coupling one of the at least one compressor stator segments to the outer casing, and includes a second portion extending outwardly from the body portion in a direction generally opposite to that of the first portion for coupling another of the at least one compressor stator segments to the outer casing.
4. An adapter as defined in claim 3 , wherein the first and second portions of the flange each define a hole extending therethrough for receiving a fastener to couple an associated compressor stator segment to the outer casing.
5. An adapter as defined in claim 1 , wherein the body portion is generally circular in cross section.
6. An adapter as defined in claim 5 , wherein at least one circumferential portion of an the outer wall of the body portion is shaped for engaging a similarly shaped portion of the at least one compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.
7. An adapter as defined in claim 5 , wherein at least one circumferential portion of an the outer wall of the body portion is generally flat for engaging a similarly shaped portion of the at least one compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.
8. An adapter as defined in claim 5 , wherein two circumferential portions disposed generally at opposite sides of an the outer wall of the body portion relative to each other are each shaped for engaging a similarly shaped portion of an associated compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the associated compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.
9. An adapter as defined in claim 5 , wherein two circumferential portions disposed generally at opposite sides of an the outer wall of the body portion relative to each other are each generally flat for engaging a similarly shaped portion of an associated compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the associated compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.
10. An adapter as defined in claim 1 , wherein the bore defined by the body portion of the adapter is generally circular.
11. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a compressor section having an outer casing and including a compressor stator and rotor, the compressor stator including a plurality of compressor stator segments;
a combustion section communicating with and disposed downstream of the compressor section relative to a direction of airflow;
a gas turbine section communicating with and disposed downstream of the combustion section relative to a direction of airflow; and
an adapter circumferentially coupling at least one of the compressor stator segments to the outer casing, the adapter including a body portion defining a bore extending therethrough from at least an outside surface to an inside surface of an associated compressor stator segment, the bore permitting a borescope to enter therethrough, the body portion including an outer wall having a shaped feature configured to engage a correspondingly shaped feature on the at least one compressor stator segment, wherein the adapter further includes a flange for coupling the associated compressor stator segment to the outer casing.
12. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 11 , wherein the adapter further includes a flange for coupling the associated compressor stator segment to the outer casing.
13. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 12 11, wherein the flange includes a first portion extending outwardly from the body portion for coupling one of the at least one compressor stator segments to the outer casing, and includes a second portion extending outwardly from the body portion in a direction generally opposite to that of the first portion for coupling another of the at least one compressor stator segments to the outer casing.
14. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 13 , wherein the first and second portions of the flange each define a hole extending therethrough for receiving a fastener to couple an associated compressor stator segment to the outer casing.
15. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 11 , wherein the body portion is generally circular in cross section.
16. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 15 , wherein at least one circumferential portion of an the outer wall of the body portion is shaped for engaging a similarly shaped portion of the at least one compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.
17. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 15 , wherein at least one circumferential portion of an the outer wall of the body portion is generally flat for engaging a similarly shaped portion of the at least one compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.
18. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 15 , wherein two circumferential portions disposed generally at opposite sides of an the outer wall of the body portion relative to each other are each shaped for engaging a similarly shaped portion of an associated compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the associated compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.
19. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 15 , wherein two circumferential portions disposed generally at opposite sides of an the outer wall of the body portion relative to each other are each generally flat for engaging a similarly shaped portion of an associated compressor stator segment to prevent rotation of the associated compressor stator segment and the outer casing relative to each other.
20. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 11 , wherein the bore defined by the body portion of the adapter is generally circular.
21. A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 11 , wherein the adapter is arranged in axial alignment with the compressor section.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/171,708 USRE43928E1 (en) | 2005-06-28 | 2011-06-29 | Borescope inspection port device for gas turbine engine and gas turbine engine using same |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/170,357 US7458768B2 (en) | 2005-06-28 | 2005-06-28 | Borescope inspection port device for gas turbine engine and gas turbine engine using same |
US13/171,708 USRE43928E1 (en) | 2005-06-28 | 2011-06-29 | Borescope inspection port device for gas turbine engine and gas turbine engine using same |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/170,357 Reissue US7458768B2 (en) | 2005-06-28 | 2005-06-28 | Borescope inspection port device for gas turbine engine and gas turbine engine using same |
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USRE43928E1 true USRE43928E1 (en) | 2013-01-15 |
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US13/171,708 Active 2027-01-19 USRE43928E1 (en) | 2005-06-28 | 2011-06-29 | Borescope inspection port device for gas turbine engine and gas turbine engine using same |
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Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160208629A1 (en) * | 2014-12-18 | 2016-07-21 | United Technologies Corporation | Anti-rotation vane |
US20170211421A1 (en) * | 2014-08-04 | 2017-07-27 | Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. | Vane, gas turbine, ring segment, remodeling method for vane, and remodeling method for ring segment |
US9784301B2 (en) | 2014-11-04 | 2017-10-10 | United Technologies Corporation | Assembly for plugging an aperture in a body |
US20190368375A1 (en) * | 2018-06-01 | 2019-12-05 | United Technologies Corporation | Compressible access sleeved borescope assembly |
US10502057B2 (en) | 2015-05-20 | 2019-12-10 | General Electric Company | System and method for blade access in turbomachinery |
US20200024952A1 (en) * | 2017-09-12 | 2020-01-23 | Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd. | Vane assembly, turbine including vane assembly, and gasturbine including vane assembly |
US10697317B2 (en) | 2016-03-17 | 2020-06-30 | General Electric Company | Optical imaging system for a gas turbine engine |
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US4298312A (en) | 1979-07-24 | 1981-11-03 | Purex Corporation | Damaged vane locating method and apparatus |
US4655682A (en) | 1985-09-30 | 1987-04-07 | United Technologies Corporation | Compressor stator assembly having a composite inner diameter shroud |
US4666297A (en) | 1985-11-14 | 1987-05-19 | United Technologies Corporation | Dual spectra optical pyrometer having an air pressure sensitive shutter |
US5224824A (en) | 1990-09-12 | 1993-07-06 | United Technologies Corporation | Compressor case construction |
US5421652A (en) | 1993-12-21 | 1995-06-06 | General Electric Company | Pyrometer adapter |
US5653581A (en) | 1994-11-29 | 1997-08-05 | United Technologies Corporation | Case-tied joint for compressor stators |
US5709530A (en) | 1996-09-04 | 1998-01-20 | United Technologies Corporation | Gas turbine vane seal |
US5839878A (en) | 1996-09-30 | 1998-11-24 | United Technologies Corporation | Gas turbine stator vane |
US6164904A (en) | 1998-08-07 | 2000-12-26 | United Technologies Corporation | Assembly for brazing a stator component of a gas turbine engine and method brazing articles such as an abradable material to a stator of a gas turbine engine |
US6447332B1 (en) | 1999-07-05 | 2002-09-10 | Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. | Adapter for use in EGT measurement of a jet engine |
US6585479B2 (en) | 2001-08-14 | 2003-07-01 | United Technologies Corporation | Casing treatment for compressors |
US6607355B2 (en) | 2001-10-09 | 2003-08-19 | United Technologies Corporation | Turbine airfoil with enhanced heat transfer |
-
2011
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Patent Citations (14)
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US4184743A (en) | 1977-02-08 | 1980-01-22 | Smiths Industries Limited | Fibre-optic cable |
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US4298312A (en) | 1979-07-24 | 1981-11-03 | Purex Corporation | Damaged vane locating method and apparatus |
US4655682A (en) | 1985-09-30 | 1987-04-07 | United Technologies Corporation | Compressor stator assembly having a composite inner diameter shroud |
US4666297A (en) | 1985-11-14 | 1987-05-19 | United Technologies Corporation | Dual spectra optical pyrometer having an air pressure sensitive shutter |
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US6447332B1 (en) | 1999-07-05 | 2002-09-10 | Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. | Adapter for use in EGT measurement of a jet engine |
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Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20170211421A1 (en) * | 2014-08-04 | 2017-07-27 | Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. | Vane, gas turbine, ring segment, remodeling method for vane, and remodeling method for ring segment |
US10724404B2 (en) * | 2014-08-04 | 2020-07-28 | Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. | Vane, gas turbine, ring segment, remodeling method for vane, and remodeling method for ring segment |
US9784301B2 (en) | 2014-11-04 | 2017-10-10 | United Technologies Corporation | Assembly for plugging an aperture in a body |
US20160208629A1 (en) * | 2014-12-18 | 2016-07-21 | United Technologies Corporation | Anti-rotation vane |
US10378371B2 (en) * | 2014-12-18 | 2019-08-13 | United Technologies Corporation | Anti-rotation vane |
US10502057B2 (en) | 2015-05-20 | 2019-12-10 | General Electric Company | System and method for blade access in turbomachinery |
US10697317B2 (en) | 2016-03-17 | 2020-06-30 | General Electric Company | Optical imaging system for a gas turbine engine |
US20200024952A1 (en) * | 2017-09-12 | 2020-01-23 | Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd. | Vane assembly, turbine including vane assembly, and gasturbine including vane assembly |
US10844723B2 (en) * | 2017-09-12 | 2020-11-24 | DOOSAN Heavy Industries Construction Co., LTD | Vane assembly, turbine including vane assembly, and gasturbine including vane assembly |
US20190368375A1 (en) * | 2018-06-01 | 2019-12-05 | United Technologies Corporation | Compressible access sleeved borescope assembly |
US10815822B2 (en) * | 2018-06-01 | 2020-10-27 | Raytheon Technologies Corporation | Borescope plug assembly |
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