GB2328477A

GB2328477A - Access to subassemblies of a turbomachine

Info

Publication number: GB2328477A
Application number: GB9808224A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Urs Benz; Hans-Jurgen Kiesow
Original assignee: ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd; Asea Brown Boveri AB
Current assignee: ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd; ABB AB
Priority date: 1997-05-10
Filing date: 1998-04-17
Publication date: 1999-02-24
Also published as: JPH10317913A; GB9808224D0; CN1199132A; DE19719770A1

Abstract

A turbomachine has a casing 2 in which a rotor 4 is mounted and an annular supporting structure 3 provided in the casing on which subassemblies 5, such as combustion chambers and cooling systems are mounted. The annular supporting structure 3 is rotatably mounted in the casing 2 and can be locked in at least one position. When subassemblies 5 require checking or exchanging the annular supporting structure 3 may be rotated into inspection or assembly positions where they are accessible through closable assembly openings 6 in the casing 2. More than one closable assembly opening 6 may be present.

Description

2328477

TITLE OF THE INVENTION Turbomachine

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Discussion of Backcround turbomachine In turbomachines, subassemblies have to be regularly checked or dismantled and replaced in connection with maintenance work. To this end, it is generally necessary for the top part, the top half shell of the casing of the turbomachine, to be removed in order to gain access to these subassemblies. Such partial dismantling is very complicated and timeconsuming and therefore expensive; often only to find, in particular, that the checked subassemblies continue to be serviceable. In addition, such partial dismantling requires an excessive amount of assembly time compared with the actual inspection time.

SUMVIARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one object of the invention, in attempting to avoid all of these disadvantages, is to provide a novel turbomachine in which partial dismantling is not necessary to the previous extent in order to check or exchange subassemblies.

This object is achieved by the features of the defining part of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of a turbomachine are specified by the features of the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when - 2 considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 schematically shows part of the casing of a turbomachine, partly in local section; Fig. 2 schematically shows a partial section (AA) through the turbomachine perpendicularly to its axis.

only the elements essential for understanding the invention are shown; in particular, that part of the turbomachine which is unaltered and is known per se or any of its other details, etc., are not shown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, in a turbomachine 1 having a casing 2, in which a rotor 4 is mounted and which contains the peripheral subassemblies, such as combustion chambers, cooling systems, etc., an annular supporting structure 3 is provided in the casing 2. This annular supporting structure 3 is rotatably mounted in the casing and can be locked in at least one position. All the subassemblies 5 which are to be checked or exchanged periodically are mounted on it. In order to be able to rotate the annular supporting structure 3 into various assembly or inspection positions when required during an inspection of the turbomachine 1, it is connected to a device which, on the one hand, locks the annular supporting structure 3 in the operating position and, on the other hand, moves it into the requisite assembly or inspection positions. This device for rotating the annular supporting structure 3 is arranged between the casing 2 and the annular supporting structure 3 or between the latter and the rotor 4. The casing 2 of the turbomachine 1 has at least one closable assembly opening 6, which has such a size and shape that the subassemblies 5 of the turbomachine 1 which are to be checked or replaced easily accessible or can easily be dismantled are and 3 removed. In particular, if there is a plurality of assembly openings 6, they are arranged essentially in two planes which are normal to the axis and which correspond to the subassemblies 5 present in the 5 interior of the casing 2. This ensures that the subassemblies 5 of the turbomachine are accessible, as a result of which the downtime is substantially reduced. In addition, in the case of a turbomachine designed in such a way, the casing no longer needs to be partly dismantled in order to gain access to the subassemblies 5 which are to be replaced or checked. This produces substantial savings during the inspection.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. A turbomachine having a casing in which a rotor is mounted and which contains the subassemblies, such as combustion chambers, cooling systems, etc., wherein an annular supporting structure (3) is provided in the casing (2) of the turbomachine (1), this annular supporting structure (3) is rotatably mounted in c-he casing and can be locked in at least one position, and all the subassemblies (5) which are to be checked or exchanged periodically are mounted on it.

2. The turbomachine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular supporting structure (3) is connected to a device which rotates the annular supporting structure (3) into various working positions when required.

3. 1 The turbomachine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the device for rotating the annular supporting structure (3) is arranged between the casing (2) and the annular supporting structure (3) or between the latter and the rotor (4).

4. The turbomachine as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one closable assembly opening (6) is provided in the casing (2) of the turbomachine in order to exchange or check subassemblies (5) of the turbomachine which are arranged in the casing (2).

5. The turbomachine as claimed in claim 4, wherein, if there is a plurality of assembly openings (6), they are arranged essentially in two planes which correspond to the subassemblies (5) present in the interior of the casing (2).