BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to the field of combustion, turbines and the art of fabricating and assembling combustion turbine systems. More specifically, this invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for aligning adjacent cylinders in a combustion turbine that is far more efficient than conventional processes are.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Combustion turbines such as those manufactured by the owner of this invention, Westinghouse Electric Company, typically include several cylinders that need to be precisely aligned in order to insure that there is no rubbing during operation between the rotating and stationary components. In at least one common model of combustion turbine, the cylinders need to be aligned within approximately 0.015" from centerline to centerline. Conventionally, the cylinders are aligned by loosening the vertical joint bolting that secures one cylinder to another, and using mechanical jacks between the floor and the respective cylinders or an adjacent unit to adjust the vertical and horizontal positions of each cylinder. The alignment is then checked by measuring the distances between selected locations on each cylinder and a wire that is stretched through the engine and centered to the bearing bores on each end.

Unfortunately, due to the weight and geometry of the

cylinders it is very hard to determine the exact amount of movement that is obtained by jacking at one point on the cylinders. The cylinders do not stay round during the jacking process, so the bottom might move significantly more than the top during jacking. This creates a situation where alignment readings cannot be reliably repeated, and the alignment process must typically be performed between 4 and 7 times to obtain the necessary tolerances. As a result, the alignment process is expensive and time consuming; it can take several days.

It is clear that a long and unfilled need exists fo an improved method and apparatus for centering the cylinders in a combustion turbine that is less time consuming and more efficient than convention techniques are.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention t provide a more efficient and less time consuming method fo aligning cylinders in a combustion turbine.

It is further an object of the invention to provide a improved apparatus for aligning cylinders during th fabrication of combustion turbines and the like systems. In order to achieve the above and other objects of th invention, an apparatus according to a first aspect of th invention for effecting a lateral adjustment between first an second objects that have substantially aligned first an second bore holes, respectively, defined therein includes bushing member that is constructed and arranged to be receive in the first bore hole of the first object, the bushing membe having a space defined therein; a bar member having a firs portion that is slidably received in the space that is define in the bushing member and a second portion that is constructe and arranged to extend from the first portion into the secon bore hole in the second object, the second portion having a inclined surface defined thereon that is inclined with respec to a central access of the bar member; and a slide membe having a slide surface and a bearing surface positione

thereon, the slide surface being in sliding engagement with the inclined surface on the bar member, the bearing surface being adapted for contact with the second object, whereby axial adjustment of the bar member will cause the bar member to cam the slide member against the second object, thereby laterally shifting the second object with respect to the first object.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in a turbine system of the type wherein a first large cylinder having a first flange is connected to a second large cylinder having a second flange by a multiplicity of bolts securing the first flange to the second flange, a method of precisely aligning the first and second cylinders includes steps of (a) loosening the bolts that secure the first flange to the second flange so as to permit the first and second cylinders to be slightly shifted with respect to each other; (b) removing at least one of the bolts from its respective bolt holes in the first and second flanges; (c) replacing the removed bolt in the respective bolt holes with an apparatus for laterally shifting the first flange with respect to the second flange by a controlled amount; (d) shifting the flanges by using the apparatus; (e) tightening the bolts; (f) removing the apparatus; and (g) replacing and tightening the removed bolt.

These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view depicting a method and apparatus that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through one component of the system that is depicted in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an isolation view of one component of the system that is depicted in FIGURES 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to FIGURE 1, a combustion turbine system 10 that is in the process of being constructed includes a number of cylinders that must be precisely aligned, including a first large cylinder 12 having a first flange 14 and a second large cylinder 16 having a second flange 18. As shown in FIGURE 1, flanges 14, 18 are secured together by multiplicity of bolts 20 that are of conventional design. FIGURE 1 also depicts the presence of two apparatuses 22 that are constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention for effecting a lateral adjustment betwee the first and second flanges 14, 18, and thus, between the first and second cylinders 12, 16. Two of the bolts 20 have been removed to permit insertion of the two apparatuses 22, in a method that will be described in greater detail below.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be seen tha the apparatus 22 for effecting a lateral adjustment betwee the first and second objects 14, 18 includes an elongated ba member 24 that has a first portion 26 and a second portion 28.

The first portion 26 of bar member 24 has a threade bore 30 defined therein, so that a tool such as a hydrauli jack may be connected to the bar member 24 to adjust the axial position of bar member 24 with respect to the bore holes tha are defined in the first and second flanges 14, 18. A centra axis 32 of apparatus 22 is depicted in FIGURE 2.

As may further be seen in FIGURE 2, first portion 2 of bar member 24 has a length that is substantially equal t the thickness of first flange 14, and second portion 28 tha has a length that is approximately equal to the thickness o second flange 18. Second portion 28 has an inclined surfac

34 defined thereon that is inclined with respect to the central axis 32 of bar member 24. As may be seen in FIGURE 2 , a bushing member 36 is provided which is constructed and arranged to fit snugly within the bore hole that is defined in the first flange 14, and has a space defined therein by an inner wall 38 for slidably receiving the first portion 26 of bar member 24. Bushing member 36 includes a cut-out portion 40 at a distal end thereof that is closest to second flange 18, so that contact between second flange 18 and bushing member 36 is avoided during operation.

Looking now to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be seen that apparatus 22 further includes a slide member 42 that has a slide surface 44 and a bearing surface 46 positioned thereon. Slide surface 44 is in sliding engagement with the inclined surface 34 on the second portion 28 of bar member 24, and bearing surface 46 is in contact with the borehole wall of second flange 18, as is best shown in FIGURE 2. Accordingly, when bar member 24 is moved axially to the left as shown in FIGURE 2, the relative motion between inclined surface 34 and slide surface 44 will cam slide member 42 upwardly, thus forcing bearing surface 46 against second flange 18 and laterally shifting second flange 18, and thus second cylinder 16, upwardly with respect to first flange 14 and first cylinder 12, respectively. Slide member 42 has a cut-out portion 40 on an end thereof that is closest to first flange 14 tp prevent contact between slide member 42 and first flange 14 during operation.

Typically, each flange 14, 18 will have a multiplicity of bolt holes. In one common model, each flange has upward of 120 bolts holes.

In operation, at least one, and possibly several bolts 20 are removed from the respective flanges 14, 18, and are replaced by an apparatus 22 as is illustrated in FIGURE 1. The apparatuses 22 are each oriented so as to urged the respective flanges 14, 18 in a desired direction when actuated. The bolts 20 that have not been removed are then slightly loosened in order to permit relative movement between

the flanges 14, 18. A tool, which is preferably a hydrauli jack, is then inserted into the threaded bores 30 of th respective apparatuses 22, and is used to actually shift ba member 24 to cam slide member 42 in a direction in which lateral shift between the respective flanders 14, 18 i desired. ^' This can be performed sequentially, o simultaneously by using several hydraulic jacks at once. On apparatus 22, for example, may be oriented so as to provi a vertical shift between the flanges 14, 18, while a secon apparatus 22 may be oriented so as to accomplish a horizonta adjustment.

Once the desired alignment has been achieved, the bolt that have not been removed are then tightened, there securing the flanges 14, 18 in the aligned position. T apparatuses 22 are then removed, and are replaced by t original bolts, which are tightened to complete the alignme process.

It is to be understood, however, that even thou numerous characteristics and advantages of the prese invention have been set forth in the foregoing descriptio together with details of the structure and function of t invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and chang may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, si and arrangement of parts within the principles of t invention to the full extent indicated by the broad gener meaning of the terms in which the appended claims a expressed.