Alstom Technology Limited

Christopher John Hulme

Roland Richard Moser

Andreas Boegli

James Ritchie

Bruno Benedetti

Patrick Wolfgang Schnedler

Roland Moser

A method for drilling or cutting a pin surrounded by solid material includes the use of a water jet tool having a nozzle that is arranged at an angle with respect to a main body of the water jet tool. The water jet is directed over a portion of the surface of the pin, and removes that portion thereby fragmenting the pin. In order to minimize damage to the surrounding material, the portions removed touches the interface between the pin and the surrounding solid material at a minimal number of points and over a minimal extent of the interface. The method is applicable in particular to the removal of pins used in a press-fit for the securing of blades on a turbine rotor. The method facilitates 'in situ' removal of pins within a confined space in a short time and at reduced cost.

Method and device for pin removal in a confined space

A method for drilling or cutting a pin () surrounded by solid material () includes the use of a water jet tool () having a nozzle () that is arranged at an angle with respect to a main body () of the water jet tool (). The water jet is directed over a portion of the surface of the pin (), and removes that portion thereby fragmenting the pin (). In order to minimise damage to the surrounding material, the portions removed touches the interface between the pin and the surrounding solid material at a minimal number of points and over a minimal extent of the interface. The method is applicable in particular to the removal of pins () used in a press-fit for the securing of blades () on a turbine rotor (). The method facilitates 'in situ' removal of pins within a confined space in a short time and at reduced cost.

A guide vane ring of a turbomachine, in particular of an axial-throughflow turbine, includes a vane group () having a plurality of vanes (). The vane group () has a vane root () which has two flanges (). The vane group () is fastened to a vane carrier by means of the flanges (). In order to reduce stresses in the vanes () which occur during deformations of the vane carrier, one flange () has on a front end portion () and on a rear end portion (), radially on the inside and radially on the outside, in each case a contact zone () which bears against the vane carrier. The other flange () has on one end portion (), radially on the inside, a contact zone () which bears against the vane carrier, and is spaced apart from the vane carrier radially on the outside. Moreover, this flange () has on the other end portion (), radially on the outside, a contact zone () which bears against the vane carrier, and is spaced apart from the vane carrier radially on the inside. Furthermore, the flanges (), between their end portions (), are spaced apart from the vane carrier radially on the inside and radially on the outside.

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Wuerenlingen, Switzerland

Christopher John Hulme