Solar Turbines Inc.

Douglas R Ervin

Robert M Jones

Charles W Bucey

Steven W Clayton

Chad L Miars

Leonard Holman

Thomas J Quinn

Clifford G Knepper

Gary D Cape

Donald L Dunlap

A system is disclosed to manufacture a recuperator core. The core is made up of a plurality of cells and an inner sealing member. A manufacturing system has an input end, an assembly station having a lower or inner chucking portion and an upper portion, and a welding station. The lower or inner chucking portion is movable between a lower position and an upper position and has a retracted position and an expanded position. The upper portion is movable between a loading position and a clamping position and is rotatable between a first position and a second position. The welding station performs a tack welding operation and a lineal welding operation.

System for manufacturing a circular primary surface recuperator

A method for aligning a circular core. The method has a work station which defines an inner chucking portion being movable between a lower position and an upper position and a retracted position and an expanded position. The work station defines an upper portion being movable between a first position and a second position and a loading position and a clamping position. The clamping position has a plurality of positions. The circular core being aligned during at least a portion of the plurality of positions. And, the work station having a welding station.

Method and apparatus for aligning a circular recuperator core

An assembly line for economically and efficiently assembling a core into a recuperator. The assembly line has an inlet end, an assembly station, a welding station, a control station and an outlet end. The inlet end has a plurality of the cores to be used for assembly thereat. The core is positioned within the assembly station and an assembly fixture locates a ducting structure in a preestablished relationship to the core. The control station using a plurality of sensors sends an input to a controller and the welding station performs a weld fixedly securing the ducting structure to the core.

Recuperator duct assembly line

A fin folding machine has a base, a pair of vertical side support members extending from the base. A top support member is spaced from the base and is attached to the pair of vertical side support members. The base, pair of vertical side support members, and the top support member defining an opening therebetween. A plurality of tools are movably positioned within the opening. A bar has a plurality of sensors positioned therein abut a plurality of sides. The sensors send corresponding signals to a controller which monitors the position of the plurality of tools relative to a preestablished position. And, the plurality of tools are moved to the preestablished position. The sensors monitor the preestablished position of a depth and taper of a plurality of deep serpentine upper grooves and a plurality of deep serpentine lower grooves.

Method of locating the blade holders in a fin folding machine

A fin folding machine is disclosed for sequentially folding relatively thin sheet metal material into narrowly grooved corrugations. The fin folding machine includes a pair of opposed clamping tools disposed on opposite sides of the sheet material. The clamping tools are movable in a direction transverse to and into engagement with the sheet material to clamp the sheet material therebetween. A pair of opposed forming tools are disposed on opposite sides of the sheet material and are sequentially movable in a direction transverse to and into engagement with the sheet material to fold the sheet material in one direction by the engagement of one of the forming tools and then in the opposite direction by the engagement of the other of the forming tools. Gas charged accumulators are used to apply a force to continuously urge a respective one of the clamping and forming tools into engagement with the sheet material. Camming devices are used to move a respective one of the clamping and forming tools away from engagement with the sheet material to a clearance position, and to prevent its respective clamping or forming tool from exceeding a predetermined material engagement stop position regardless of the operating speed of the fin folding machine.

Fin folding machine for corrugating sheet material

A method and apparatus is provided for crushing a portion of a corrugated plate in a selected area of the corrugations without blocking the grooves. In accordance with the method teeth are inserted into grooves on opposite sides of the corrugated plate and the corrugation ridges associated with such grooves are, axially adjacent such insertion, crushed to a predetermined thickness. The teeth are then withdrawn, the corrugated plate is indexed a desired number of ridges/grooves and the die members are again engaged with the opposite sides of the plate. The apparatus for crushing a plate includes a frame for supporting the plate, a feed apparatus for moving the plate at the desired time in the desired direction, and a forming apparatus for crushing plate ridges in a zone and obstructing, in a transition zone between the crushed ridges and the uncrushed ridges, ridge transverse movement into adjacent grooves.

Growing community of inventors

Metamora, IL, United States of America

Douglas R Ervin