Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Overedge assembling means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-30
2001-03-20
Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3723)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Overedge assembling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202273
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to tools and, more particularly, to a tool for removing a shim from a stage 2 fan blade for an aircraft engine rotor.
Gas turbine engines typically include a multistage axial flow high pressure compressor which supplies high pressure air to a combustor, and a high pressure turbine downstream from the combustor. The compressor and turbine include multiple stages, and each stage includes a stationary member referred to as a stator and a rotational member referred to as a rotor.
A “stage 2” turbine stage includes a plurality of fan blades attached to, and extending radially from, a fan disk. Each blade includes an airfoil and a dovetail that fits into a dovetail slot on a circumference of the fan disk. Dovetail shims are used to provide a proper fit between each dovetail and dovetail slot. The airfoils extend from the dovetail slots in a radial direction with respect to a center axis of the turbine engine, and define a flowpath for combustion gases.
During maintenance and repair, removing a dovetail shim from a stage 2 fan blade is difficult. Because of the shape of the dovetail, conventional tools are ill-equipped for the removal of dovetail shims. Thus, removing a shim from a dovetail is often difficult and time consuming.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an inexpensive tool that facilitates the quick and easy removal of dovetail shims from stage 2 fan blades without damaging the dovetails.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a tool for removing a dovetail shim from a rotor fan disk blade includes a clip and a handle. The clip includes a base and opposing sides extending from the base. A release edge is located at an end of one side and is configured to be located between the dovetail and the shim. The handle is configured to be located between the opposing sides of the clip and cooperates with the release edge to remove a dovetail shim from a dovetail when the handle and the clip are rotated together about an axis of the handle.
More specifically, the wood handle has a longitudinal axis and a substantially square cross sectional shape. The handle is inserted between the opposing sides of the clip and extends from the clip so that the longitudinal axis of the handle is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the clip sides. The tool is located so that the release edge is engaged with a lip of a dovetail shim, and the handle contacts the exterior surface of the shim. When the handle and clip are rotated about the axis of the handle. The release edge separates the shim lip from the dovetail, and the handle applies a frictional force to the exterior of the shim that facilitates removal of the shim without damaging the dovetail.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1664529 (1928-04-01), Schroeder
patent: 2126225 (1938-08-01), Simons
patent: 5225246 (1993-07-01), Beers et al.
patent: 5392504 (1995-02-01), Calusinski
patent: 6023833 (2000-02-01), Jacobsmeier
Photocopy of package for Binder Clips Pince-Notes, BC-100, Stock No. 99100, 2″ wide, 1″ capacity.
General Electric Company
Hess Andrew C.
Watson Robert C.
Young Rodney M.
LandOfFree
Shim removing tool does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Shim removing tool, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Shim removing tool will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2518935