Compressor stator vane repair with pin

Abstract

A vane unit system having a plurality of vane units having at least one airfoil projecting from a base is modified by placing a hole in the base and receiving a pin which extends between adjacent bases of vane units. A series of modified bases form a ring of rigid vanes that are less susceptible to vane motion caused by pressure fluctuations within the compressor of a gas turbine. A blade assembly tool having a shape to fit within the slot in a casing that receives the vane units allows for the installation of vane units with pins locking to shims or adjacent vanes without the necessity of having to remove the rotor from the casing. Preferably, the pins are coiled straps resiliently engaging at least one but preferably both holes in two adjacent vanes.

1 . A method for modifying a set of compressor stator vane units having a base compressor having a casing with a slot receiving said base for an industrial gas turbine to avoid wear and reduce chatter, comprising:
 placing a hole in a face edge of a base of a vane unit,   inserting a resilient coil forming a pin into said hole, and   positioning a face edge of an adjacent unit towards said vane unit.   
   
   
       2 . The invention as described in  claim 1  and wherein positioning further comprises inserting a contact block adjacent said adjacent unit. 
   
   
       3 . The invention as described in  claim 2  wherein said inserting a contact block comprises sliding an assembly tool in said slot. 
   
   
       4 . The invention as described in  claim 1  wherein said method further comprises connecting adjacent vane units. 
   
   
       5 . The invention as described in  claim 4  wherein said connecting comprises coupling said adjacent vane to said base of said vane unit at said face edge. 
   
   
       6 . The invention as described in  claim 5  wherein said coupling comprises inserting a projection on one said face edge into a cavity in said adjacent face edge. 
   
   
       7 . The invention as described in  claim 4  comprising placing a hole in said face edge of said adjacent unit. 
   
   
       8 . The invention as described in  claim 7  comprising inserting a pin into said hole in said face edge of said adjacent unit before said positioning step. 
   
   
       9 . The invention as described in  claim 7  further comprising positioning a shim adjacent said face edge of said vane unit before said positioning step. 
   
   
       10 . A compressor vane reinforcement repair assembly comprises:
 an apertured vane base,   a pin formed by coiling a sheet of spring metal inserted in said vane base,   an adjacent body receiving at least a portion of said pin.   
   
   
       11 . The invention as described in  claim 10  wherein said adjacent body is a shim. 
   
   
       12 . The invention as described in  claim 10  wherein said adjacent body is a vane base. 
   
   
       13 . The invention as described in  claim 10  wherein said pin resiliently engages said adjacent body. 
   
   
       14 . The invention as described in  claim 12  and comprising an apertured vane base adjacent said shim, said aperture being aligned with said pin. 
   
   
       15 . The invention as described in  claim 14  wherein said pin resiliently engages said vane base of said adjacent vane base. 
   
   
       16 . A retaining pin for coupling an apertured compressor vane base to an adjacent apertured structure, said pin comprising a coiled sheet of spring metal, the maximum radial dimension of the coiled sheet radially sized to resiliently engage at least one of said apertured structures. 
   
   
       17 . The invention as described in  claim 16  wherein said radial sized dimension resiliently engages each said apertured structure.