Method and device for inverting a turbine cylinder cover

The invention in its broadest form includes a device for inverting a cover with a predetermined weight from a horizontal position to an inverted position, the device comprising a crane for lifting the cover; at least two pivotable brackets each attached to both the cover and the crane and positioned to suspend a substantial amount of the weight of the cover for pivoting the cover; and a cable attached to the cover at one end and to the crane at its other end and positioned to suspend a nominal amount of the weight of the cover for supporting the cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to turbine cylinder covers and, more 
particularly, is concerned with a method and device for inverting turbine 
cylinder covers. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A high pressure turbine includes a cylindrical body formed from a cylinder 
cover and a bottom. The bottom forms the foundation for the turbine, and 
the cylinder cover is bolted atop the cylinder cover for forming a sealed 
enclosure. Attachment devices, such as eyelets, are positioned on the 
cover for lifting purposes. Two steam inlets are disposed atop the cover 
for allowing steam to enter the body, and four steam outlets are disposed 
on the bottom for allowing steam to exit the body. Pipes are attached to 
both inlets and outlets for passing the steam therethrough. A turbine 
shaft is positioned longitudinally inside the turbine body and includes 
turbine blades attached circumferentially around the shaft. When 
operational, the steam enters the steam inlets, turns the turbine blades, 
and then exits the body via the outlets as is well known in the art. 
To invert the cylinder cover for inspection, the bolts are removed, and the 
cylinder cover is detached from the bottom and placed on a floor by means 
well known in the art. A crane, which includes two hooks, is positioned 
adjacent the generator for inverting the cylinder cover. In power plants, 
where most turbine generators are located, the crane typically includes a 
large hook and a small hook for lifting the cover. As is well known in the 
art, present devices and methods require two hooks to invert the cover. 
The small hook, however, is insufficient for cylinder cover inversion 
because the attachment devices of the cylinder cover are positioned so 
that the small hook must support a weight heavier than its capacity. To 
overcome this deficiency, a portable crane with an adequate hook should be 
temporarily used to supplement the large hook of the existing crane. The 
cover may then be lifted and inverted. 
Although the present device and method are satisfactory, it is not without 
drawbacks. Installing such a temporary crane is costly and time consuming 
because it requires acquiring and installing this temporary crane. 
Consequently, a need exists for an improved device and method for lifting a 
turbine cover. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides an improvement designed to satisfy the 
aforementioned needs. Particularly, the present invention is directed to a 
device for inverting a turbine cylinder cover having a predetermined 
weight from an upright position to an inverted position, the device 
comprising: a) a lifting means for lifting the cover; b) at least two 
pivotable brackets each attached to both the cover and said lifting means 
for suspending a majority of the weight of the turbine cylinder cover and 
for pivoting the turbine cylinder cover; and c) a cable adapted to be 
interchangeably attached between a first and second position to the 
turbine cylinder cover at one end and attached to said lifting means at 
its other end for suspending a nominal weight of the cover for supporting 
the turbine cover. 
Further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a 
method for inverting a turbine cylinder cover having a predetermined 
weight from an upright position to an inverted position, the method 
comprising the steps of: a) positioning a lifting means in position for 
lifting the cover; b) attaching at least two pivotable brackets each to 
both the cover and the lifting means for pivoting the cover and for 
suspending a majority of the weight of cover; and c) attaching a cable to 
both the lifting means and the cover for suspending a nominal amount of 
the weight of the cover; and d) inverting the cover by cooperation of the 
brackets, cable, and lifting means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In the following description, like reference characters designate like or 
corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Also in 
the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as 
"forward," "left," "right," "upwardly," "downwardly," and the like are 
words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting. 
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is 
illustrated a high pressure turbine as is well known in the art, generally 
referred to as 1. The turbine includes an outer cylinder 10 formed from a 
cylinder cover 20, typically weighing approximately 84 tons, attached atop 
a cylinder bottom 30 by a plurality of bolts 40. The outer cylinder 10 
protects the components disposed therein and contains the internal steam 
pressure. An outwardly extending flange 50 extends around the periphery of 
the cover 20 wherein a plurality of holes 60 extend therethrough for 
receiving the plurality of bolts 40. The cover 20 includes an outer 
surface 70 and an inner surface (not shown) defining a wall thickness (not 
shown) therebetween. Two steam inlets 80 are positioned atop the cover 20 
with a cylindrical steam inlet pipe 90 attached to each inlet 80. The 
inlets 80 and the pipes 90 function together to pass steam into the 
turbine. Four circular knobs 100a, 100b, and 100c (only three are shown in 
FIG. 1) are respectively attached on the flange 50 adjacent a corner of 
the cover 20, and two eyelets 110a and 110b are attached on a top portion 
of the cover 20 upwardly from the knobs 100a and 100b. Both the knobs 100a 
and 100b and eyelets 110a and 110b function as attachment devices for 
lifting the cover 20 as will be described later in detail. Each knob 100a 
and 100b includes an enlarged lip portion 120 at its end portion for 
preventing any lifting attachment from slipping therefrom. An arcuate 
notch 130 (only one shown in FIG. 1) is positioned at each end of the 
cover 20 for receiving a portion of a turbine shaft 140 as is well known 
in the art. 
The outer cylinder bottom 30 includes an inner surface 150 and an outer 
surface 160 defining a wall thickness 170 therebetween. An outwardly 
extending flange 180 extends around the periphery of the bottom 30 wherein 
a plurality of holes 190 extend therethrough. The bottom holes 190 and the 
cover holes 60 are positioned in registry with each other and, when so 
aligned, both receive the plurality of bolts 40 for attaching the cylinder 
cover 20 to the cylinder bottom 30. Four steam outlets 200 (only two are 
shown in FIG. 1) are attached to the cylinder bottom 30 for passing the 
steam out of the bottom 30. Two arcuate notches 210 are respectively in 
alignment with the notches 130 in the cover 30 for receiving a portion of 
the turbine shaft 140 as is well known in the art. 
The turbine shaft 140 extends longitudinally along the turbine 1 and 
includes turbine blades 220 positioned circumferentially around the shaft 
140. When operational, the steam enters both the steam inlets 80 on the 
cover 20 and then passes bi-directionally along the longitudinal length of 
the shaft 140 as indicated by the arrows. The steam turns the turbine 
blades 220 which, in turn, turn a generator (not shown) for producing 
electricity, as is well known in the art. The steam then exits the turbine 
1 via the steam outlets 220 and passes to a low pressure turbine (not 
shown) as is well known in the art. 
Referring to FIG. 2, a bracket 230 of the present invention is shown for 
attachment to and lifting the turbine cylinder cover 20 (see FIG. 1). The 
bracket 230 includes two generally U-shaped support members 240 disposed 
spaced apart from each other. Each U-shaped support member 240 includes a 
rectangular shaped middle portion 250 with two rectangular shaped end 
portions 260a and 260b extending outwardly and respectively from each end 
of the middle portion 250. A rectangular shaped vertical member 270 is 
attached longitudinally to both support members 240 for connecting the two 
support members 240 together. A top platform portion 280 and a bottom 
platform portion 290 connect the opposing end portions 260a and 260b 
together, and a pair of holes (not shown) extend through each platform 
portion 280 and 290 each for receiving a pair of bolts 300. The holes in 
the top platform portion 280 are positioned in registry with the holes in 
the bottom platform portion 290 for allowing the bolts 300 to pass 
therethrough. A rectangular shaped column 310 extends between the top 280 
and bottom platform portions 290 for strengthening the bracket 230. A 
spacer nut 320 is disposed at one end of each bolt 300 for adjusting to 
different size flanges 50 (see FIG. 1). Referring to FIG. 3, the spacer 
nut 320 includes two circular, threaded members 330a and 330b threadedly 
attached together, and the circular members 330a and 330b are either 
unthreaded or threaded to adjust the spacer 320 to different heights. A 
nut 340 is threaded onto the top and bottom portion of each bolt 300 for 
bolting the bracket 230 to the flange 50. 
A circular pulley device 350 with a circumferentially extending groove 360 
therein is attached to the vertical member 270 for receiving a cable (not 
shown in FIG. 2). A bore 370 extends through the vertical member 270 and 
into the top platform portion 280 for receiving an axle 380. The axle 380 
attaches the pulley device 350 to the vertical member 270. A cap 390 
secures the axle 380 to the pulley device 350 via two pins 400 inserted 
into the axle 380. A spacer 410 is inserted between the pulley device 350 
and the vertical member 270 for maintaining the pulley device 350 
outwardly from the bracket 230 as will be appreciated better from the 
following paragraphs. The brackets 230 are positioned on the cover 20 by 
inserting the bolts 300 through adjacent holes 60 on the flange 50. The 
bolts 300 are tightened until both the top 280 and bottom platform 290 
portions abut the flange 50. 
Referring to FIG. 4, the cylinder cover 20 is unbolted and placed on blocks 
420 in a horizontal position by conventional methods and means as is well 
known in the art. The blocks 420 are disposed atop a floor (not shown) or 
the like. The cylinder cover 20 is placed on blocks 420 so that the 
brackets 230 may be placed on the flange, as described herein below. The 
brackets 230 (only one shown in FIG. 4) are each positioned equidistantly, 
approximately 16 inches from the centerline 425, on opposite portions of 
the flange 50 so that each bracket 230 carries an equal weight. The 
position of the bracket 230 ensures that the weight of the cylinder cover 
20 is proportioned correctly as will described later in detail. 
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an inverting device 440 of the present 
invention for inverting the cylinder cover 20 is illustrated. A primary 
hook 450 of a crane 455 includes two hooked shaped portions 460 for 
attaching a cable 470 to each hooked portion 460. The primary hook 450, 
when used in cooperation with the brackets 230, sustains a majority of the 
weight (approximately 84 tons) of the cover 20. Each cable 470 is attached 
to each hooked portion 460 and to a corresponding attachment 480, which is 
welded to an I-shaped beam 490 by conventional methods. Two movable, 
generally rectangular shaped yokes 500 are each positioned on the beam 490 
and enclosedly surrounds the beam 490. The yoke 500 includes four legs 510 
attached together for enclosedly surrounding the beam 490. One leg 510 
includes an outwardly extending lip portion 520 at each end for each 
receiving a knob 530. Each knob 530 functions to each hold a cable end of 
a cable 540 thereto. The cable 540 is positioned in the groove 360 of the 
pulley device 350 and includes an eyelet 550 at each end for attachment to 
each knob 530. 
A cable 560 with two ends is attached to a secondary hook 570 of the crane 
455 at one end and to either eyelet 110a or 110b at its other end. The 
secondary hook 570 is positioned such as to sustain a nominal amount of 
the weight (approximately 15 tons of the total weight of the cover) when 
lifting the cover 20. The secondary hook 570, to sustain its proper 
weight, is positioned on the periphery of the cover 20 (i.e., cover 
eyelets 110a) so that the primary hook 450 sustains the majority of the 
weight. 
With the cylinder cover 20 in a horizontal position, the primary hook 450 
in cooperation with the brackets 230 is attached to the cylinder cover 20 
as explained above, and the secondary hook 570 is attached to eyelet 110a 
in this embodiment, although either eyelet 110a or 110b may be used. The 
crane then lifts the cover 20 upwardly off the blocks 420. 
Referring to FIG. 6A, the secondary hook 570 is lowered until the cover 20 
is substantially ninety degrees from the horizontal position. With the 
cylinder cover 20 in this ninety degree position, the cylinder cover 20 is 
entirely suspended by the brackets 230. The secondary hook 570 is then 
removed from the eyelet 110a. The cover 20 is manually rotated by 
operators generally one hundred eighty degrees along the longitudinal axis 
of the cover 20 as indicated by the arrows. As is well known in the art, 
the crane 455 allows such rotation. After this one hundred eighty degree 
rotation, the secondary hook 570 is attached to the eyelet 100c as 
indicated in phantom. The secondary cable 560 is then raised until the 
cylinder cover 20 is in the inverted position. 
To re-position the cover 20 in the horizontal position, the above described 
steps are repeated in reverse order. 
It is thought that the present invention and many of its attendant 
advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will 
be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and 
arrangement thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form 
hereinbefore described being merely a preferred or exemplary embodiment.