Casing section lift and transport system

A machine casing section lift system includes a first attachment member configured to attach to a machine casing section, the first attachment member including a first jacking mechanism connection portion. The system also includes a second attachment member configured to attach to a lower casing section that, in operation, is positioned below the machine casing section, the second attachment member including a second jacking mechanism connection portion. The system also includes a jacking mechanism to raise the machine casing section and having a collar configured to couple with the first jacking mechanism connection portion and a base configured to rest in the second jacking mechanism connection portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to industrial equipment such as turbines, generators, motors, compressors and other industrial equipment that requires lifting and/or transporting a casing section.

A typical piece of industrial equipment, for example a turbine employed in the production of electrical power, includes one or more rotating blades surrounded by an outer casing. Such turbines operate in an acceptable manner in most instances. As with other mechanical devices, the turbine may need periodic or specific maintenance.

In some cases, the maintenance requires that a portion of the outer casing be removed to allow access interior portions of the turbine. Typically this requires utilizing a crane to remove the portion of the outer casing. However, utilizing a crane also requires that a portion of the roof of the enclosure housing the turbine be removed to allow the crane to access the casing. The removal of the roof and the cost of utilizing a crane can increase the costs and manpower demands of the maintenance. When maintenance needs to be performed in the case of a turbine failure, the time required to provide for crane access also becomes important. Furthermore, in some regions it may be too cold to perform the required maintenance with an open roof. In such cases, the required maintenance may be postponed causing revenue loss, or at minimum, increased costs related to heating the work area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a machine casing section lift system is disclosed. The system of this aspect includes a first attachment member configured to attach to a machine casing section, the first attachment member including a first jacking mechanism connection portion. The system of this aspect also includes a second attachment member configured to attach to a lower casing section that, in operation, is positioned below the machine casing section, the second attachment member including a second jacking mechanism connection portion. The system of this aspect also includes a jacking mechanism to raise the machine casing section and having a collar configured to couple with the first jacking mechanism connection portion and a base configured to rest in the second jacking mechanism connection portion.

According to another aspect of the invention, a machine casing section transport system is disclosed. The system of this aspect includes one or more vertical supports configured to couple to a section of a machine, a travel beam supported by the one of the vertical supports and a first attachment member configured to couple to a first casing section of the machine and including a translation assembly that allows it to traverse the travel beam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows an example of a system for lifting a casing section100according to one embodiment. The casing section100is a particular section that is to be removed. It shall be understood that the casing section100can be any section of a turbine or any other industrial machine. In the event that the casing section100is part of a turbine, the casing section100will typically form one half of a cylinder that surrounds a rotor (not shown). The other half of the cylinder is illustrated as lower casing section102. When the turbine is operating the casing section100sets on and is coupled to the lower casing section102.

In the event that the casing section100needs to be removed, the bolts or other fasteners (not shown) joining the casing section100to the lower casing section102are removed. In addition, any fastener that joins the casing section100to another section (e.g., adjacent casing section104) are also removed.

In one embodiment, the casing section100includes one or more bolt holes106that include internal threads. To separate the casing section100from the lower casing section102, one or more jacking screws108are screwed into the bolt holes106. As the jacking screws108are turned, they contact the lower casing section102and cause the casing section100to separate from and rise above the lower casing section102in a known manner.

The jacking screws108typically do not provide a large enough separation from the lower casing section102to allow for repairs to be safely or effectively conducted. As described above, in the prior art a crane was typically utilized to remove the casing section100at this point.

In contrast, in embodiments of the present invention, one or more raising devices110are coupled to the casing section100and the lower casing section102. The raising devices110can be coupled to the casing section100and the lower casing section102, for example, via the bolt holes106in one embodiment. As illustrated, two raising devices110are on one side of the casing section100and, while not illustrated, two more raising devices110are utilized on the other side of the casing section100. Of course, the number of raising devices110on each side is not limited to two. As such, embodiments of the present invention are directed to utilizing one or more raising devices on each side of the casing section100.

As described in greater detail below, the raising devices110allow for the casing section100to be raised to a useful height for maintenance or to a height in which stanchions/supports may be inserted. In one embodiment, the supports302,502(FIGS. 3 and 5) include rails or other mechanisms that allow the casing section100to be translated axially along the length of the machine or in a direction that is transverse thereto. In one embodiment, the supports302,502do not include the rails.

FIG. 2illustrates a raising device110according to one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the raising device110is coupled to the casing section100and the lower casing section102.

The raising device110includes first and second attachment members202,204. The raising device110also includes a jacking mechanism219. In general, the first and second attachment members202,204provide for a removable mechanical connection between the jacking mechanism219and the casing section100such that the jacking mechanism219may be employed to vertically displace the casing section100relative to the lower casing section102.

In one embodiment, the first attachment member202couples to the casing portion100and the second attachment member204couples to the lower casing section102. In more detail, the first attachment member202includes a first coupling region206configured to mate with and be coupled to the casing section100. Similarly, the second attachment member204includes a second coupling region210configured to mate with and be coupled to the lower casing section102. In one embodiment, the first and second coupling regions206,210include holes formed therein that allow bolts or other fasteners to pass through such that the first and second coupling regions206,210are securely attached, respectively, to the casing section100and the lower casing section102.

As illustrated, the jacking mechanism219is a screw jack that includes a lead screw222, a base220and collar224. In one embodiment, the lead screw222is an ACME screw. As is known in the art, the lead screw222seats in the base220in such a manner that the lead screw222can rotate about its axis. Rotation of the lead screw222causes the collar224to move up or down along the lead screw222. It shall be understood that other types of jacking mechanisms219could be utilized and the screw jack shown inFIG. 2is merely one example.

The first attachment member202includes a first jacking mechanism connection portion208and the second attachment member204includes a second jacking mechanism connection portion214in the illustrated embodiment. In one embodiment, the first jacking mechanism connection portion208is configured to mate with the collar224. In one embodiment, the first jacking mechanism connection portion208includes holes that allow bolts or other fastener to couple the first jacking mechanism connection portion208to the collar224. In one embodiment, first jacking mechanism connection portion208includes a recess223that allows the lead screw222to be inserted or removed from the first jacking connection portion208.

As illustrated, the second attachment member204includes a second jacking mechanism connection portion214. In one embodiment, the second jacking mechanism connection portion214is configured to receive and support the base220. It shall be understood that the second jacking mechanism connection portion214can include bolts or other fasteners to secure the base220therein in one embodiment.

In operation a motivating force is applied to the lead screw222when the first and second attachment members202,204are attached to the casing section100and the lower casing section102and the jacking mechanism219is coupled to or otherwise supported in the first and second attachment members202,204. This force causes the casing section100to move vertically relative to the lower casing section102.

In one embodiment, the first attachment member202includes a translation assembly230. The translation assembly230illustrated in theFIG. 2includes one or more rollers232that allow the casing section100to roll across a support as described below. It shall be understood that the translation assembly230can be configured to allow the casing section100to roll in any direction.

FIG. 3illustrates an example of support302according to one embodiment. The support shown inFIG. 3allows, for example, the casing section100to be translated in an axial direction as indicated by arrow A. It shall be understood that in one embodiment, the first attachment member202ofFIG. 2includes the translation assembly230when the support302is utilized.

The support302includes one or more vertical supports304,306. The vertical supports304,306are configured to set on an adjacent casing section104. It shall be understood that a corresponding set of vertical supports may be arranged on an opposite side of the adjacent casing section104and coupled to the vertical supports304,306by connection members308,310.

In one embodiment, a travel path is defined by a travel beam312that extends between the vertical supports304,306. In one embodiment, the travel beam extends beyond an outer edge of at least one of the vertical support306,308. In one embodiment, the casing section100is lifted to a desired height above the lower casing section102. The support302is then placed such that it mates with at least a portion of the adjacent casing section104. The casing section100may then be lowered onto the support302, the jacking mechanisms110removed, and then translated in either direction along the length of the travel beam.

FIG. 4shows an end view along lines4-4ofFIG. 3. As illustrated, the casing section100is resting on the travel beam312. As described above, the first attachment member202is coupled to the casing section100via the first coupling region206and is shown coupled to the collar224by the first jacking mechanism connection portion208. Of course, the lead screw222and the collar224could be removed because the weight to the casing section100is being supported by the support302. As will be appreciated, the casing section100can be moved along the travel beam312because of the presence of the roller232.

FIG. 5illustrates another embodiment of a support502. In this embodiment, the support includes vertical supports504,506. These supports, in use, are arranged such that they are supported by different sides of the lower casing section102or by axially adjacent casings such as104. The vertical supports504,506are connected to and support at least one travel beam508. The travel beam508allows the casing section (not shown) to travel in the transverse direction as shown by arrow B. It shall be understood that arrow B is perpendicular to the axial direction (arrow A) in one embodiment.

Either of the supports302,502can be formed in separable pieces. In one embodiment, each piece can be moved by two or fewer individuals.