Fixture and method for installing turbine buckets

A fixture and method for installing turbine buckets is disclosed. The fixture is adapted for mounting a plurality of turbine buckets with dovetails to a rotor wheel of a turbomachine that is separated from an adjacent rotor wheel by a spacer wheel, the rotor wheel and the spacer wheel each having a plurality of circumferentially aligned dovetail slots, the fixture includes: a turbine bucket holder having a dovetail that is configured to engage with one of the dovetail slots of the spacer wheel. The profile of a bucket holder dovetail slot substantially aligns the dovetail of the turbine bucket with a dovetail slot of the rotor wheel for at least partial transfer of a turbine bucket thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to turbomachines, and more particularly, to a fixture and a method for installing turbine buckets in dovetail slots of a rotor wheel by using a fixture and the dovetail slots of an adjacent spacer wheel.

Rotors for turbomachines such as turbines are often machined from large forgings. Rotor wheels cut from the forgings are typically slotted to accept the roots of turbine buckets for mounting. As the demand for greater turbine output and more efficient turbine performance continues to increase, larger and more articulated turbine buckets are being installed in turbomachines. Latter stage turbine buckets are one example in a turbine where buckets are exposed to a wide range of flows, loads and strong dynamic forces. Consequently, optimizing the performance of these latter stage turbine buckets in order to reduce aerodynamic losses and to improve the thermodynamic performance of the turbine can be a technical challenge.

Dynamic properties that affect the design of these latter stage turbine buckets include the active length of the buckets, the pitch diameter of the buckets and the high operating speed of the buckets in both supersonic and subsonic flow regions. Damping and bucket fatigue are other properties that have a role in the mechanical design of the buckets and their profiles. These mechanical and dynamic response properties of the buckets, as well as others, such as aero-thermodynamic properties or material selection, all influence the relationship between performance and profile of the turbine buckets. Consequently, the profile of the latter stage turbine buckets often includes a complex blade geometry for improving performance while minimizing losses over a wide range of operating conditions.

The application of complex blade geometries to latter stage turbine buckets presents certain challenges in assembling these buckets on a rotor wheel. For example, adjacent turbine buckets on a rotor wheel are typically connected together by cover bands or shroud bands positioned around the periphery of the wheel to confine a working fluid within a well-defined path and to increase the rigidity of the buckets. These interlocking shrouds may impede the assembly of buckets on the rotor wheel. In addition, inner platforms of these buckets may include tied-in edges, which also can impede their assembly on the rotor wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a fixture adapted for mounting a plurality of turbine buckets with dovetails to a rotor wheel of a turbomachine that is separated from an adjacent rotor wheel by a spacer wheel, the rotor wheel and the spacer wheel each having a plurality of circumferentially aligned dovetail slots. The fixture can include: a turbine bucket holder having a dovetail that is configured to engage with one of the dovetail slots of the spacer wheel, wherein the turbine bucket holder defines a bucket holder dovetail slot having a profile that is configured to receive and secure therein a dovetail of one of the turbine buckets, wherein the profile of the bucket holder dovetail slot substantially aligns the dovetail of the turbine bucket with a dovetail slot of the rotor wheel for at least partial transfer thereto from the spacer wheel, wherein the dovetail of the turbine bucket substantially aligns with a dovetail slot of the rotor wheel upon being secured in the bucket holder dovetail slot, a sidewall of the turbine bucket holder cooperatively engages a sidewall of a circumferentially adjacent turbine bucket holder, and wherein the dovetail of the turbine bucket is slidably removable from the bucket holder dovetail slot and guided for insertion into the dovetail slot of the rotor wheel.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a fixture for mounting a plurality of turbine buckets with dovetails to a rotor wheel of a turbomachine having a plurality of circumferentially aligned dovetail slots. The fixture can include: a spacer wheel, separating the rotor wheel from an adjacent rotor wheel, having a plurality of circumferentially aligned dovetail slots; a plurality of turbine bucket holders each having a dovetail that is configured to engage with one of the dovetail slots of the spacer wheel, wherein each of the plurality of turbine bucket holders includes a dovetail slot having a profile configured to secure therein a dovetail of one of the turbine buckets, wherein each profile of a bucket holder dovetail slot substantially aligns a dovetail of a turbine bucket with one dovetail slot of the rotor wheel for at least partial transfer thereto, wherein the dovetail of each turbine bucket aligns with a dovetail slot of the rotor wheel upon being secured in a bucket holder dovetail slot, and wherein essentially all dovetails of the turbine buckets are adapted to be slidably removed from a bucket holder dovetail slot and guided for insertion into one of the dovetail slots of the rotor wheel.

A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for mounting a plurality of turbine buckets having dovetails on a rotor wheel having a plurality of dovetail slots complementary to one of the dovetails of the turbine buckets. The method can include: loading dovetails of the plurality of turbine buckets into a corresponding plurality of bucket holder dovetail slots formed by inserting a plurality of turbine bucket holders in a spacer wheel, the spacer wheel including a plurality of circumferentially aligned dovetail slots and being mounted on a rotor shaft on one side of the rotor wheel, wherein each turbine bucket holder engages cooperatively within a dovetail slot of the spacer wheel and includes one of the plurality of bucket holder dovetail slots dimensioned to secure therein a dovetail of one of the turbine buckets; aligning each bucket holder dovetail slot of the spacer wheel that is loaded with a turbine bucket with one of the dovetail slots of the rotor wheel; and at least partially transferring each of the turbine buckets from the bucket holder dovetail slot to an aligned dovetail slot of the rotor wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a conventional power generation system10in the form of a turbomachine is shown. Embodiments of the present disclosure can be adapted for use with power generation system10, e.g., an air-cooled gas turbine, and/or can be integrated into components thereof. Power generation system10is shown by example as being a combustion-based turbomachine assembly, though embodiments of the present disclosure can also be adapted for use with other types of turbomachines where applicable. In combustion-based turbomachines, a combustor12including a plurality of fuel nozzles14is typically located between a compressor16and a turbine component18of power generation system10. Compressor16and turbine component18can be mechanically coupled to each other through a rotatable shaft20.

Air22flows sequentially through compressor16, combustor12, and turbine component18. The compression provided from compressor16can also increase the temperature of air22. Fuel nozzle(s)14can provide fuel to combustor12, where the fuel combusts in the presence of air22to yield a hot gas stream. The hot gas stream from combustor12can enter turbine component18to impart mechanical energy to rotatable shaft20, e.g., by rotating a group of turbine buckets, thereby delivering power back to compressor16and/or any loads (not shown) mechanically coupled to rotatable shaft20. Power generation system10may include a compressor inlet24preceding compressor16, though which air can be provided to compressor16before being compressed and delivered to combustor12. Although not shown specifically inFIG. 1, power generation system10can include multiple stages with respective combustors12, compressors16, and/or turbines18. Power generation system10may in addition be one of several individual turbomachines controlled via the same operator and/or may be part of a larger power generation system.

Referring to the drawings,FIG. 2illustrates a fixture100adapted for mounting dovetail protrusions from turbine buckets (not shown inFIG. 2) to a rotor wheel (not shown) of a turbomachine. Several spacer wheels can separate each rotor wheel in a turbomachine from its axially adjacent rotor wheel. In operation, fixture100can engage a dovetail slot of a rotor wheel to provide a component and location where turbine buckets can be mounted and/or engaged. Turbine buckets with dovetail protrusions thereon can engage a complementary dovetail slot within fixture100. Each turbine bucket can be mechanically coupled to the spacer wheel through fixture100. The dovetail slots within fixture100can be substantially axially aligned (i.e., aligned substantially along the direction of the rotor) with similarly sized and profiled dovetail slots of rotor wheels adjacent to the spacer wheel. Turbine buckets can be at least partially axially transferred from fixture100to the dovetail slots of adjacent rotor wheels. As used herein, the term “transfer” or “axial transfer” refers to the process of moving (e.g., by sliding motion) a turbine bucket from one position to another, such as from between a dovetail slot within fixture100into a dovetail slot of an adjacent rotor wheel. Thus, embodiments of fixture100and other fixtures discussed herein can allow turbine buckets to be installed within a turbomachine without directly contacting a spacer wheel. Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide methods of installing turbine buckets by using embodiments of fixture100.

Fixture100can include or be in the form of a turbine bucket holder110, and by way of example a single turbine bucket holder110is shown inFIG. 2and discussed herein. Example features of turbine bucket holder110are discussed to further illustrate its use with other components, including other turbine bucket holders110. Turbine bucket holder110can be a unitary component or can be composed of multiple independent segments111A,111B contacting each other along a particular surface (shown inFIG. 2with a phantom line). Independent segments111A,111B may form the profile of a turbine bucket holder when engaging another independent segment111A,111B. Turbine bucket holder110is shown inFIG. 2as including two independent segments111A,111B, but it is understood that any desired number of independent segments can be used in embodiments of the present disclosure. Independent segments111A,111B can engage each other by physical contact between corresponding surfaces, welding, complementary manufacture or machining, and/or other processes for providing an adjacent placement or mechanical coupling between two components. Turbine bucket holder110can be composed of various structural materials to suit particular applications, and for example can be embodied as a plastic component, a metal component formed from or including steel, and/or a component with combinations of ceramic and/or metallic substances.

A dovetail112can extend from turbine bucket holder110and may be shaped, dimensioned, or otherwise configured to engage a dovetail slot of a spacer wheel positioned between two or more corresponding rotor wheels. The adjacent spacer wheels, in turn, can include several circumferentially aligned dovetail slots. Portions of turbine bucket holder110can extend laterally from dovetail112by a particular distance w1in one direction, and by another distance w2in a different direction. Distances w1, w2, can be substantially equal to each other or may differ by a predetermined value, such that turbine bucket holder110extends laterally further from dovetail112on one side than from an opposing side. In the example ofFIG. 2, distance w1is shown by example as being substantially greater than w2. In any event, distances w1, w2being of different sizes can provide, e.g., a physical guide or reference for the orientation of turbine bucket holders110during installation, such that each turbine bucket holder110(and/or independent segments111A,111B thereof) will be installed in a particular direction and/or orientation.

As is discussed elsewhere herein, the dovetail slots of the spacer wheels may be at least partially aligned with the dovetail slots of one or more adjacent rotor wheels. Turbine bucket holder110can also include contours114on a surface of dovetail112to matingly engage corresponding dovetail slots within a spacer wheel where turbine bucket holder110is used. Two sidewalls116of turbine bucket holder110can be shaped to engage other turbine bucket holders110during operation, as is described elsewhere herein.

Turbine bucket holder110can include a dovetail slot118and other features for receiving, holding, and/or matingly engaging a contoured surface of a particular component, e.g., a turbine bucket dovetail protrusion. Dovetail slot118can be positioned between two sidewalls116. As is shown inFIG. 2, dovetail112protruding above the innermost region of dovetail slot118in turbine bucket holder110can form a substantially C-shaped and/or Y-shaped component. A retention device120can optionally be provided upon, coupled to, and/or integral with turbine bucket holder110. Retention device120can be in the form of one or more mechanical components for coupling one structure to another, including but not limited to: a retaining bolt, an adhesive, a rail, a solid bendable component, a coupling component, and/or other mechanical devices for retaining one component within and/or adjacent to another. In operation, retention device120can be moved to an actuated or locked position, e.g., contacting a spacer wheel, to obstruct or prevent axial motion of turbine bucket holder110. These features of retention device120can secure turbine bucket holder110of fixture100in an installed position. Retention device120can extend through and/or be affixed to one or more axial sides of turbine bucket holder110. In an embodiment, retention device120can be in the form of a rod extending axially through turbine bucket holder110, and can include a point of manipulation (e.g., a handle) on a particular side to engage and/or disengage retention device120. It is also understood that retention device120can be in the form of multiple components, whether complementary to or independent from one another.

Other features and components of turbine bucket holder110can provide or enhance mechanical coupling between turbine bucket holder110and a spacer wheel. As is shown by example inFIGS. 2 and 3, turbine bucket holder110can include a two independent segments111A,111B with corresponding distances w1, w2, and/or a first surface122(e.g., a front-facing surface) with a first width (w1) and a second surface124(e.g., a back-facing surface) with a second width (w2). The difference between the widths of independent segments111A,111B and/or first and second surfaces122,124can create an “offset differential” (i.e., a difference in the size of between two corresponding and/or opposing surfaces, noted inFIG. 3by Doffset) for maintaining a particular orientation of turbine bucket holder110when installed within a spacer wheel. In addition or alternatively, turbine bucket holder110can include interlocking fixtures126(shown in phantom), similar to those in a key or key-type device, for engaging complementary fixtures located on or within a turbine spacer wheel. In the example ofFIG. 3, interlocking fixtures126are shown as protrusions from turbine bucket holder110, but can alternatively be in the form of slots or ridges removed from and/or integral to the structure of turbine bucket holder110. Interlocking fixtures126can preserve a desired orientation of turbine bucket holder110during installation to prevent, e.g., a backwards installation of turbine bucket holder110.

Turning toFIG. 4, several turbine bucket holders110of fixture100engaging a spacer wheel200are shown. Each dovetail112of a particular turbine bucket holder110can be formed in a particular shape for engaging a corresponding dovetail slot202of spacer wheel200, thereby allowing turbine bucket holders110to be arranged circumferentially about spacer wheel200. In an example embodiment, dovetail112of turbine bucket holder110can include chamfered tip edges204with respect to the remainder of its structure. To complement dovetail112, dovetail slots202can be in the form of chamfered slots removed from, etched into, or otherwise formed within the structure of spacer wheel200. Where dovetail112includes chamfered tip edges204, dovetail slots202may be in the shape of complementary slots, fixtures, etc., for receiving dovetail112and/or similarly profiled components. Turbine bucket holders110can receive and secure a turbine bucket within their respective dovetail slots118, thereby allowing portions of each turbine bucket to be secured to spacer wheel200through one or more turbine bucket holders110of fixture100.

Each dovetail slot202of spacer wheel200may be spaced apart or otherwise positioned for substantial alignment with corresponding dovetail slots of a rotor wheel, thereby allowing dovetail slots118to be substantially aligned or otherwise continuous with corresponding dovetail slots of the adjacent rotor wheel. As used herein, the term “substantial alignment” or “substantially aligned” refers to any alignment between two components (e.g., slots) which permits a single component (e.g., a turbine bucket dovetail) to extend through and/or be transferred between dovetail slots118of turbine bucket holder110and other dovetail slots without first being treated or modified. In embodiments of the present disclosure, substantial alignment between dovetail slots118of turbine bucket holders110and dovetail slots of adjacent rotor wheels can allow a turbine bucket to be positioned within and at least partially transferred to dovetail slots118of turbine bucket holder110when the turbine bucket is positioned between two rotor wheels.

Following the placement of turbine bucket holders110within dovetail slots202of spacer wheel200, sidewalls116of turbine bucket holders110can cooperatively engage each other (e.g., by direct or indirect contact) to secure and maintain each turbine bucket holder110upon spacer wheel200. Fixture100can be embodied as a plurality of turbine bucket holders110with corresponding dovetail slots spaced circumferentially about a radially outer periphery of spacer wheel200. Each turbine bucket holder110and/or its independent segments111A,11lB (FIG. 2) can be independent from another, and any quantity of turbine bucket holders110can be provided. Turbine bucket holders110can, together, make up an arcuate segment of a particular element (e.g., a spacer wheel), and/or a complete circumferential group of turbine bucket holders110. Turbine bucket holders110can be independent from one another and/or connected by bolted joints, welding, complementary machining and/or manufacture of each turbine bucket holder110(or segments thereof), etc. A group of turbine buckets can be installed within each circumferentially positioned turbine bucket holder110of fixture100.

Turbine bucket holder110can include features for enhancing its use and/or engagement with spacer wheel200. For example, dovetail slots202of spacer wheel200may be dimensioned to allow sliding movement and/or engagement in several dimensions or in only one dimension, such that turbine bucket holder110of fixture100can be inserted or removed as needed. Offset differential Doffset(FIG. 3) and interlocking fixtures126(FIG. 3) can further define a point at which turbine bucket holder110is fully inserted into a particular dovetail slot202, and can obstruct sliding movement and/or engagement in an improper direction or past a predetermined limit. Some turbine bucket holders110can feature dovetail slots118of varying shapes, sizes, widths, etc. In this case, turbine bucket holders110modified or substituted for turbine bucket holders110with different dovetail slots118as desired for particular applications. As is further shown inFIG. 5, a profile of one or more dovetail slots118in turbine bucket holder110can provide an axial view of corresponding dovetail slots in a rotor wheel adjacent to spacer wheel200when turbine bucket holders110are received therein.

InFIG. 5, geometrical features of the engagement between a turbine bucket300and turbine bucket holder110are shown.FIG. 5includes a cross-sectional view of turbine bucket holder110engaging a turbine bucket300by receiving a dovetail protrusion302within dovetail slot118. During operation of a turbine with turbine bucket holder110and turbine bucket300, turbine bucket300can move (e.g., by rotation) as a type of blade when actuated by a flow of fluid against its surface. Dovetail slot118of turbine bucket holder110can include a profile with a substantially undulating or “fir tree” shape with multiple necks310alternating with hooks312(e.g., in the form of protrusions or similar surfaces) for engaging similarly contoured surfaces of turbine bucket300, with or without direct contact between the two components throughout dovetail slot118. Each neck310can include a substantially planar contact surface for engaging a dovetail of turbine bucket300. Although dovetail slot118is shown by example as substantially complementing a cross-section of turbine bucket300, it is understood that dovetail slot118can be of any desired shape or geometry, e.g., a substantially v-shaped slot, one or more triangular wedges, a rectangular or semicircular slot, a slot formed in the shape of a composite geometry, etc.

Several hooks312can include non-contacting portions (e.g., surfaces) separated from the dovetail of turbine bucket300when turbine bucket holder110engages turbine bucket300. These non-contacting portions can define a group of pockets314between turbine bucket holder110and turbine bucket300. Pockets314can protect portions of dovetail slot118of turbine bucket holder110from damage caused by, e.g., manufacturing variances between turbine buckets300, vibratory motion or damage, external shocks and events, frictional contact between the two components, etc. Pockets314can be formed, e.g., by removing portions of material from turbine bucket holder110and/or otherwise manufacturing or modifying turbine bucket holders110to define pockets314. Among other things, pockets314can prevent turbine bucket holder110from contacting turbine bucket300at sensitive locations. In operation, turbine bucket holder110and turbine bucket300can engage each other at a group of contacting surfaces316distributed throughout dovetail slot118and turbine bucket300. Pockets314can also be formed by manufacturing, modifying, and/or otherwise machining turbine bucket300to create separation between turbine bucket300and dovetail slot118.

Dovetail protrusion302may include a height dimension H of lesser magnitude than a corresponding height dimension of dovetail slot118. These differing heights can create a spacing differential between the two components and define a window space318. Although one window space318is shown by example inFIG. 5, it is understood that multiple window spaces318can be defined between turbine bucket holder110and turbine bucket300in embodiments of the present disclosure. It is also understood that pockets314can also function as an at least partial window for providing view between turbine bucket holder110and turbine bucket300where applicable. Window space318can be present between dovetail slot118and dovetail protrusion302when dovetail protrusion302is installed within turbine bucket holder110. Window space318can provide an axial view of an aligned dovetail slot of a rotor wheel (not shown) when dovetail protrusion302is positioned and/or secured within dovetail slot118. Turbine bucket300is shown to include dovetail protrusion302and turbine bucket holder110is shown to include dovetail slot118by example inFIG. 5. In alternative embodiments, turbine bucket holders110may include a dovetail slot instead of dovetail protrusion302. In this case, turbine bucket holder110may be modified or inverted to permit engagement between a complementary dovetail protrusion (e.g., dovetail112(FIG. 2)) from turbine bucket holder110and the dovetail slot of turbine bucket holder300in the alternative embodiment. When these modification and/or alternatives are present, other features discussed herein can be modified appropriately and/or remain the same.

Turning toFIG. 6, embodiments of the present disclosure can include a fixture400for mounting several turbine buckets with dovetails onto a rotor wheel. Fixture400can include or connect to one or more spacer wheels200positioned between two circumferentially adjacent rotor wheels (not shown). Circumferentially adjacent turbine bucket holders110can cooperatively engage with each other, e.g., by contact between their sidewalls116(FIGS. 1, 3). Each spacer wheel200can include a plurality of circumferentially aligned dovetail slots202distributed circumferentially throughout its outer radial surface. Fixture400can include several turbine bucket holders110engaging dovetail slots202of spacer wheel200by way of dovetails112thereon. Dovetail slots118of turbine bucket holders110can be radially displaced from dovetails112relative to spacer wheel200. Dovetail slots118of each turbine bucket holder110can be shaped and/or dimensioned to secure dovetail protrusion302of turbine bucket300therein. Turbine bucket holders110can engage spacer wheel200as shown inFIG. 6, and optionally can include features defined by separation distance between spacer wheel200and one or more turbine bucket holders110, e.g., pockets and window spaces similar to those shown and discussed herein (e.g., pockets314(FIG. 3) and window spaces318(FIG. 3).

Several turbine buckets300with dovetail protrusions302thereon can be installed within and/or coupled to fixture400. Dovetail protrusions302may be shaped, dimensioned, etc., to engage with one of the several dovetail slots202of spacer wheel200. Where dovetail protrusions302of turbine buckets300engage dovetail slots118, a mechanical coupling between turbine buckets300and spacer wheel200can be formed. The mechanical coupling of turbine bucket300to spacer wheel200through turbine bucket holder110can prevent, e.g., direct physical contact between spacer wheel200and each turbine bucket300. The mechanical coupling through turbine bucket holder110can also create axial alignment between turbine buckets300and complementary components of a rotor wheel.

Turning toFIG. 7, an embodiment of fixture400and a rotor wheel500is shown. Dovetail slots118of turbine bucket holders110, when engaging spacer wheel200, can be positioned in at least substantial alignment with corresponding dovetail slots502of rotor wheel500. The shape and/or dimensions of dovetail slots118of turbine bucket holder110can provide a channel for guided insertion of turbine bucket300into fixture400and dovetail slots502of rotor wheel500. In operation, fixture400can structurally support turbine bucket300and permit at least partial transfer to rotor wheel500. Dovetail slots118of each turbine bucket holder110can be substantially aligned with dovetail slots502of rotor wheel500after fixture400is installed. Turbine bucket300can move, such as by sliding motion, between dovetail slots118,502of turbine bucket holder110and rotor wheel500.

Several turbine bucket holders110of fixture400can be interconnected or in contact with each other. That is, turbine bucket holders110can contact with each other at adjacent sidewalls116(FIGS. 1, 3) or interlocking fixtures126(FIG. 3), coupling components, etc., provided thereon. Fixture400can also include one or more retention devices120(FIG. 2) coupled to, e.g., turbine bucket holder110or spacer wheel200, to secure turbine bucket300to fixture400(e.g., at spacer wheel200) and rotor wheel500. Dovetail slots502of rotor wheel500, in addition to dovetail slots118of turbine bucket holders110, can include at least some of the geometrical features shown inFIG. 5and discussed elsewhere herein. Specifically, dovetail slots118,502can be in the form of an undulating or “fir tree” shape with multiple necks310(FIG. 5) and hooks310(FIG. 5) thereon for engaging dovetail protrusions302of turbine buckets300at corresponding planar surfaces. Dovetail slots118,502can also be profiled and/or dimensioned to define one or more pockets314(FIG. 5) between dovetail slots118,502and dovetail protrusion302of turbine bucket300to protect corresponding portions of dovetail slots118,502. It is understood that embodiments of the present disclosure can be adapted for rotor wheels500configured for different types of turbine buckets300, such as curved (i.e., non-planar) axial entry turbine buckets (not shown). The shape, axial profile, and/or orientation of dovetail slots118of turbine bucket holders110can be modified for this application where applicable.

Turning toFIG. 8, embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for installing turbine buckets within and/or onto a rotor wheel. More specifically, methods according to the present disclosure can including mounting several turbine buckets300, with dovetail protrusions302onto rotor wheel200. Dovetail slots202of rotor wheel200can be sized, dimensioned, etc., to complement dovetail protrusion302of one of the turbine buckets300. Dovetail protrusions302of several turbine buckets300can each be loaded into a corresponding dovetail slot118(e.g., in an axial direction) of one turbine bucket holder110. Dovetails112of each turbine bucket holder110can be inserted into one of several dovetail slots202positioned circumferentially about spacer wheel200. Methods of the present disclosure can include securing one or more turbine bucket holders110to spacer wheel200, e.g., by actuating and/or locking retention devices120coupled to spacer wheel200or turbine bucket holders120. Each dovetail slot202of spacer wheel200may be radially displaced from corresponding dovetail slots502(FIG. 7) and positioned circumferentially about rotor wheel500(FIG. 7). Each turbine bucket holder110can cooperatively engage a corresponding dovetail slot202via dovetail112, thereby securing dovetail protrusions302of turbine buckets300to the radial position of dovetail slots202of spacer wheel200.

Turning toFIG. 9, other method steps according to embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. Following the loading steps shown inFIG. 8and discussed elsewhere herein, dovetail slots118of each turbine bucket holder110with turbine bucket300therein can be at least substantially aligned with a particular dovetail slot502of rotor wheel500. Creating at least substantial alignment between dovetail slots118,502can allow turbine buckets300to be at least partially transferred to rotor wheel500from turbine bucket holders110in a further process step. Specifically, methods according to the present disclosure can include at least partially transferring turbine buckets300from turbine bucket holders110into an aligned dovetail slot504or rotor wheel500(e.g., by axial movement).

Methods according to the present disclosure can include loading turbine buckets300onto turbine bucket holders110and at least partially transferring turbine buckets300onto rotor wheel500in a predetermined order or manner. The steps discussed herein for loading and at least partially transferring turbine buckets300can be repeated until one dovetail slot202(FIGS. 3, 5-8) of rotor wheel200(FIGS. 3, 5-8) remains open at a particular loading space. A final turbine bucket600can be loaded and at least partially to rotor wheel500initially without the use of turbine bucket holder110. Final turbine bucket600can be at least partially transferred to dovetail slot502of rotor wheel500by being inserted, radially inward, between two turbine buckets300such that final turbine bucket is spatially displaced from the last vacant dovetail slot202of rotor wheel200. A final turbine bucket holder602can then be axially inserted into the gap between dovetail slot202of spacer wheel200and final turbine bucket600, such that final turbine bucket600is structurally supported by both final turbine bucket holder602and rotor wheel500.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide several technical and commercial settings, some of which are discussed herein by way of example. Embodiments of the fixtures and methods discussed herein can provide substantially uniform manufacturing and/or assembly of rotating components, such as those used in turbomachines. Embodiments of the present disclosure can also be employed for processes and/or events requiring at least partial disassembly of a rotating component and/or turbine stage, such as during the inspection of a hot gas path section of particular components (e.g., stage three buckets of a steam or gas turbine). The application of a fixture with turbine bucket holders furthermore can allow turbine buckets to be installed and removed without the rotor first being extracted from its casing. It is also understood that embodiments of the present disclosure can provide advantages and features in other operational and/or servicing contexts not addressed specifically herein.