Patent Abstract:
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.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    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. 
         [0002]    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. 
         [0003]    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 
       [0004]    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. 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]    The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of turbine including a system for lifting a casing section according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a raising device according to the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a support that may be utilized in moving a casing section in one embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the support shown in  FIG. 3  as it supports a casing section; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a support that may be utilized in moving a casing section in another embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0013]    The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows an example of a system for lifting a casing section  100  according to one embodiment. The casing section  100  is a particular section that is to be removed. It shall be understood that the casing section  100  can be any section of a turbine or any other industrial machine. In the event that the casing section  100  is part of a turbine, the casing section  100  will typically form one half of a cylinder that surrounds a rotor (not shown). The other half of the cylinder is illustrated as lower casing section  102 . When the turbine is operating the casing section  100  sets on and is coupled to the lower casing section  102 . 
         [0015]    In the event that the casing section  100  needs to be removed, the bolts or other fasteners (not shown) joining the casing section  100  to the lower casing section  102  are removed. In addition, any fastener that joins the casing section  100  to another section (e.g., adjacent casing section  104 ) are also removed. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the casing section  100  includes one or more bolt holes  106  that include internal threads. To separate the casing section  100  from the lower casing section  102 , one or more jacking screws  108  are screwed into the bolt holes  106 . As the jacking screws  108  are turned, they contact the lower casing section  102  and cause the casing section  100  to separate from and rise above the lower casing section  102  in a known manner. 
         [0017]    The jacking screws  108  typically do not provide a large enough separation from the lower casing section  102  to 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 section  100  at this point. 
         [0018]    In contrast, in embodiments of the present invention, one or more raising devices  110  are coupled to the casing section  100  and the lower casing section  102 . The raising devices  110  can be coupled to the casing section  100  and the lower casing section  102 , for example, via the bolt holes  106  in one embodiment. As illustrated, two raising devices  110  are on one side of the casing section  100  and, while not illustrated, two more raising devices  110  are utilized on the other side of the casing section  100 . Of course, the number of raising devices  110  on 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 section  100 . 
         [0019]    As described in greater detail below, the raising devices  110  allow for the casing section  100  to be raised to a useful height for maintenance or to a height in which stanchions/supports may be inserted. In one embodiment, the supports  302 ,  502  ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) include rails or other mechanisms that allow the casing section  100  to be translated axially along the length of the machine or in a direction that is transverse thereto. In one embodiment, the supports  302 ,  502  do not include the rails. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates a raising device  110  according to one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the raising device  110  is coupled to the casing section  100  and the lower casing section  102 . 
         [0021]    The raising device  110  includes first and second attachment members  202 ,  204 . The raising device  110  also includes a jacking mechanism  219 . In general, the first and second attachment members  202 ,  204  provide for a removable mechanical connection between the jacking mechanism  219  and the casing section  100  such that the jacking mechanism  219  may be employed to vertically displace the casing section  100  relative to the lower casing section  102 . 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the first attachment member  202  couples to the casing portion  100  and the second attachment member  204  couples to the lower casing section  102 . In more detail, the first attachment member  202  includes a first coupling region  206  configured to mate with and be coupled to the casing section  100 . Similarly, the second attachment member  204  includes a second coupling region  210  configured to mate with and be coupled to the lower casing section  102 . In one embodiment, the first and second coupling regions  206 ,  210  include holes formed therein that allow bolts or other fasteners to pass through such that the first and second coupling regions  206 ,  210  are securely attached, respectively, to the casing section  100  and the lower casing section  102 . 
         [0023]    As illustrated, the jacking mechanism  219  is a screw jack that includes a lead screw  222 , a base  220  and collar  224 . In one embodiment, the lead screw  222  is an ACME screw. As is known in the art, the lead screw  222  seats in the base  220  in such a manner that the lead screw  222  can rotate about its axis. Rotation of the lead screw  222  causes the collar  224  to move up or down along the lead screw  222 . It shall be understood that other types of jacking mechanisms  219  could be utilized and the screw jack shown in  FIG. 2  is merely one example. 
         [0024]    The first attachment member  202  includes a first jacking mechanism connection portion  208  and the second attachment member  204  includes a second jacking mechanism connection portion  214  in the illustrated embodiment. In one embodiment, the first jacking mechanism connection portion  208  is configured to mate with the collar  224 . In one embodiment, the first jacking mechanism connection portion  208  includes holes that allow bolts or other fastener to couple the first jacking mechanism connection portion  208  to the collar  224 . In one embodiment, first jacking mechanism connection portion  208  includes a recess  223  that allows the lead screw  222  to be inserted or removed from the first jacking connection portion  208 . 
         [0025]    As illustrated, the second attachment member  204  includes a second jacking mechanism connection portion  214 . In one embodiment, the second jacking mechanism connection portion  214  is configured to receive and support the base  220 . It shall be understood that the second jacking mechanism connection portion  214  can include bolts or other fasteners to secure the base  220  therein in one embodiment. 
         [0026]    In operation a motivating force is applied to the lead screw  222  when the first and second attachment members  202 ,  204  are attached to the casing section  100  and the lower casing section  102  and the jacking mechanism  219  is coupled to or otherwise supported in the first and second attachment members  202 ,  204 . This force causes the casing section  100  to move vertically relative to the lower casing section  102 . 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the first attachment member  202  includes a translation assembly  230 . The translation assembly  230  illustrated in the  FIG. 2  includes one or more rollers  232  that allow the casing section  100  to roll across a support as described below. It shall be understood that the translation assembly  230  can be configured to allow the casing section  100  to roll in any direction. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of support  302  according to one embodiment. The support shown in  FIG. 3  allows, for example, the casing section  100  to be translated in an axial direction as indicated by arrow A. It shall be understood that in one embodiment, the first attachment member  202  of  FIG. 2  includes the translation assembly  230  when the support  302  is utilized. 
         [0029]    The support  302  includes one or more vertical supports  304 ,  306 . The vertical supports  304 ,  306  are configured to set on an adjacent casing section  104 . It shall be understood that a corresponding set of vertical supports may be arranged on an opposite side of the adjacent casing section  104  and coupled to the vertical supports  304 ,  306  by connection members  308 ,  310 . 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, a travel path is defined by a travel beam  312  that extends between the vertical supports  304 ,  306 . In one embodiment, the travel beam extends beyond an outer edge of at least one of the vertical support  306 ,  308 . In one embodiment, the casing section  100  is lifted to a desired height above the lower casing section  102 . The support  302  is then placed such that it mates with at least a portion of the adjacent casing section  104 . The casing section  100  may then be lowered onto the support  302 , the jacking mechanisms  110  removed, and then translated in either direction along the length of the travel beam. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows an end view along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . As illustrated, the casing section  100  is resting on the travel beam  312 . As described above, the first attachment member  202  is coupled to the casing section  100  via the first coupling region  206  and is shown coupled to the collar  224  by the first jacking mechanism connection portion  208 . Of course, the lead screw  222  and the collar  224  could be removed because the weight to the casing section  100  is being supported by the support  302 . As will be appreciated, the casing section  100  can be moved along the travel beam  312  because of the presence of the roller  232 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of a support  502 . In this embodiment, the support includes vertical supports  504 ,  506 . These supports, in use, are arranged such that they are supported by different sides of the lower casing section  102  or by axially adjacent casings such as  104 . The vertical supports  504 ,  506  are connected to and support at least one travel beam  508 . The travel beam  508  allows 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. 
         [0033]    Either of the supports  302 ,  502  can be formed in separable pieces. In one embodiment, each piece can be moved by two or fewer individuals. 
         [0034]    While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1