Patent ID: 8640335

Claim:
A broaching apparatus, the broaching apparatus comprising: a broach having a cross-section corresponding to a geometry of a slot between two adjacent steeples of a turbine rotor; a mechanism that moves the broach through the slot between the adjacent steeples in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of extension of the slot; a fixture assembly configured for mounting the mechanism to the turbine rotor, wherein the mechanism comprises: an actuator frame coupled to the fixture assembly; and an actuator coupled to the actuator frame; a first pulley coupled to an end of the actuator opposite the actuator frame; a chain anchor disposed on one of the fixture assembly and the actuator frame; and a chain having a first end coupled to the chain anchor, a middle section thereof passed through the first pulley, and a second end thereof coupled to the broach, wherein the broach is motively coupled to the actuator.