US 11,913,344 B2
Multi-tube servicing tool and method of servicing gas turbine engine components
Satya Mohan Vamsi Andalam, Bangalore (IN); Shivakumar Basavanna, Mullur (IN); Sandeep Kumar, Bangalore (IN); Mandar Diwakar Godbole, Bangalore (IN); and Vamshi Krishna Reddy Kommareddy, Bangalore (IN)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Apr. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/226,683.
Claims priority of application No. 202111007984 (IN), filed on Feb. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0268170 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. F01D 21/00 (2006.01); G01M 15/14 (2006.01); G01N 21/954 (2006.01)
CPC F01D 21/003 (2013.01) [G01M 15/14 (2013.01); G01N 21/954 (2013.01); F05D 2220/323 (2013.01); F05D 2230/72 (2013.01); F05D 2260/80 (2013.01); F05D 2260/83 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of servicing a portion of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
inserting a rigid guide tube into an inspection port disposed in a shroud of the gas turbine engine;
inserting a flexible guide tube into and through the rigid guide tube, wherein the flexible guide tube is pre-shaped such that the flexible guide tube is biased towards a predetermined shape after being inserted through the rigid guide tube and the flexible guide tube includes a tip shaped at an angle relative to an axial centerline of the tip, the angle being defined between an imaginary line perpendicular to the axial centerline and the tip, and the angle being greater than zero;
pushing a tool through the flexible guide tube such that a distal end of the tool moves out of and away from the tip of the flexible guide tube; and
servicing, with the tool, an area of interest of the gas turbine engine.