US 11,746,678 B1
Apparatus and method for protecting a replacement part of a turbine assembly
Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Simpsonville, SC (US); Thomas Alan Mogle, II, Simpsonville, SC (US); Eric Lynn Strunk, Rockford, OH (US); and William Thomas Ordean, Sidney, OH (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Oct. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/977,062.
Int. Cl. F01D 25/28 (2006.01)
CPC F01D 25/285 (2013.01) [F05D 2230/64 (2013.01); F05D 2230/68 (2013.01); F05D 2230/70 (2013.01); F05D 2250/75 (2013.01); F05D 2260/31 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus configured to support a diffuser segment during removal from or installation into an assembly, the apparatus comprising:
a body including a plurality of supports and at least two clamp rods each extending from a first end to a second end, the body defining a pocket extending between the supports on a first side of the clamp rods;
an end clamp releasably mating with the second end of each clamp rod, the end clamp having a foot extending into the first side of the clamp rod; and
a wheel received within each support,
wherein the pocket and the foot of each end clamp releasably retain the diffuser segment and wherein the wheels rotate to allow the diffuser segment to be removed without damaging a surface coating of at least one of the diffuser segment and the assembly.