US 12,188,368 B2
Method for removing or installing a diffuser segment 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 GE Infrastructure Technology LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed by GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed on Jul. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/223,267.
Application 18/223,267 is a division of application No. 17/977,062, filed on Oct. 31, 2022, granted, now 11,746,678.
Prior Publication US 2024/0141806 A1, May 2, 2024
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)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of removing a diffuser segment from or installing a diffuser segment into an assembly with an apparatus, the method comprising:
drilling and tapping a lift hole in a surface of the diffuser segment with a drill guide;
installing a lift eye in the lift hole;
removing one or more mounting bolts affixing the diffuser segment to the assembly;
replacing the removed one or more mounting bolts with one or more guide pins;
inserting the apparatus between the diffuser segment and the assembly and rolling the apparatus into a void defined between the diffuser segment and the assembly;
tightening at least one end clamp of the apparatus configured to retain the diffuser segment within the apparatus;
tightening at least one set screw configured to tighten a pocket of the apparatus on an exterior surface of the diffuser segment;
removing all remaining mounting bolts affixing the diffuser segment to the assembly;
inserting the at least one guide pin to push the diffuser segment and disengage the diffuser segment from the assembly;
removing the one or more guide pins from the diffuser segment and the assembly; and
lifting the lift eye to remove the diffuser segment from the assembly,
wherein the pocket is configured to protect the exterior surface of the diffuser segment during removal of the diffuser segment from the assembly.