Method for assembly of tangential entry dovetailed bucket assemblies on a turbomachine bucket wheel

Claim 1

A method for assembling a plurality of bucket assemblies onto a wheel of a turbomachine, such that a predetermined circumferential force is obtainable on the plurality of bucket assemblies when assembled, the wheel defining at least one circumferentially extending dovetail wheel hook, the at least one wheel hook being relieved over a predetermined circumferential portion of the wheel to form a notch fo receiving bucket assemblies to be assembled onto the wheel, and the bucket assemblies including base portions respectively defining at least one dovetail bucket hook mateable with the at least one wheel hook, the base portions further defining lateral faces on opposite circumferential sides thereof which abut lateral faces of adjacent base portions when assembled onto the wheel, comprising: reducing the distance between the lateral faces on the base portions of the plurality of bucket assemblies; arranging the plurality of bucket assemblies onto the wheel; disposing a closure piece having a base portion mateable with the relieved portion of the at least one wheel hook onto the wheel at the notch, the closure piece further defining lateral faces on opposite circumferential sides thereof which abut lateral faces of respective adjacent base portions when the closure piece is disposed on the wheel, the closure piece having a predetermined circumferential distance between the lateral faces of the closure piece whereby the predetermined circumferential force on the plurality of bucket assemblies may be obtained by appropriately sizing the predetermined distance between the lateral faces of the closure piece; increasing the distance between the lateral faces on the base portions such that the lateral faces on the base portions exert the predetermined circumferential force on the plurality of bucket assemblies assembled on the wheel.

Claim 2

A method for assembling a plurality of bucket assemblies onto a wheel of a turbomachine, such that a predetermined circumferential force is obtainable on the plurality of bucket assemblies when assembled, the wheel defining at least one circumferentially extending dovetail wheel hook, the at least one wheel hook being relieved over a predetermined circumferential portion of the wheel to form a notch fo receiving bucket assemblies to be assembled onto the wheel, and the bucket assemblies including base portions respectively defining at least one dovetail bucket hook mateable with the at least one wheel hook, the base portions further defining lateral faces on opposite circumferential sides thereof which abut lateral faces of adjacent base portions when assembled onto the wheel, comprising: reducing the distance between the lateral faces on the base portions of the plurality of bucket assemblies; arranging the plurality of bucket assemblies onto the wheel; disposing a closure piece having a base portion mateable with the relieved portion of the at least one wheel hook onto the wheel at the notch, the closure piece further defining lateral faces on opposite circumferential sides thereof which abut lateral faces of respective adjacent base portions when the closure piece is disposed on the wheel, the closure piece having a predetermined circumferential distance between the lateral faces of the closure piece whereby the predetermined circumferential force on the plurality of bucket assemblies may be obtained by appropriately sizing the predetermined distance between the lateral faces of the closure piece; increasing the distance between the lateral faces on the base portions such that the lateral faces on the base portions exert the predetermined circumferential force on the plurality of bucket assemblies assembled on the wheel.

Claim 11

A method for assembling a plurality of bucket assemblies onto a wheel of a turbomachine such that a predetermined circumferential force is obtainable on the plurality of bucket assemblies when assembled, the wheel defining at least one circumferentially extending dovetail wheel hook, the at least one wheel hook being relieved over a predetermined circumferential portion of the wheel to form a notch for receiving bucket assemblies to be assembled onto the wheel, and the bucket assemblies including base portions respectively defining at least one dovetail bucket hook mateable with the at least one wheel hook, the base portions further defining lateral faces on opposite circumferential sides thereof which abut lateral faces of adjacent base portions when assembled onto the wheel, comprising: increasing the circumferential expanse of the wheel; arranging the plurality of bucket assemblies onto the wheel; and decreasing the circumferential expanse of the wheel, such that the lateral faces of the plurality of bucket assemblies are subjected to the predetermined circumferential force.

Claim 12

A method for assembling a plurality of bucket assemblies onto a wheel of a turbomachine such that a predetermined circumferential force is obtainable on the plurality of bucket assemblies when assembled, the wheel defining at least one circumferentially extending dovetail wheel hook, the at least one wheel hook being relieved over a predetermined circumferential portion of the wheel to form a notch for receiving bucket assemblies to be assembled onto the wheel, and the bucket assemblies including base portions respectively defining at least one dovetail bucket hook mateable with the at least one wheel hook, the base portions further defining lateral faces on opposite circumferential sides thereof which abut lateral faces of adjacent base portions when assembled onto the wheel, comprising: increasing the circumferential expanse of the wheel; arranging the plurality of bucket assemblies onto the wheel; and decreasing the circumferential expanse of the wheel, such that the lateral faces of the plurality of bucket assemblies are subjected to the predetermined circumferential force.

Claim 17

A method for assembling a plurality of bucket assemblies onto a wheel of a turbomachine, such that a predetermined circumferential force is obtainable on the pluraliity of bucket assemblies when assembled, the wheel defining at least one circumferentially extending dovetail wheel hook, the at least one wheel hook being relieved over a predetermined circumferential portion of the wheel to form a notch for receiving bucket assemblies to be assembled onto the wheel, and the bucket assemblies including base portions respectively defining at least one dovetail bucket hook mateable with the at least one wheel hook, the base portions further defining lateral faces on opposite circumferential sides thereof which abut lateral faces of adjacent base portions when assembled onto the wheel, comprising: increasing the circumferential expanse of the wheel; cooling all base portions of the plurality of bucket assemblies to be arranged on the wheel. arranging the plurality of bucket assemblies onto the wheel; disposing a closure piece having a base portion mateable with the relieved portion of the at least one wheel hook onto the wheel at the notch, the closure piece further defining lateral faces on opposite circumferential sides thereof which abut lateral faces of respective adjacent base portions when the closure piece is disposed on the wheel, the closure piece having a predetermined circumferential distance between the lateral faces of the closure piece, whereby the predetermined circumferential force on the plurality of bucket assemblies may be obtained by appropriately sizing the predetermined circumferential distance between the lateral faces of the closure piece; increasing the distance between the lateral faces on the base portions of the plurality of bucket assemblies; and, decreasing the circumferential expanse of the wheel, such that the lateral faces of the plurality of bucket assemblies are subjected to the predetermined circumferential force.

Claim 18

A method for assembling a plurality of bucket assemblies onto a wheel of a turbomachine, such that a predetermined circumferential force is obtainable on the pluraliity of bucket assemblies when assembled, the wheel defining at least one circumferentially extending dovetail wheel hook, the at least one wheel hook being relieved over a predetermined circumferential portion of the wheel to form a notch for receiving bucket assemblies to be assembled onto the wheel, and the bucket assemblies including base portions respectively defining at least one dovetail bucket hook mateable with the at least one wheel hook, the base portions further defining lateral faces on opposite circumferential sides thereof which abut lateral faces of adjacent base portions when assembled onto the wheel, comprising: increasing the circumferential expanse of the wheel; cooling all base portions of the plurality of bucket assemblies to be arranged on the wheel. arranging the plurality of bucket assemblies onto the wheel; disposing a closure piece having a base portion mateable with the relieved portion of the at least one wheel hook onto the wheel at the notch, the closure piece further defining lateral faces on opposite circumferential sides thereof which abut lateral faces of respective adjacent base portions when the closure piece is disposed on the wheel, the closure piece having a predetermined circumferential distance between the lateral faces of the closure piece, whereby the predetermined circumferential force on the plurality of bucket assemblies may be obtained by appropriately sizing the predetermined circumferential distance between the lateral faces of the closure piece; increasing the distance between the lateral faces on the base portions of the plurality of bucket assemblies; and, decreasing the circumferential expanse of the wheel, such that the lateral faces of the plurality of bucket assemblies are subjected to the predetermined circumferential force.