Inspection Hole Plug for Gas Turbine Engine

This invention relates to gas turbine engines and particularly to the boroscope access port located in the turbine section of the engine.

A problem that has been perplexing and long standing is the cracking of the material in close proximity to the boroscope access hole. Heretofore, the access hole was plugged by seating the plug on a boss formed at the access hole on the exterior of the engine.

I have found that I can obviate or at least minimize this problem by the free float mounting of the plug together with the judicious seating arrangement, which lessens the likelihood of fluid in the respective casings to migrate to the other casings. This invention contemplates spring loading the plug which compensates for dimensional tolerance in the axial stack-up as well as providing support for the plug which allows relative motion between the inner most casing and the outer casing.

An object of this invention is to provide for a gas turbine engine improved plug means for the boroscope access port. The plug is free-floating and retained in position by resilient means adapted to maintain the plug in radial and axial sealing position relative to the respective openings in the concentric cases through which the boroscope passes through.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

The sole FIGURE is a partial view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating this invention.

As is shown in the sole FIGURE, the access port consisting of aligned holes 10, 12 and 14 in cylindrical depending member 16, intermediate casing 18, and inner casing 20, respectively, allows acceptance of the boroscope which is used in inspection of the turbine components. Cylindrical depending member 16 is joined to outer casing 17 by any suitable means, as welding, brazing and the like. Obviously, during engine operation the access port is sealed by plug 22 which forms the subject matter of this invention. Inasmuch as the access port passes through three different casings each containing fluid at different temperatures and pressures, the plug is in constant thermal stress. In addition, each casing grows relative to the other cases and causes distortions and relative movement. In accordance with this invention, the plug is allowed to float freely in the ports allowing movement of the cases relative to the plug without affecting the stress concentration. To this end, a conical spring 28 (Belville washer type) is mounted in retaining cap 30 and when cap 30 is bolted to boss 12 by the retaining bolts 32 (only two being shown) the spring is compressed to axially load the plug 22. An enlarged diameter section 34 intermediate the ends of plug 22 seats against a conventional cooling baffle 36 urging the axial seal 38 to seat against the outer surface of intermediate case 18. Radial seals 40 and 42 serve to prevent fluid from escaping from the casings 16 and 20 respectively.

C-seal 48 mounted in recess 50 surrounds and bears against plug 22 at the outer extremity in boss 12.

A cotter pin 52 may be mounted in a suitable opening in an external portion of the plug so that when cap 30 is removed, the plug and its cooperating members will be retained in a single unit.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments shown and described herein, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this novel concept as defined by the following claims.