Claims:WE CLAIM:

1. A device (10) for salvaging sealing rubbers used in hydraulic testing of high pressure turbines outer casings, the said device comprising:
two halves or semi-circular clamping ring portion 1, 2 having plurality of lifting plate 3 arranged in circular array and each lifting plate 3 in turn having a threaded hole 7 at the centre;
each semi-circular clamp portion 1, 2 having plurality of welded clamping lugs protruding from opposite sides at the end of each semi-circular portions 1, 2;
and a fastener, such as a I - bolt 4, inserted through hole 7 in clamping lug of semi-circular welded portions 1, 2 and engages the hole 7 in clamping lug of semi-circular portions.
2. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bolts 4, having head that have drive surfaces for engagement by a tool, such as a socket of an air impact wrench.
3. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein bolts 4 are retained with clamp portion by engaging a nut 5 or retention devices.
4. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein rib 6 is provided to enhance operational strength to the device.
5. A method of using the device (10), comprising
Loosely clamping ring-portion 1, 2 to each other through fastening members 4, 5;
lifting the device (10) through I-bolts 4 threadedly connected to threaded hole 7 of plate 3 of each semi-circular clamping ring portion 1, 2 and mounting on vertically standing anchor;
threadedly clearance fitting the device, through fastening members 4,5, on vertically standing anchor bolt outer diameter; and
pushing out the rubber sealing by applying balanced axial pressure on the device through plurality of wire rope slings fixed in the I-bolts (4).

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein to prevent damage to rotor surface during the process of pushing out rubber sealing, a rubber sheet is glued on the inner radius of each semi-circular portions 1, 2 through an adhesive.
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention, in general, relates to a device for salvaging high priced sealing rubber used in the hydraulic testing of high pressure turbine outer casings. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fixture for lifting the sealing rubber from the anchor bolt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] In general, a steam turbine has a structure that allows high pressure and high temperature steam, which is generated from a steam generator, such as a boiler, to collide with a turbine blade, thereby rotating a shaft by an impulse or a reaction of the turbine blade.

[003] The steam turbine includes a steam inlet pipe that supplies steam, a high pressure casing that surrounds a rotor and blade rotated by the steam. In addition, the high pressure turbine casing is coupled to a main steam inlet to introduce the high temperature and high pressure steam into the high pressure casing and a main steam entrance is formed in the high pressure casing to couple the main steam inlet to the high pressure casing.

[004] The high pressure turbine casing, which is a pressure vessel that maintains internal pressure and vacuum pressure, is a structure that supports and protects internal parts of a turbine. In addition, the high pressure casing guides steam discharged from a main steam pipe.

[005] To this end, the high pressure casing is formed therein with a plurality of feeding holes corresponding to the main steam pipe and a plurality of high pressure (HP) inlets.

[006] Since the casing is used under high temperature and pressure operating conditions as described above, the high pressure casing is formed of a thick casting, and has a structure in which an upper casing is coupled to a lower casing through threaded means and to put is use, it is first subjected to a hydrostatic test in order to determine if the high pressure casing has the strength to withstand pressure greater than operating pressure.

[007] For hydrostatic testing, water is fed into the partitioned space (e.g., chamber) to test for water leakage, air tightness, and pressure.

[008] After the sealing member (or cylinder) is fixed into each main steam inlet so that the main steam inlet is sealed, the hydrostatic test is performed at about 260 bar pressure.

[009] In Steam Turbines, Outer Casing of high pressure (HP) and intermediate pressure (IP) turbines are hydraulically tested to check the casting strength. The outer casings of HP turbines are tested at pressure of around 260 bar. The whole setup is centered at an anchor bolt. There is a water inlet and water outlet through which the pressure is generated and maintained (through rate of flow) and hydraulic pressure test is conducted while holes and openings of an upper casing and a lower casing of the high pressure turbine are sealed. The test is conducted on a high pressure turbine upper casing and lower casing that are provided with plurality of supply holes formed with large diameter grooves and closing members connected to the plurality of supply holes through holding process to seal the supply holes, each of the closing members is fixed to each of the supply holes of the upper casing and the lower casing to enable a hydraulic pressure test to be conveniently carried out, and the closing members are easily connected and separated under the hydraulic pressure test. For performing hydraulic testing, the outer casing of said HP or IP turbine is placed on a fixture and the space between the fixture and anchor bolt is sealed by fitting a hydro fit rubber. After hydraulic testing, the casing is removed and as per prior art, these hydro fit rubbers are often cut and removed in absence of any provision for removing these sealing from the anchor bolt.

[0010] The rubber sealing used are very costly and provisions can be made through a fixture that can remove these hydro fit rubbers with any damage ensuring repeated use of such sealing.
[0011] According to the present invention, the foregoing and other disadvantages, shortcomings, inefficiencies and problems are overcome by providing a device and improved method of and means for salvaging sealing rubbers used in hydraulic testing of high pressure turbines outer casings.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The principal object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture for lifting and salvaging hydro fits rubbers from the anchor bolt first instance which enables the reuse of these rubbers.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to reduce the cost and wastage since salvaged rubbers will be used multiple times hence saving the cost of new rubbers.

[0014] A further object is to provide a fixture which can be dismantled easily after the assembly is done.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] According to the present invention, a device (10) for salvaging sealing rubbers used in hydraulic testing of high pressure turbines outer casings, comprises of two halves or semi-circular clamping ring portion 1, 2 wherein each portions 1, 2 have plurality of lifting plate 3 arranged in circular array and each lifting plate 3 have a threaded hole 7 at the centre. Each semi-circular clamp portion 1, 2 also have plurality of welded clamping lugs protruding from opposite sides at the end of each semi-circular portions 1, 2 and a fastener, such as a bolt 4, inserts through hole in clamping lug of semi-circular welded portions1, 2 and engage the hole in clamping lug of semi-circular portions. Bolts 4 have head that have drive surfaces for engagement by a tool, such as a socket of an air impact wrench. Preferably bolts 4is retained with clamp portion by engaging a nut 5 or retention devices. Rib 6 is provided to enhance operational strength to the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWNGS
The proposed invention will be better understood by the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0016] Figure 1 shows the illustrative view of the fixture for fixture for salvaging high priced sealing rubber used in the hydraulic testing of high pressure turbine outer casings, according to one embodiment of present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is described in detail below.

[0017] Referring now to the drawing more in detail wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various figures, it will be seen that one embodiment of the invention includes a device designated generally by the numeral and accordingly, a fixture 10 has been developed for lifting and safe removal of hydro fit sealing rubbers comprising mainly of:
Item 1: Clamping ring one half (1)
Item 2: Clamping ring second half (2)
Item 3: Plurality of Lifting plates (3)
Item 4: Plurality of Bolts (4)
Item 5: Plurality of Nuts (5)
Item 6: Plurality of Ribs (6)
Item 7: Hole on lifting plate (7)

[0018] Referring to figure 1, a device (10) according to the present invention, comprises of two halves or semi-circular clamping ring portion 1, 2 wherein each portions 1, 2 have plurality of lifting plate 3 arranged in circular array and each lifting plate 3 have a threaded hole 7 at the centre. Each semi-circular clamp portion 1, 2 also have plurality of welded clamping lugs protruding from opposite sides at the end of each semi-circular portions 1, 2 and a fastener, such as a bolt 4, inserts through hole in clamping lug of semi-circular welded portions 1, 2 and engage the hole in clamping lug of semi-circular portions. Bolts 4 have head that have drive surfaces for engagement by a tool, such as a socket of an air impact wrench. Preferably bolts 4 is retained with clamp portion by engaging a nut 5 or retention devices. Rib 6 is provided to enhance operational strength to the device.

[0019] Initially, the semi-circular clamping ring portions 1, 2 of the device are loosely fastened to each other through fastening members 4, 5 and the device in this condition is lifted through I-bolts threadedly connected to threaded hole 7 of plate 3 of each semi-circular clamping ring portion 1, 2 and is mounted on vertically standing anchor in a way that the device, in the same center axis as of the anchor bolt, is at position where the rubber sealing position is between the free end of anchor bolt and device itself.

[0020] At such a position, the device shall be threadedly tightened, through fastening members 4, 5, on vertically standing anchor bolt in such a manner that inner radius of the device and outer diameter of anchor bolt engages in a clearance fit. Thereafter, in order to force the rubber sealing apart from the anchor bolt and at the same time preventing any damage to anchor bolt, it is required to apply sufficient balanced axial pressure, by pulling the device with the help of crane through plurality of wire rope slings that can be fixed in the bolts which in turn is threadedly connected to threaded hole 7 of plate 3 of each semi-circular clamping ring portion 1, 2.

[0021] Additionally, in order to prevent damage to rotor surface during the process of pushing out rubber sealing, a rubber sheet can also be glued on the inner radius of each semi-circular portions 1, 2 through an adhesive having ideal strength properties resulting in substrate bonding of glued rubber sheet which is maintained over a long period depending on the existing and chemical environmental factors.

[0022] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology that has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the specification, the reference numerals are merely for convenience, and are not to be in any way limiting, the invention may be practiced otherwise than is specifically described.