FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to transport of belly-projected turbo-
generator stators of large capacity from manufacturer's works to the place of
installation. In particular the invention relates to a fabricated frame structure on
which a wound stator is mounted during transport. More particularly, the
invention relates a modular transport support device for transportation of large-
capacity turbo-generator with stator belly projecting below footings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Turbo-generator stator is one of the heaviest equipment in a power plant.
Transportation of the stator from the manufacturer's works to the place of its
installation requires i) selection of the mode of transport, which could be either a
trailer or a rail wagon, ii) loading the stator on the vehicle and unloading
therefrom and iii) assembly of an intermediate transport frame that fits on to the
trailer or rail wagon and allows the stator to be seated thereon. The size of the
stator consignment varies as per its power rating and type of its construction.
Some of the stators have a belly that projects upto its footings. In such a case, it
requires that a transport support device to be made such that it allows the stator
belly be accommodated within the transport device and at the same time allows
the stator to sit and anchored to the frame structure at the given locations.
Presently, the transport frame is tailor made to suit the particular type of stator
that sits on it. The size of the stator, height of the footings from the stator
bottom, and locations of the terminals constitute the influencing parameters
while designing and configurating the transport support device. Thus, for each
type of stator depending upon the capacity, a plurality type of support device is
to be designed and fabricated which increases the cost of manufacturing
including the delivery-time.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to propose a modular transport support
device for transportation of large-capacity turbo-generator with stator belly
projecting below footings, which is simple, modular, and interchangeable.
Another object of invention is to propose a modular transport support device for
transportation of large-capacity turbo-generator with stator belly projecting
below footings, which is enabled to adapt a single bridged assembly weldable to
a set of common frame elements consisting of wide flange beams by moving
together or moving away a specific wide flange beam pairs at four corners.
Still another object of the invention is to propose a modular transport support
device for transportation of large-capacity turbo-generator with stator belly
projecting below footings, which is capable to accommodate stators of varying
anchor bolt pitches.
A further object of the invention is to propose a modular transport support
device for transportation of large-capacity turbo-generator with stator belly
projecting below footings, which reduces costs and the transportation fabricating
time, including maintenance of safety of the stators.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention provides a modular transport support device formed of
standard structural elements joined together via a bridge structure made out of
standard channels. The length of the channels varies as per the length and width
of the stator consignment. In view of adaptation of a novel and innovative design
approach, configurating a transport support device becomes easier which
interalia reduces the manufacturing cost including the manufacturing cycle time
considerably.
According to the invention, the bridge assembly and the welding method
selected to weld the bridge assembly to the end structural elements enables
modularization and design standardization of the transport support device. Ease
of manufacture allows less control on the fabrication process. As the device is
made out of standard wide flange beams and channel pairs, the members
constituent remain capable of repetitive use to make transport support structures
applicable to a plurality types of generators with different ratings, with different
lengths, and varying anchor bolt locations. The invention allows availability of
transport support devices, upto certain generator ratings, ready at any instant.
The present invention provides a flexibility of making a transport support device
i) faster due to use of standard structural ii) easy to modify from one type of
stator to a support device suitable for another type of stator, iii) a single twin
channel bridge can be used in the transport support devices for a range of turbo-
generator stators.
The transport support device intended to ferry the tubro-generator stators from
manufacturer's works to the site of its installation comprises a plurality pair of
wide-flange beams such that two longitudinal and parallel to each other beams.
are fabricated and enjoined to two 'transversely located and parallel to each
other' fabricated beam through welding. The device essentially consists of four
corner blocks made out of a pair of wide flange beams joined together at right
angles. These blocks are located corresponding to the length and width of the
stator frame to be carried. The lengths of both the wide flange beams in the
longitudinal and transverse directions are maintained identical. These four blocks
at four corners are joined together by a twin channel bridge. The length of the
bridge in the longitudinal direction is selected based on the length of the stator
frame, while the bridge length in the transverse direction is selected based on
the width of the stator frame.
The twin channel bridge has two channels that run parallel to each other, joined
together with tie plates along the length. The channels are located such that its
web is in vertical direction and flanges in horizontal direction. The top flange of
the channels on either end is trimmed to a length corresponding to the length or
width of the stator frame. Minimum of 300 mm and maximum 1000 (wide flange
beam) length of one channel flange is gas cut and inserted below the wide
flange beam top flange. The configuration ensures use of same structural
members to allow use for stators of different sizes.
Each channel of the bridge is joined to the wide flange beam webs with 16 mm
plates sandwiched in between. This configuration ensures a clear gap of 48 mm
between the channels. This gap is used to insert the stator anchor bolts
anywhere along the length of frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Figure 1 - shows the elevation, plan and end view of the generator transport
support device according to prior art.
Figure 2 - is a two dimensional viewing of the transport device according to
the invention.
Figure 3 shows an I beam (wide flange beam) with a spacer plate welded,
to create a gap between the twin channels for enabling at least one
stator anchor bolts to be passed through.
6
Figure 4 - shows a twin channel bridge adapted to the transport device of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The prior art transport support device (shown in FIG.l) constitutes a fabricated
structure, tailor made from plates and sheets, to suit a particular type of
generator stator. Double plate structures are used in both longitudinal and
transverse directions according to prior art. Holes for anchoring the stator are
drilled on the transport support device as per the locations of the device on the
stator.
FIG.2 shows a transport support device as per invention. Wide flange beam pairs
(1,3) are arranged at each corner and the pair (1,3) art joined together by
welding. These pairs (1,3) of wide flange beams are located as per the size of
the stator that is to be transported. The space between these corner pair of
beams (1,3; 1,3) is joined with the aid of channel pairs (2,4).
In case, the device requires a higher height, a channel pair (2) is welded below
the wide flange beams (1,3). As the provision is available on the trailer or carrier
to place the transverse beams (3), in the transverse direction, the channel pair
(2) is welded on the transverse direction to make up the height of the stator.
The bridge assembly is made out of two channels (2). The flange portion of the
extreme ends of the channel (1) is trimmed out to accommodate the channel
pairs (2,4) between the flanges of the wide channel beams (1,3). A tie plate (6)
is welded in the bottom of flange (2,4) to join the channels (2,4) together.
According to the invention, the twin channel bridge forming an essential
structural element of the inventive transport support device, and comprises a
pair of standard channels run together parallel and joined together with the help
of tie plates (5) along the length. The corner blocks of the device consisting of
four pairs of wide flange beams joined together perpendicular to one another,
and support plates (6) are between the channel end (2) and the beam (1) to
which the channel (2) is joined. This arrangement imparts rigidity to the
structure and at the same time creates a gap (7) between the channel pair (2,4)
that facilitates anchoring of the stator to the transport support device.
The transport support device consists of at least one wide flange beam pairs
(1,3) on its four corners, joined together by the bridge structures, the twin
channel structure is disposed below the beam structure to adjust the height of
the transport support device for accommodating the stator.
The twin channel bridge enables a standardized design of transport support
device having variable bridge lengths, suiting to the length and width of the
stator consignments that sit on the device.
WE CLAIM
1. A modular transport support device for transportation of large-capacity
turbogenerator with its stator-belly projecting below the stator-footings, •
comprising:
- at least four corner blocks, each fabricated by rigidly joining one each
vertically and transversely disposed wide flange beam (1,3), the length of
the vertical and transverse beams being identical and selected
corresponding to the length and width of the stator respectively; and
- a twin-channel bridge for corner-joining said at least four corner blocks,
characterized in that the twin-channel bridge comprising a pair of channel
members (2,4) parallely disposed and joined along their length by a
plurality of support plates (6), the top flange of the channels configured
through trimming to match one of length and width of the stator enabling
interlocking the channel web below through the top flange of the wide
flange beam.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a gap (7) is maintained
between the channels (2,4).
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top flanges of the channel
members are trimmed to a length between 300 mm to 1000 mm.
4. A modular transport support device for transportation of large-capacity
turbogenerator with its stator-belly projecting below the stator-footings,
as substantially described and illustrated herein with reference to the
accompanying drawings.

A modular transport support device for transportation of large-capacity
turbogenerator with its stator-belly projecting below the stator-footings,
comprising at least four corner blocks, each fabricated by rigidly joining one each
vertically and transversely disposed wide flange beam (1,3), the length of the
vertical and transverse beams being identical and selected corresponding to the
length and width of the stator respectively; and a twin-channel bridge for corner-
joining said at least four corner blocks, the twin-channel bridge comprising a pair
of channel members (2,4) parallely disposed and joined along their length by a
plurality of support plates (6), the top flange of the channels configured through
trimming to match one of length and width of the stator enabling interlocking the
channel web below through the top flange of the wide flange beam.