FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an end support clamp for eliminating
deformation and vibration of free standing LP turbine blades during tip end
cutting on vertical milling machine. More particularly the invention relates to a
design and manufacturing of an end support clamp for supporting the tip of the
Fir Tree Blades for eliminating the deformation and vibration of the tip as the tip
starts vibrating while tip cutting operation was carried out in VMC Machine.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Vertical milling machines are used for machining TIP cutting, Tip Copying & Tip
Thinning operation of Fir tree blades of LP turbine. These operations are
performed by solid carbide cutters. During the tip cutting operation of fir tree
blade tip of the blade is free as there is no support at the tip of the blade, while
cutters and tip vibrates resulting damage of the cutter body and breakage of tip.
This makes the operation expensive as the cutter and the tips are very costly.

Hence there exists a need to prevent this damage and breakage of cutter and tip
respectively.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to propose an end support clamp for
eliminating deformation and vibration of free standing LP turbine blades during
tip end cutting on vertical milling machine which is capable of eliminating the
same during the machining operation and preventing the damage of the cutter
body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
Fig.l - Shows the end support clamp according to the invention.
Fig.2 - Shows the base of the clamp fixed to the machine.
Fig.3 - Shows the part fixed to the base
Fig.4 - Shows the block fixed to slotted base
Fig.5 - Shows the vertical unit having a slot to accommodate unit (5)
Fig.6 - Shows the lower clamp part for clamping the blade tip

Fig.7 - Shows the upper clamp part
Fig.8 - Shows the end clamp support (C) clamping the blade tip according
to invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE
INVENTION
The end support clamp (C) consists of a base (1) measured 230 mm X 74 mm
X 40 mm having a recess (8) of 71 mm X 74 mm X 8 mm. The unit (2) having a
slotted portion (12) at the bottom, is bolted to this part (1) with two M-12 bolts
and is fixed in the slotted portion of base (1). The base (1) is fixed to the
machine.
The unit (2) is having a dimension 222 mm X 71 mm X 36 mm. Unit 2 has a
slot (12) at the middle. Unit (3) is fixed to the unit (2) by T-nut and a bolt of
M16. T-nut fits into the T-slots (1) of unit (2). The unit (3) is fixed to the unit (4)
by two M16 bolts which are fixed from the bottom of unit (4). The unit (4) is
fixed in the slotted portion (14) of unit (3) at the top. Unit (3) is made with
dimension of 210 mm X 50 mm X 94 mm. The unit (3) has a window slot (13)
cut to facilitate the bolt to fix the unit (4) to unit (3) at the bottom of unit (4).

Unit (4) has a slot (9) cut in the middle for allowing unit (5) to move up or down
as per requirement. Unit (5) is fixed to the slotted portion (9) of unit (4) with a
M16 bolt. Unit (5) is made with the dimension 225 mm X 40 mm X 82 mm. Unit
(6) is fixed with unit (5) with the help of a M16 bolt and the unit (6) has the
dimension as shown in fig.5. A spring (7) is disposed in between unit (5) and
unit (6) for adjustment in height by fixing the bolt (10) as per requirement in
blades (11) when the bolt (10) passing through the spring is threaded inside the
top face of unit (5). Since the height of the forged firtree blades rest on a bolt
present in between unit (5) and unit (6). The triangular notch present in unit (6)
helps in rigid clamping of the tip along with the total clamping structure. All six
units are made of EN-24 material. All are hardened and ground.

WE CLAIM
1. An end support clamp (C) for eliminating deformation and vibration of free
standing LP turbine blades during tip end cutting on vertical milling
machine, the said clamp (C) comprising;
a base (1) fixed to the machine base;
a unit (2) having a slotted portion (12) at the top for accommodating unit
(3);
a unit (3) having a slot (14) for accommodating unit (4) and having a
window slot for facilitating fixing of unit (4) to unit (3);
a unit (4) having a slot (9) for facilitating unit (5) to slide up and down;
a unit (5) fixed to unit (4) in the slot;
Characterized in that,
a unit (6) is disposed above unit (5) hinged with pin (15) and having a
spring (7) in between them for adjustment of height of the blade (11)
when the bolt (10) clamps the blade (11) with required force by
tightening it inside the threaded hole at the top of unit (5).

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the six units are having dimension
as (i) 230 mm X 74 mm X 40 mm
(ii) 222 mm X 71 mm X 36 mm
(iii) 210 mm X 50 mm X 94 mm
(iv) 70 mm X 38 mm X 254 mm
(v) 225 mm X 40 mm X 82 mm
(vi) 117 mm X 44 mm X 16.5 mm respectively.
3. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein all the six units are made of EN 24
material and hardened and ground.

ABSTRACT

An end support clamp for eliminating deformation and vibration of free standing
LP turbine blades during tip end cutting on vertical milling machine is made of a
base (1) fixed to the machine base, a unit (2) having a slotted portion (12) at
the top for accommodating unit (3), a unit (3) having a window slot (13) and a
slot (14) for accommodating unit (4) when unit (3) is fixed with unit (2) using T-
nut and a bolt. The T-nut fits into the T-slot P2 of unit (2). Unit (4) bolted to unit
(3), is having slot (9) for facilitating the unit (5) to move up and down. A unit 6
is placed over unit (5) with the help of a hinge pin (15), spring (7) and a bolt
(10) for clamping the blade (11). All units are hardened and ground.