Methods and apparatus for coupling honeycomb seals to gas turbine engine components

Abstract

A method for assembling a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing a vane sector and a honeycomb seal. The method further includes coupling the honeycomb seal to the vane sector utilizing a hydraulic tool.

1 . A method for assembling a gas turbine engine, said method comprising: 
 providing a vane sector;    providing a honeycomb seal; and    coupling the honeycomb seal to the vane sector utilizing a hydraulic tool.    
   
   
       2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising providing a honeycomb seal including a sealing portion and a seal track, wherein the sealing portion has a first width and the seal track has a second width that is different than the sealing portion first width.  
   
   
       3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising providing a honeycomb seal including a sealing portion and a seal track that is formed unitarily with the sealing portion, wherein the sealing portion has a first width and the seal track has a second width that is wider than the sealing portion first width.  
   
   
       4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein providing a vane sector further comprises providing a vane sector including a radially lower portion and at least one retaining track member coupled to the radially lower portion, wherein the at least one retaining track member includes a first portion that is substantially perpendicular to the radially lower portion and a second portion that is substantially perpendicular to the first portion and is substantially parallel to the radially lower portion.  
   
   
       5 . A method in accordance with  claim 4  further comprising: 
 providing a honeycomb seal including a sealing portion and a seal track formed unitarily with the sealing portion, wherein the sealing portion has a first width and the seal track has a second width that is wider than the sealing portion first width; and    inserting the seal track into a cavity defined by the at least one retaining track member and the radially lower portion.    
   
   
       6 . A method in accordance with  claim 5  further comprising crimping the at least one retaining track member using the hydraulic tool to facilitate positioning the retaining track member second portion at an acute angle relative to the retaining track member first portion and such that the retaining track member second portion contacts the seal track.  
   
   
       7 . A method in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the hydraulic tool includes a tooling assembly including a first portion and a second portion, said method further comprises: 
 coupling the tooling assembly first portion to the retaining track member second portion;    coupling the tooling assembly second portion to the vane sector radially lower portion; and    crimping the retaining track member with the hydraulic tool.    
   
   
       8 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising utilizing a foot pedal to control operation of the hydraulic tool.  
   
   
       9 . A method in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the vane sector lower portion is formed with a first radius and the retaining track member second portion is formed with a second radius, the tooling assembly first portion is formed with a radius less than the retaining track member second portion radius and the tooling assembly second portion is formed with a radius greater than the vane sector radially lower portion radius, said method further comprising coupling the tooling assembly first portion to the retaining track member second portion and coupling the tooling assembly second portion to the vane sector radially lower portion to facilitate crimping the at least one retaining track member onto the seal track with the hydraulic tool to facilitate securing the seal within the vane sector.  
   
   
       10 . A tool for assembling a gas turbine engine, said tool comprising: 
 a hydraulic mechanism; and    a tooling assembly coupled to said hydraulic mechanism, said tooling assembly configured to crimp a honeycomb seal to a vane sector.    
   
   
       11 . A tool in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said honeycomb seal further comprises a sealing portion and a seal track, wherein said sealing portion has a first width and said seal track has a second width that is different than said sealing portion first width, said tooling assembly configured to crimp said seal track to the vane sector.  
   
   
       12 . A tool in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said honeycomb seal further comprises a sealing portion and a seal track, wherein said sealing portion has a first width and said seal track has a second width that is wider than said sealing portion first width, said tooling assembly configured to crimp said seal track to the vane sector.  
   
   
       13 . A tool in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the vane sector further comprises a radially lower portion and at least one retaining track member coupled to said radially lower portion, wherein said at least one retaining track member includes a first portion coupled substantially perpendicular to said radially lower portion and a second portion coupled substantially perpendicular to said first portion and substantially parallel to said radially lower portion, said tooling assembly configured to crimp said at least one retaining track member such that said retaining track member second portion is positioned at an acute angle relative to the retaining track member first portion.  
   
   
       14 . A tool in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the seal is a honeycomb seal including a sealing portion and a seal track that is formed unitarily with said sealing portion, wherein said sealing portion has a first width and said seal track has a second width that is wider than said sealing portion first width; said seal track configured to be inserted into a cavity defined by said at least one retaining track member and said radially lower portion, said tooling assembly configured to crimp said at least one retaining track member such that said retaining track member second portion makes contact with said seal track.  
   
   
       15 . A tool in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said tooling assembly further comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein said tooling assembly first portion is configured to engage said retaining track member second portion and said tooling assembly second portion is configured to engage said vane sector radially lower portion, such that said tooling assembly first portion and said tooling assembly second portion crimp said retaining track member second portion towards said vane sector radially lower portion.  
   
   
       16 . A tool in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said vane sector radially lower portion is formed with a first radius and said retaining track member second portion is formed with a second radius, said tooling assembly first portion further comprising a radius configured to engage said retaining track member radius, and said tooling assembly second portion further comprising a radius configured to engage said vane sector radially lower portion radius.  
   
   
       17 . A tool in accordance  claim 10  wherein said tooling assembly further comprises at least one flange configured to support the vane sector.  
   
   
       18 . A tool in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising a foot pedal operatively coupled to said hydraulic tool such that utilizing said foot pedal controls said hydraulic tool.