Power system

Abstract

A method of using a gas turbine engine is provided. The method may include supporting a first portion of the gas turbine engine on one or more guide tracks extending in a first direction, the first direction being at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine. The method may also include moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine in the first direction on the guide tracks independently of a second portion of the gas turbine engine.

1 . A method of using a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
 supporting a first portion of the gas turbine engine on one or more guide tracks extending in a first direction, the first direction being at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine; and   moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine in the first direction on the guide tracks independently of a second portion of the gas turbine engine.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including, prior to moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine in the first direction on the guide tracks, operating the gas turbine engine to produce power while supporting the first portion of the gas turbine engine in a substantially fixed position from a base. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein supporting the first portion of the gas turbine engine on the one or more guide tracks includes
 releasing engagements fixing the position of the first portion of the gas turbine engine relative to the base; and   transferring the weight of the gas turbine engine to the one or more guide tracks.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including, prior to moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine in the first direction on the guide tracks, operating the gas turbine engine to produce power while suspending the first portion of the gas turbine engine from a base without support from the one or more guide tracks. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further including, prior to moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine on the one or more guide tracks, mounting the one or more guide tracks at least partially to the base. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , further including:
 prior to moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine on the one or more guide tracks,
 placing a support frame adjacent the base, and 
 mounting each of the one or more guide tracks across at least a portion of the base and across at least a portion of the support frame. 
   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine in the first direction on the one or more guide tracks includes moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine from above the base to above the support frame. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein supporting the first portion of the gas turbine engine on the one or more guide tracks includes supporting at least a portion of the weight of the first portion of the gas turbine engine with a support that includes a first portion connected to the gas turbine engine and a second portion connected to at least one of the guide tracks, the method further including moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine and the first portion of the support in a second direction relative to the second portion of the support. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine and the first portion of the support in a second direction relative to the second portion of the support includes moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine away from the second portion of the gas turbine engine. 
   
   
       11 . A system for moving one or more portions of a gas turbine engine relative to a base that supports the gas turbine engine during operation, the system comprising:
 one or more guide tracks for mounting to the base and supporting one or more portions of the gas turbine engine only when the gas turbine engine is shut down; and   one or more sliders for supporting one or more portions of the gas turbine engine from the one or more guide tracks.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , further including one or more brackets for connecting at least one of the one or more sliders to one or more support components that support the gas turbine engine from the base when the gas turbine engine is operating to produce power. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more guide tracks include a first guide track mounted to a support beam, wherein the support beam includes a downwardly opening aperture opposite the first guide track such that the first guide track and the support beam may be mounted across a vertical protrusion, with the vertical protrusion extending through the aperture. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more guide tracks include a first guide track having a cross-section with flanges that extend transversely outward relative to a longitudinal axis of the first guide track. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the one or more sliders includes a channel for receiving the first guide track, the channel including recesses that extend transversely outward relative to an axis of the channel for receiving the flanges of the first guide track. 
   
   
       16 . A method of using a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
 supporting the gas turbine engine from a base while operating the gas turbine engine to produce power;   supporting a first portion of the gas turbine engine on one or more guide tracks; and   while the gas turbine engine is shut down, moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine off of the base on at least one of the one or more guide tracks while leaving a second portion of the gas turbine engine supported on the base.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including:
 supporting the at least one guide track used to move the first portion of the gas turbine engine off the base above a support frame disposed beside the base; and   subsequent to moving the first portion of the gas turbine engine off of the base, transferring the weight of the first portion of the gas turbine engine to the support frame.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 supporting the gas turbine engine from the base while operating the gas turbine engine to produce power includes supporting the first portion of the gas turbine engine with a first engine support mounted to the base; and   supporting the first portion of the gas turbine engine on the one or more guide tracks includes transferring the weight of the first engine support from the base to the one or more guide tracks.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein transferring the weight of the first portion of the gas turbine engine to the support frame includes transferring the weight of the first engine support to the support frame. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 supporting the gas turbine engine from the base while operating the gas turbine engine to produce power includes supporting the first portion of the gas turbine engine with a first engine support mounted to the base; and   supporting the first portion of the gas turbine engine on the one or more guide tracks includes transferring the weight of the first engine support from the base to the one or more guide tracks.