Cooling sleeve

Abstract

A cooling sleeve includes a first end that extends to a second end, and at least one coolant inlet member. The cooling sleeve also includes a second sleeve portion. The second sleeve portion includes a first end section that extends to a second end section, and a coolant outlet member. The first and second ends of the first sleeve portion are operatively connected to corresponding ones of the first and second end sections of the second sleeve portion to form a continuous cooling zone. The coolant passing into the inlet member circulates through the cooling zone to create a localized temperature reduction.

1 . A cooling sleeve comprising:
 a first sleeve portion including a first end that extends to a second end, and at least one coolant inlet member; and   a second sleeve portion including a first end section that extends to a second end section, and at least one outlet member, the first and second ends of the first sleeve portion being operatively connected to corresponding ones of the first and second end sections of the second sleeve portion to form a cooling zone, wherein coolant passing into the inlet member circulates through the cooling zone to create a localized temperature reduction.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coolant inlet member includes a first coolant inlet member and a second coolant inlet member. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling sleeve according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second coolant inlet members project outward from the first sleeve portion. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end includes a first flange member and the second end includes a second flange member. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling sleeve according to  claim 4 , wherein the first end section includes a first flange element and the second end section includes a second flange element, the first flange member being operatively connected to the first flange element and the second flange member being operatively connected to the second flange element. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling sleeve according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seal member extending between the first and second ends of the first sleeve portion; and   a seal element extending between the first and second end sections of the second sleeve portion, the seal element joining the seal element to reduce axial escape of circulating coolant.   
     
     
         7 . The cooling sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve portion includes an outer sleeve section operatively connected to an inner sleeve section to form a first coolant passage section extending between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling sleeve according to  claim 7 , wherein the second sleeve portion includes an outer sleeve member operatively connected to an inner sleeve member to form a second coolant passage section. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling sleeve according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one coolant outlet comprises a plurality of openings formed in the inner sleeve member, the plurality of openings being fluidly connected to the second coolant passage section. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling sleeve according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a cold gun fluidly connected to the coolant inlet, the cold gun being configured and disposed to deliver a high velocity, low temperature fluid flow into the cooling sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . A method of cooling a component during an in situ heat intensive process, the method comprising:
 positioning a first cooling sleeve portion about a portion of the component, the first cooling sleeve portion having a coolant inlet member;   positioning a second cooling sleeve portion about another portion of the component, the second cooling sleeve portion including a coolant outlet member;   connecting the first cooling sleeve portion to the second cooling sleeve portion to form a cooling sleeve extending about the portion of the component;   circulating a flow of coolant into the coolant inlet member, about the component through a cooling zone defined by the cooling sleeve, and discharged from the cooling sleeve through an outlet member;   lowering a temperature of the component at the cooling zone; and   initiating a high temperature repair process on the component adjacent the cooling sleeve.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein guiding the flow of coolant into the continuous coolant sleeve comprises activating a cold gun operatively connected to the coolant inlet member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein activating the cold gun generates a high velocity low temperature coolant flow into the cooling zone. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein guiding the flow of coolant into the cooling zone comprises guiding the flow of coolant into a first coolant passage section defined between an inner sleeve section and an outer sleeve section of the first sleeve portion, and a second coolant passage section defined between an inner sleeve member and an outer sleeve member of the second sleeve portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: passing coolant from the first and second coolant passage sections onto the component. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: sealing an interface between the first and second cooling sleeve portions and the component. 
     
     
         17 . A generator rotor comprising:
 a plurality of winding sections;   a bearing land positioned adjacent one of the plurality of winding sections; and   a cooling sleeve arranged about the one of the plurality of winding sections adjacent the bearing land, the cooling sleeve including:
 a first sleeve portion including a first end that extend to a second end, and at least one inlet member; and 
 a second sleeve portion including a first end section that extends to a second end section, and at least one outlet member, the first and second ends of the first sleeve portion being operatively connected to corresponding ones of the first and second end sections of the second sleeve portion to form a continuous cooling zone, wherein coolant passing into the inlet member circulates through the cooling zone to create a localized temperature reduction. 
   
     
     
         18 . The generator rotor according to  claim 17 , wherein the first sleeve portion includes an outer sleeve section operatively connected to an inner sleeve section to form a first coolant passage section extending between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         19 . The generator rotor according to  claim 18 , wherein the second sleeve portion includes an outer sleeve member operatively connected to an inner sleeve member to form a second coolant passage section. 
     
     
         20 . The generator rotor according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one coolant outlet comprises a plurality of openings formed in the inner sleeve member and fluidly connected to the second coolant passage section.