COUPLED OUTLET VANE DEVICE/ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT

Abstract

A device for adjusting the angle of vanes of an outlet vane device of a compressor and to a method of assembling such a device is provided. The device includes multiple angularly adjustable vanes, each of which is mounted on a shaft in a housing. Each shaft has a lever which is guided using a slotted guide arranged on an adjusting ring such that the angular adjustment of the outlet vane device is coupled to an inlet vane device of the compressor, the vanes are first mounted onto the respective shaft, rollers are mounted on the respective lever, the slotted guides are mounted onto the adjusting ring, and the adjusting ring is mounted onto the inlet vane device. The shafts are mounted in the housing, and the levers are mounted onto the respective shaft. The inlet vane device is then mounted into the housing, the rollers being introduced into the respective slotted guide, whereby the angular adjustment is coupled.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the US National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2012/051735 filed Feb. 2, 2012 and claims benefit thereof, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The International Application claims priority to the German application No. 10 2011 003522.2 DE filed Feb. 2, 2011, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for the angular adjustment of vanes of an exit guide vane apparatus of a compressor, and also to a method for the mounting of such a device for angular adjustment.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Compressors, or fluid-compressing devices, are used in various fields of industry for various uses, in which it involves increase of pressure, or compression, of fluids, particularly (process) gases. Known examples of this are turbocompressors in mobile industrial applications, such as in exhaust gas turbochargers or in jet engines, as well as in stationary industrial applications, such as geared compressors or geared turbocompressors for an air separation plant.

In such a turbocompressor—operating continuously in its operating mode—the pressure increase (compression) of the fluid is brought about by a rotational impulse of the fluid from the inlet to the exit being increased by means of a rotating impeller of the turbocompressor, having radially extending vanes, as a result of the rotation of said vanes. Here, i.e. in such a compressor stage, pressure and temperature of the fluid increases, whereas the relative (flow) velocity of the fluid in the impeller reduces. In order to achieve a pressure increase or compression of the fluid which is as high as possible, a plurality of such compressor stages can be connected in series.

As constructional types of turbocompressors, a differentiation is made between radial compressors and axial compressors.

In the case of the axial compressor, the fluid to be compressed, for example a process gas, flows through the compressor in a direction parallel to the axis (axial direction). In the case of the radial compressor, the gas flows axially into the impeller of the compressor stage and is then deflected outward (radially, radial direction). In the case of multistage radial compressors, a flow deflection after each stage therefore becomes necessary.

Combined types of construction of axial and radial compressors, by their axial stages, draw in large volumetric flows which are compressed to high pressures in the adjoining radial stages.

Whereas single-shaft machines are used in most cases, in the case of geared compressors the individual compressor stages are grouped around a bull gear, wherein a plurality of parallel shafts, which in each case carry one or two impellers which are accommodated in scroll casings, are driven by a large pinion gear drive, that is say a bull gear.

For optimizing the flow guiding through the compressor, or through a compressor stage, and therefore for optimizing the performance of the compressor, or of the compressor stage, it is also known to connect an inlet guide vane apparatus (IGVA for short in the following text) upstream of the impeller and/or to connect an exit guide vane apparatus (EGVA for short in the following text) downstream of the impeller.

Such a geared compressor, a geared turbocompressor, of the Siemens Company with the designation STC-GC, used for air separation, is known.

It is also known that in the case of a geared compressor, for example for air separation, a large operating range in a characteristic map of the compressor tending towards smaller volumetric flows at almost constant pressure (turn-down operating range) is usually required.

If these geared compressors were to be designed for an exit pressure which corresponds to the required exit pressure at the operating points, the turndown operating range would be too small. Therefore, geared compressors as a rule are designed for a higher exit pressure so that the characteristic map (as a rule the swirl characteristic map) has a necessary width at the required exit pressure of the operating points.

However, the operating points of the geared compressors then lie a relatively long way from the efficiency maximum which usually lies in the proximity of the internal design point.

A possible improvement may be achieved if a flatter surge limit line characteristic, and consequently the necessary characteristic map width with higher efficiency, could be achieved.

In order to have an influence upon the characteristic map, it is known to alter an incident angle of vanes of an exit guide vane apparatus—exit guide vanes for short in the following text.

Such influencing of the flow pattern downstream of the impeller of a compressor, or of a compressor stage, needs to be matched to a flow guiding upstream of the impeller, i.e. in the inlet guide vane apparatus, which requires a coordinated, or combined, adjustment of inlet and exit guide vanes.

A slotted link is a gear element used in engineering for power transmission (slotted link guide).

The slotted link has a slot, bridge or a groove in which/on which a slide block is positively guided on both sides in order to convert a movement of the slotted link into a movement of the slide block. A transmission function (also coupling function) of the sliding block drive is determined by the characteristic of the guiding, i.e. by the characteristic of the slot, bridge or the groove, and can be freely selected within broad limits. The sliding block drive is used particularly for realizing complex transmission functions.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of disclosing a device for the angular adjustment of vanes of an exit guide vane apparatus of a compressor, which device improves upon the disadvantages of the prior art, is simple and inexpensive to realize and is also simple and inexpensive to mount or to install in a compressor, or in a compressor stage.

The object is achieved by means of the device for the angular adjustment of vanes of an exit guide vane apparatus of a compressor and also by means of the method for the mounting of such a device, with the features according to the respective independent claim.

The device for the angular adjustment of vanes of an exit guide vane apparatus of a compressor comprises a plurality of (angularly) adjustable vanes which are mounted in each case on a shaft in a casing, especially in a scroll casing.

The shafts have in each case an (adjusting) lever, or are connected in each case to an (adjusting) lever, which, using a slotted link, is guided especially via rollers which are mounted on the (adjusting) levers and guided in the slotted links.

The slotted links in turn are arranged on an adjusting ring (also link retaining ring in the following text), or are connected to an adjusting ring, or link retaining ring.

With adjustment of this adjusting ring, the vanes, or the incident angles of the vanes, can therefore be adjusted, corresponding to the adjustment mimic which is realized by the slotted link, as a result of which the incident flow onto the blades can be altered and influence exerted upon the characteristic map of the compressor.

When the device is being installed in the casing of the compressor—and when the angular adjustment of the exit guide vane apparatus (EGVA) is being coupled to an inlet guide vane apparatus (IGVA), or to an angular adjustment of vanes of the inlet guide vane of the compressor—the vanes of the exit guide vane apparatus are first of all mounted on the respective shaft, rollers are mounted on the respective (adjusting) lever and the slotted links are mounted on the adjusting ring—and the adjusting ring is mounted on the inlet guide vane apparatus.

The shafts are installed in the housing and the (adjusting) levers are mounted on the shafts.

After this, the inlet guide vane apparatus is installed in, or mounted on, the casing, wherein the rollers are introduced into the respective slotted link, as a result of which the coupling of the angular adjustment device of EGVA and IGVA is realized.

Preferred developments of the invention are to be gathered from the dependent claims.

Of particular advantage in the invention is that this realizes a very simple, inexpensive and flexible and also highly efficient adjustment mechanism for the vanes of the EGVA, which, furthermore, via coupling of the adjusting ring to the IGVA, or to the adjustment mechanism of the IGVA, can be linked to the IGVA adjustment—by means of an IGVA adjusting cylinder (combined IGVA-EGVA (angular) adjustment)—and as a result does not require an individual separate drive for the adjustment.

Combined, angular adjustments of the IGVA-EGVA, which can be coordinated with each other, and therefore a desired influencing of the characteristic map of the compressor (for optimizing its performance), become possible.

Furthermore, it proves to be advantageous that such a combined IGVA-EGVA adjustment mechanism can be arranged inside the casing out of view from the outside.

Via a flexible design of the slotted link, or of the slotted link guide—by simple machining processes—for example by the cutting machining of a groove or a slot in the slotted link and/or via an alignment of the slotted link on the adjusting ring, any coupling functions, or adjustment mimics—for the combined angular adjustment—can be realized.

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment it can be provided that the slotted link guide is formed as a slot, bridge or groove in/on the slotted link. In this case, it can preferably also be provided that a roller—which is mounted on the (adjusting) lever—is used as an element guided in the slotted link. It can especially preferably be provided, by means of cutting machining, to introduce a groove, especially a straight groove, in the slotted link, in which groove the guided element, or the roller, is then guided or moved.

With such straight grooves, or elongated holes, the production is simple, but the coupling of IGVA angles to EGVA angles (combined IGVA-EGVA adjustment) is still subject to angular functions. By corresponding machining, e.g. by milling, of guide surfaces, or roll surfaces (rollers guided in the slotted links as guided elements), in/on the slotted links almost any coupling functions can be realized.

Simple linear coupling functions, such as ramps or saw-tooth profiles with optional pitches, or “transmission ratios”, as well as complex non-linear couplings, can be realized in this way.

Therefore, it is also possible, for example, by incorporating a surface which is neutral (90°) to the roll circle of a roller which is guided in the slotted link, to decouple the combined IGVA-EGVA adjustment within desired angular ranges of the IGVA (decoupling or lost motion in certain ranges).

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the slotted link is screwed to the adjusting ring via an eccentric unit, or a multiplicity of eccentric units, for example consisting of an eccentric with an eccentric bolt, clamping screw and adjusting screw, especially via two eccentric units. Such a screwed fastening of the slotted link to the adjusting ring by means of the one eccentric unit or by means of the two or more eccentric units enables a simple and flexible alignment of the slotted link on the adjusting ring—and therefore exerts influence upon the coupling function. To this end, it can also be provided—by corresponding design of, for example, the casing or other elements with an access opening or the like—that the adjustment can also be carried out in the installed state, e.g. with a virtually closed scroll casing.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided to adjust the adjustment mimics, or the adjustment mechanism, by corresponding design and/or alignment of the slotted link in such a way that an angle step-down can be realized during the combined IGVA-EGVA angular adjustment. In other words, a larger angular adjustment of the IGVA vanes results in a smaller angular adjustment in the EGVA vanes.

In this way, for example the adjustment mimic can be adjusted, e.g. by means of a correspondingly aligned ramp as a slotted link guide, in such a way that an IGVA angular adjustment of 60° results in an EGVA angular adjustment of 45°.

Furthermore, the invention with its adjustment mechanism according to the invention proves to be advantageous to the effect that it is self-locking in the force direction of EGVA->IGVA, or against the adjustment direction IGVA->EGVA (i.e. an adjustment of the IGVA vanes also brings about the adjustment of the EGVA vanes via the coupling which is realized by means of the adjustment mechanism), especially within the range of a realized step-down. As a result, an additional clamping of the mechanism is unnecessary, which correspondingly simplifies the construction of a combined angular adjustment arrangement.

Also, the invention, especially as a result of its simple constructional design, enables the application or the use of commercially available plain bearings and rolling bearings for the support of movable elements in the invention.

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment provision can be made to guide the (adjusting) lever in/on the slotted link using a roller which is arranged on the (adjusting) lever. This roller, according to a further preferred embodiment, can be fastened or mounted—and locked using a locking ring, or a plurality of locking rings—on the (adjusting) lever by means of a plain bearing bush and a threaded pin.

By use of such bearing elements, a frictional proportion of the drive power which is to be applied can be minimized during the vane adjustment, especially during the combined vane adjustment. Also, as a result, i.e. by using such conventional bearing elements, the invention enables an inexpensive design of the angular adjustment arrangement.

Furthermore, it proves to be advantageous in the invention that the components according to the invention, such as the (adjusting) lever and/or the slotted link, can be constructed as small and/or simple turned and milled parts which make no further demands on a conventional machining.

Also, the invention can be used with an identical construction for left-hand and right-hand rotating compressors. Furthermore, it proves to be advantageous in the invention that it can be used or applied independently both of the vane number of the IGVA and of the blade number of the EGVA and as a result used or applied in a correspondingly flexible manner.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the adjusting ring, by connecting to an adjusting element of the IGVA, is connected for example to an adjusting ring of the IGVA or to the adjusting ring for the IGVA vanes. The angular adjustment of the IGVA vanes—by rotating the IGVA adjusting ring—therefore results in the (coupled or combined) angular adjustment in the EGVA vanes.

In a further preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the fastening of the vanes on the shaft is carried out using a sleeve, wherein the vanes, the sleeve and the shaft, via a pin, or a plurality of pins, especially a threaded pin and/or a dowel pin, can be held together in the axial direction.

From the rigidity point of view, this connecting of vanes to shaft, i.e. the fastening of the vanes on the shaft, is a critical area. During operation of the compressor, the vane arrangement is directly in contact with the fluid which is to be delivered since as a result of this influence is to be exerted upon the flow direction. As a result, the vane arrangement or the vanes is, or are, also subjected to occurring flow shocks and vibrations, or corresponding loads, especially at the limits of the operating range.

In order to take these loads into consideration, the connecting of vanes and shaft can be carried out in a solid manner via the (vane) sleeve. In an especially preferred embodiment, it is provided that the vanes, the sleeve and the shaft are held together in the axial direction via a central threaded pin. The vanes, the sleeve and the shaft can then be pinned together. By means of the pins in the vanes and in the sleeve, loosening of the central threaded pin is excluded at the same time. In the finally installed state, all the pins can be connected on the end face by adjoining components so that loosening in the operating state is excluded.

It also proves to be especially advantageous in the invention that it can be constructed in a way that it can be installed in a separable and therefore simple manner. In this way, a separability of the device at a connecting point between the (adjusting) lever and the slotted link, especially between a roller, which arranged on the (adjusting) lever, and the slotted link, is carried out. During installation, the inlet guide vane apparatus can be installed in, or mounted on, the casing so that the rollers are introduced into the respective slotted link.

Particularly in the case of large scroll casings, the installation may also be possible under the conditions of this separability.

To this end, in a preferred embodiment it can be provided that the slotted link and/or the roller which is arranged on the (adjusting) lever have, or has, an installation chamfer, especially as a lead-in aid.

In a further preferred embodiment, the compressor is a geared compressor, especially a multistage geared compressor, wherein in this case the angular adjustment according to the invention can be realized in one stage, or in a plurality of stages, of this geared compressor. The compressor, or the multistage geared compressor, can preferably be used for an air separation plant.

It proves to be especially advantage in the invention that this is also suitable for use in large scroll casings of compressors, especially of geared compressors, or compressor stages. Up to now, known constructions of angular adjustment arrangements of vanes have been provided for small scroll casings since in this case a scroll insert is used inside the scroll casing and an adjustment mechanism can be easily integrated therein and be separable for installation. The invention now also enables the use of an angular adjustment arrangement in large scroll casings.

Furthermore, the invention enables an increase of the efficiency of a compressor which is designed in conformance with the invention at highly rated operating points, as regards power, which lie in the partial load and/or overload range in the swirl characteristic map of the compressor. In particular, it proves to be greatly advantageous in the invention in this case that as a result of the realized angular adjustability the operating range of especially multistage compressors can be improved of extended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Represented in the figures is an exemplary embodiment of the invention which is subsequently explained in more detail.

In the drawing

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a scroll casing of a compressor stage of a geared compressor;

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a section through the scroll casing according to FIG. 1 with a combined exit guide vane apparatus (EGVA)/inlet guide vane apparatus (IGVA)/angular adjustment arrangement;

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of a further section through the scroll casing according to FIG. 1 with the combined EGVA-IGVA/angular adjustment arrangement;

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a section through the sectional drawing according to FIG. 3 with a slotted link mechanism of the combined EGVA-IGVA/angular adjustment arrangement;

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of a further section through the scroll casing according to FIG. 1 with the combined EGVA-IGVA/angular adjustment arrangement;

FIG. 6 shows a diagram of a further section through the scroll casing according to FIG. 1 with an eccentric unit for the screw fastening of the slotted link to a slotted-link retaining ring (EGVA adjusting ring) of the combined EGVA-IGVA/angular adjustment arrangement;

FIG. 7 shows a diagram of a vane-shaft-(adjusting) lever unit of the combined EGVA-IGVA/angular adjustment arrangement;

FIG. 8 shows a diagram of a screw fastening of the vanes to the shaft of the vane-shaft-(adjusting) lever unit according to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a diagram of a fastening of the (adjusting) lever on the shaft and also a bearing arrangement of the roller on the (adjusting) lever of the vane-shaft-(adjusting) lever unit according to FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Exemplary embodiment: coupled or combined exit guide vane apparatus (EGVA)/inlet guide vane apparatus (IGVA)/angular adjustment arrangement of a compressor stage with a scroll casing (with installation sequence)

Construction

FIG. 1 shows a scroll casing 101 of a compressor stage 100 of a multi-shaft geared compressor for an air separation plant.

This compressor stage 100 first of all features the conventional construction of a compressor stage 100, which is arranged in a scroll casing 101, having an impeller, an inlet guide vane apparatus (IGVA) 103 connected upstream of the impeller and an exit guide vane apparatus (EGVA) 102 connected downstream of the impeller.

However, in this compressor stage 100 an angular adjustment of vanes of the IGVA 29 is coupled to an angular adjustment of vanes of the EGVA 11 via an adjustment mechanism 4 or adjustment mimic.

Represented in the following FIGS. 2 to 9 are further details of this adjustment mechanism 4, or adjustment mimic, i.e. of the coupled exit guide vane apparatus

(EGVA)/inlet guide vane apparatus (IGVA)/angular adjustment arrangement, which is accommodated in the scroll casing 101.

In order to enable the angular adjustment, or a rotation, of EGVA vanes 11, each of these EGVA vanes 11 is mounted on an individual shaft 12 in the scroll casing 101 (FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 7 to 9).

From the rigidity point of view, this connection of EGVA vanes 11 to shaft 12 (FIGS. 7 and 8), i.e. the fastening of the EGVA vanes 11 on the shaft 12, is a critical area. During operation of the compressor, this vane arrangement 1 is directly in contact with the fluid which is to be delivered. As a result, the vane arrangement 1, or the EGVA vanes 11, is, or are, subjected to occurring flow shocks and vibrations, or corresponding loads, especially at the limits of the operating range.

In order to take these loads into consideration, the connecting of the EGVA vanes 11 to the shaft 12 is carried out in a solid manner via a (vane) sleeve 14. The vanes 11, the sleeve 14 and the shaft 12 are held together in this case in the axial direction via a central threaded pin 17. The vanes 11, the sleeve and the shaft 12 are then pinned together (FIG. 8).

By means of the pins 110 in the vane 11 and in the sleeve 14, loosening of the central threaded pin 17 is excluded at the same time.

In the finally installed state, all the pins 110 are connected, or overlapped, on the end face by adjacent components so that a loosening in the operating state is excluded.

Seated on the shafts 12 in each case—being pinned to the shafts 12—are roller levers, or adjustment levers 15, which via rollers 13 engage in slotted links 24. To this end, the slotted links 24 have straight elongated holes 26 in which these rollers 13 are guided in each case (FIGS. 2 to 6).

FIG. 9 shows the bearing arrangement of such a roller 13 on the roller lever 15 in detail. The roller 13 is seated on a plain bearing bush 16 which in turn is mounted on a threaded pin 17 and locked there by a ring 18 and also by a locking ring 19. The threaded pin 17 is screwed to the roller lever 15 as far as it will go and locked there via a dowel pin 110.

The slotted links 24, via two eccentric units 3 which are accommodated in a slotted-link retaining ring 23, are fixedly connected, or screwed, in each case to this slotted-link retaining ring (EGVA adjusting ring) 23 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

FIG. 5 shows such an eccentric unit 3 in detail. The eccentric unit 3 has an eccentric 31 with two holes 37. Via the first hole 37, the clamping and fixing of the slotted link 24 is carried out. To this end, the eccentric 31 has there an eccentric bolt 32, which is connected to the slotted link 24, a locking ring 34 securing this eccentric bolt 32, an installation cone 33 and also a cylindrical screw 25 via which the clamping and fixing is carried out. Via the second hole 37, the adjustment of the eccentric 31 is carried out, i.e. the alignment of the slotted link 24 on the slotted-link retaining ring 23. To this end, the eccentric 31 has there a cylindrical screw 25 via which the adjustment is carried out by rotation of the eccentric 31 in the slotted-link retaining ring 23.

The slotted-link retaining ring 23, via a construction consisting of a plurality of ring carriers 21, which are distributed over the circumference of the slotted-link retaining ring 23, with cylindrical screws 25 and spacer cylinders 22, is fixedly connected, or screwed, in turn to an adjusting ring of the IGVA (IGVA adjusting ring) 27 (FIG. 3).

If the IGVA angle, i.e. the angular position of the IGVA vanes 29 and therefore the incident flow of the IGVA 103, is adjusted, then the IGVA adjusting ring 27 is rotated. The EGVA vane arrangement 1, 11 executes this rotation according to the step-up/step-down in the slotted links 24 and in the roller levers 15.

Separability of the Adjustment Mechanism

In this adjustment mechanism, or adjustment mimic 3, the roller levers 15 are connected to the scroll casing 101 and the slotted-link retaining ring 24 is connected to the suction flange 105. Since these components are installed one after the other on the gear case, the adjustment mimic 3 is constructed in a correspondingly separable manner.

The separation of the adjustment mimic 3 is carried out at the contact points of rollers 13 and slotted links 24. For this purpose, slotted links 24 and rollers 13 are provided with installation chamfers 39 as lead-in aids.

Installation Sequence

Pre-Assembly of (Guide) Vane Unit 1

Pre-Assembly of Shaft 12 and Vanes 11

For the vane arrangement 1 of the EGVA 102, the vane sleeve 14 is first of all seated on the EGVA shaft 12 and screwed to the vane 11 via the threaded pin 17.

Radial and axial dowel pins 110 for the positional locking of vanes 11 and EGVA shaft 12 are then drilled and inserted.

Pre-Assembly of Roller Levers 15

The roller 13, the plain bearing bush 16 and the ring 18 are fastened on the threaded pin 17 by the locking ring 19. This threaded pin is screwed into the roller lever 15 as far as it will go, then drilled and locked via dowel pins 110.

Pre-assembly of Slotted Links 24 on the Inlet Guide Vane Apparatus (IGVA) 103

For preparation of the slotted-link retaining ring 23, two eccentric units 3 with a slotted link 24 are screwed into this in each case. In this case, the locking screws 25 are only loosely screwed in. The tightening down and therefore the clamping is carried out after the adjustment of the slotted link position (cf. point 4.).

On the IGVA 103, the ring carriers 21 with cylindrical screws 25 and spacer cylinders 22 are to be fastened radially on the IGVA adjusting ring 27. The pre-assembled slotted-link retaining ring 23 is then screwed to the ring carriers 21.

Installation of Guide Vane Units 1 in the Scroll Casing 101 (0° in Relation to Each Other)

In the scroll casing 101, holes which correspond to the neutral and limit positions of the EGVA vane arrangement 1 are introduced in the subsequent locating face of the diffuser disk 106.

The adjustment is carried out without diffuser disk, wherein in the final state the diffuser disk covers the adjustment hole. Therefore, the flow space is smooth and at the same time the adjustment holes are available for later alignment operations.

For installation, the plain bearing bushes 16 are first of all to be seated in the shaft seats 28 in the scroll casing 101. The pre-assembled guide vane units 1 are then fitted from the scroll rear side (collar side) and the vanes 11 are located on the pins.

The pre-assembled roller levers 15 are then seated on the shafts 12 and aligned circularly. This adjustment is fixed via the pre-assembly thread 38 of the roller levers 15.

Roller levers 15 and EGVA shafts 12 are then pinned together. Therefore, the actuating torque can be transmitted and the guide vane units 1 are locked axially.

Final Adjustments of EGVA Angle/IGVA Angle (Culminating Point of the Adjustment Mechanism 3)

For the final adjustment, the finish-machined gear case is attached to the scroll casing 101. For reasons of accessibility, pinion shaft and contour/inlet ring are omitted.

The locating pins for the EGVA neutral position are removed and the suction flange 105 and attached IGVA 103 are axially inserted with the slotted link attachments. All the rollers 103 slide into their respective slotted link 24 in the process.

The IGVA 103 is to be manually moved into its greatest co-swirl position (85°). As a result of the coupling, the EGVA vanes 11 are optionally adjusted.

These vanes are to be brought into their first limit position via the eccentric 31 (according to the coupling principle). Accessibility is provided for the adjustment tool, in this case a hexagon socket key in the spherical head, via the adjustment holes 107 in the suction flange 105.

For checking the EGVA angular position, the holes and the locating pins in the scroll casing 101 (locating face of diffuser disk 106) are used.

After this, the IGVA 103 is brought manually into its greatest counter-swirl position (−35°). As a result, the EGVA vanes 11 are once again adjusted. Also, this second position of the EGVA vanes 11 is again adjusted via the eccentric 31 according to the nominal position.

For locking the adjustments, all eccentric units 3 are then clamped in the slotted-link retaining ring 23 via their cylindrical screws 25.

After removal of the suction flange 105 with IGVA attachments 103, the slotted links 24 with the slotted-link retaining ring 23 are drilled and pinned.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A radial geared compressor, with a compressor stage comprising:

an inlet guide vane apparatus with a plurality of vanes which are angularly adjustable by means of an angular adjustment arrangement;

an exit guide vane apparatus with a plurality of vanes which are angularly adjustable by means of an angular adjustment arrangement;

a device for the coupled angular adjustment of the vanes of the exit guide vane apparatus and of the vanes of the inlet guide vane apparatus of the compressor stage of the geared compressor,

wherein the geared compressor includes a plurality of compressor stages which are grouped around a bull gear,

wherein the geared compressor has a plurality of parallel shafts which in each case carry one or two impellers which is, or are, accommodated in scroll casings,

wherein the plurality of parallel shafts are driven by the bull gear,

wherein the vanes of the exit guide vane apparatus are mounted in each case on a shaft in a casing of the compressor stage and the shafts have in each case an adjusting lever which is guided using a slotted link,

wherein the slotted links are arranged on an adjusting ring of the exit guide vane apparatus so that with adjustment of the adjusting ring the angular adjustment of the vanes of the exit guide vane apparatus is realized, and

wherein the adjusting ring of the exit guide vane apparatus is connected to the inlet guide vane apparatus in such a way that the adjustment of the adjusting ring of the exit guide vane apparatus is coupled to the angular adjustment of the vanes of the inlet guide vane apparatus.

12. The geared compressor with a compressor stage as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the adjusting ring of the exit guide vane apparatus is connected to an adjusting ring of the inlet guide vane apparatus by means of which, during its adjustment, the angular adjustment of the vanes of the inlet guide vane apparatus is realized.

13. The geared compressor with a compressor stage as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the adjusting lever is guided in the slotted link using a roller which is arranged on the lever.

14. The geared compressor with a compressor stage as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the slotted link has an elongated hole and includes a surface which is neutral to a roll circle of a roller which is arranged on the lever and guided in the slotted link.

15. The geared compressor with a compressor stage as claimed in claim 14,

wherein the slotted link has a straight elongated hole or includes a surface which is neutral to a roll circle of a roller which is arranged on the lever and guided in the slotted link.

16. The geared compressor with a compressor stage as claimed in claim 11,

wherein fastening of the vanes of the exit guide vane apparatus on the shaft is carried out using a sleeve, and

wherein the sleeve and the shaft are held together in the axial direction via a threaded pin.

17. The geared compressor with a compressor stage as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the device for the angular adjustment is of a separable construction, the separability being carried out at a connecting point between the adjusting lever and the slotted link.

18. The geared compressor with a compressor stage as claimed in claim 17,

wherein the separability is carried out between a roller, which is arranged on the adjusting lever, and the slotted link.

19. The geared compressor with a compressor stage as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the slotted link or a roller, which is arranged on the adjusting lever, have, or has, an installation chamfer.

20. The geared compressor with a compressor stage as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the slotted link and a roller, which is arranged on the adjusting lever, have, or has, an installation chamfer.

21. The geared compressor with a compressor stage as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the casing is a scroll casing.

22. The geared compressor with a compressor stage as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the geared compressor is a multistage geared compressor, used for an air separation plant.

23. A method for the mounting of the compressor stage of a geared compressor with a radial compressor stage as claimed in claim 1 with coupling of the angular adjustment of the exit guide vane apparatus to the angular adjustment of the inlet guide vane apparatus of the compressor stage of the geared compressor, comprising:

mounting the plurality of vanes of the exit guide apparatus on the respective shaft and a plurality of rollers are mounted on the respective adjusting lever;

mounting the slotted links on the adjusting ring and the adjusting ring is mounted on the inlet guide vane apparatus;

installing the shafts in the casing and the adjusting levers are mounted on the respective shaft; and

installing the inlet guide vane apparatus in the casing, wherein the plurality of rollers are introduced into the respective slotted link, as a result of which the coupling is brought about.