ENGINE ENCLOSURE WITH PANEL RETAINER ASSEMBLIES

Abstract

An engine enclosure includes a frame, multiple roof panels, and multiple retainer assemblies. The roof panels are disposed on the frame and include one or more threaded receptacles. The retainer assemblies are configured to releasably secure the roof panels to the frame. The retainer assemblies include a clamp, and a threaded fastener. The clamp includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed adjacent to the frame. The second portion is substantially offset from the first portion and includes an aperture. The threaded fastener is disposed within the aperture and releasably fastened to the threaded receptacle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an engine enclosure and more particularly to an engine enclosure with panel retainer assemblies.

BACKGROUND

Conventional enclosures, such as those used in enclosing power generation systems, include large panels that are often bolted in place onto a frame. Hence, a position of the panels with respect to the frame may be fixed. Thus, variations or adjustments to the configuration of the conventional enclosures may be limited.

U.S Publication No. 2012/0073215 A1 relates to an enclosure for a power generation system. The enclosure includes sidewalls and a roof extending generally transverse to the sidewalls. The enclosure further includes latches associated with one of the roof or a sidewall, and engagement features associated with the other of the roof or a sidewall. Each of the latches is configured to engage one of the engagement features and releasably fasten the roof to the sidewalls.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an engine enclosure including a frame, multiple roof panels, and multiple retainer assemblies. The roof panels are disposed on the frame and include one or more threaded receptacles. The retainer assemblies are configured to releasably secure the roof panels to the frame. The retainer assemblies include a clamp, and a threaded fastener. The clamp includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed adjacent to the frame. The second portion is substantially offset from the first portion and includes an aperture. The threaded fastener is disposed within the aperture and releasably fastened to the threaded receptacle.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a power system including an engine and the engine enclosure. The engine enclosure includes the frame, the roof panels, and the retainer assemblies. The frame is disposed around the engine. The roof panels are disposed on the frame and include the threaded receptacles. The retainer assemblies are configured to releasably secure the roof panels to the frame. The retainer assemblies include the clamp, and the threaded fastener. The clamp includes the first portion and the second portion. The first portion is disposed adjacent to the frame. The second portion is substantially offset from the first portion and includes the aperture. The threaded fastener is disposed within the aperture and releasably fastened to the threaded receptacle.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of installing a power system. The method includes positioning the frame around the engine of the power system. The method further includes positioning the roof panels on the frame. The method further includes positioning the first portion of the clamp adjacent to the frame. The method further includes positioning the second portion of the clamp adjacent to the roof panel. The method further includes axially aligning the aperture of the second portion of the clamp to the threaded receptacle of the roof panel. The method further includes positioning the threaded fastener within the aperture. The method further includes releasably fastening the threaded fastener to the threaded receptacle such that the roof panel is releasably secured to the frame.

Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a power system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2-3 show a bottom breakaway perspective view of the engine enclosure; and

FIG. 4 shows a method of installing the power system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to an engine enclosure with panel retainer assemblies. FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the power system 100 in which disclosed embodiments may be implemented. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the power system 100 includes an engine 102, and an engine enclosure 104. The engine 102 may be of any type. In one embodiment, the engine 102 may be a gas turbine engine used to drive a generator for power generation, or other mechanical assemblies such as a compressor. In another embodiment, the engine 102 may be a machine such as an electric motor used to perform mechanical work.

The engine enclosure 104 may be configured to enclose the engine 102. The engine enclosure 104 includes a frame 106, and multiple roof panels 108 disposed on the frame 106. The frame 106 is disposed around the engine 102. In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the roof panels 108 may be disposed on a top side 110 of the frame 106. In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the roof panels 108 may include a first end panel 112, a second end panel 114, and one or more intermediate panels 116 including openings 118, 120, and 122 respectively.

In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the power system 100 may include a ventilation system 124 connected to the engine enclosure 104. The ventilation system 124 may include a ventilation inlet 126 and a ventilation outlet 128 connected to the engine enclosure 104 at the openings 118, 120 respectively. The ventilation inlet 126 may be configured to draw air into the engine enclosure 104. The ventilation outlet 128 may be configured to exhaust air from within the engine enclosure 104. Air entering the ventilation inlet 126 may flow around the engine 102 and exit out of the engine enclosure 104 via the ventilation outlet 128. Therefore, the ventilation system 124 may be configured to ventilate the engine enclosure 104.

In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the power system 100 may include an engine air system 130 connected to the engine 102 via the opening 122 on the intermediate panel 116. The engine air system 130 may be configured to supply air to the engine 102.

In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the engine enclosure 104 may further include one or more side panels 132 including an opening 134. In another embodiment, the power system 100 may further include an engine exhaust system 136 connected to the engine 102 via the opening 134 on the side panel 132. The engine exhaust system 136 may be configured to remove combusted products from the engine 102.

In the preceding embodiments, it is disclosed that the openings 118, 120, 122 may be located on the end panels 112, 114 and the intermediate panels 116 respectively. However, a person having ordinary skill in the art may acknowledge that the locations of the openings 118, 120, 122 on the respective panels 112, 114 and 116 may be based on a position of the engine 102, the ventilation system 124 and the engine air system 130 with respect to the engine enclosure 104 such that the engine air system 130 and the ventilation system 124 may connect at appropriate positions on the engine 102 and the engine enclosure 104 respectively. Therefore, it may be noted that the locations of the openings 118, 120, 122 disclosed herein are exemplary in nature and may change depending on inter-relative positions of the engine 102, the engine enclosure 104, the ventilation system 124 and the engine air system 130.

In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the openings 118, 120, 122 on the end panels 112, 114 and intermediate panels 116 may be square in shape. In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the openings 134 on the side panel 132 may be circular in shape. Although it is disclosed herein that the openings 118, 120, 122, or 134 may be square or circular in shape, a person of ordinary skill in the art will acknowledge that any shape may be used to define the openings 118, 120, 122, and 134. Therefore, it may be noted that the shape of the openings 118, 120, 122, and 134 disclosed herein is exemplary in nature and does not limit the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a breakaway perspective view of the engine enclosure 104 exposing an underside of the roof panels 108 and the frame 106. The roof panels 108 include one or more threaded receptacles 138. In one embodiment, the threaded receptacles 138 may be tapped holes in the roof panels 108. In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the roof panels 108 may include one or more screw bosses 140 defining the threaded receptacles 138.

The engine enclosure 104 further includes one or more retainer assemblies 142 configured to releasably secure the roof panels 108 to the frame 106. The retainer assemblies 142 include a clamp 144, and a threaded fastener 146. The clamp 144 includes a first portion 148 and a second portion 150. The first portion 148 is disposed adjacent to the frame 106. The second portion 150 is substantially offset from the first portion 148 and includes an aperture 152. The threaded fastener 146 is disposed within the aperture 152 and releasably fastened to the threaded receptacle 138.

In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the threaded receptacle 138 may be located on the roof panel 108 between an edge 154 of the frame 106 and an edge 156 of the roof panel 108. Therefore, in this embodiment, the retainer assembly 142 may be correspondingly disposed between the edges 154, 156 such that the frame 106 may be trapped between the roof panel 108 and the first portion 148 of the clamp 144 upon fastening the threaded fastener 146 to the threaded receptacle 138.

In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the frame 106 may include a ledge member 158. Therefore, in this embodiment, the threaded receptacle 138 may be correspondingly located on the roof panel 108 such that the threaded receptacle 138 may be disposed proximal to the ledge member 158. Further, the first portion 148 of the clamp 144 may be disposed adjacent to the ledge member 158 such that upon fastening the threaded fastener 146 to the threaded receptacle 138, the ledge member 158 may be trapped between the roof panel 108 and the first portion 148 of the clamp 144.

In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the threaded fastener 146 may be a hexagonal bolt. In other embodiments, other threaded fasteners 146 commonly known in the art may be used to releasably secure the roof panels 108 to the frame 106. Therefore, it may be noted that the type of threaded fasteners 146 disclosed herein is exemplary in nature and does not limit the scope of this disclosure.

In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the retainer assembly 142 may further include a spring 160 and a washer 162 disposed between the clamp 144 and the threaded fastener 146. The spring 160 may be configured to axially bias the threaded fastener 146 away from the threaded receptacle 138 while the washer 162 may be configured to distribute a net force of the threaded fastener 146 on the spring 160.

In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, a cross section of the frame 106 may be square shaped. In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the cross section of the frame 106 may be I-shaped. In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the clamp 144 may further include a middle portion 164 extending between the first portion 148 and the second portion 150. In this embodiment, the middle portion 164 of the clamp 144 may be of a shape and size corresponding to the cross section of the frame 106 as shown in FIG. 3.

In other embodiments the middle portion 164 may be of a shape and size corresponding to the cross section of the ledge member 158. Therefore, a person having ordinary skill in the art may acknowledge that the shape and size of the middle portion 164 of the clamp 144 may be selected based on the cross section of the frame 106/ledge member 158. Further, the size of the middle portion 164 may be selected such that upon fastening the threaded fastener 146 to the threaded receptacle 138, the first and second portions 148, 150 of the clamp 144 abut the frame 106 and the roof panel 108 respectively thereby securing the roof panel 108 to the frame 106.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

FIG. 4 shows a method 400 of installing a power system 100. At step 402, the method includes positioning the frame 106 around the engine 102 of the power system 100. At step 404, the method further includes positioning the roof panels 108 on the frame 106. At step 406, the method further includes positioning the first portion 148 of the clamp 144 adjacent to the frame 106. At step 408, the method further includes positioning the second portion 150 of the clamp 144 adjacent to the roof panel 108. At step 410, the method further includes axially aligning the aperture 152 of the second portion 150 of the clamp 144 to the threaded receptacle 138 of the roof panel 108. At step 412, the method further includes positioning the threaded fastener 146 within the aperture 152. At step 414, the method further includes releasably fastening the threaded fastener 146 to the threaded receptacle 138 such that the roof panel 108 is releasably secured to the frame 106.

In an embodiment, the step 404 of positioning the roof panels 108 on the frame 106 may include moving the roof panels 108 such that openings 118, 120, and 122 associated with the roof panels 108 align with the engine air system 130 and the ventilation system 124.

Conventional enclosures, such as those used in enclosing power generation systems, include large panels that are often bolted in place onto a frame 106. Hence, a position of the panels with respect to the frame 106 may be fixed. In some cases, very few panels may be used to form an entire roof or sidewall of the enclosure system. Hence, these panels may be bulky and difficult to move by an operator. Thus, variations or adjustments to the configuration of the conventional enclosures may be limited.

An engine 102, such as a gas turbine engine, may include several auxiliary devices such as ducts, and air or fuel systems connected at specific/predetermined positions on the engine 102. Further, tight tolerances may be present between relative positions of the auxiliary devices and its subsequent positions on the engine 102. Therefore, the operator may be required to adjust a position of the roof panels 108 to near exact positions in order to line up and align the openings 118, 120, and 122 with the respective auxiliary devices.

During a typical assembly process, the engine 102 may be assembled first and the associated auxiliary devices may be connected to the engine 102 later. Therefore, the openings 118, 120, and 122 associated with the engine enclosure 104 may be configured based on the specific/predetermined positions of the engine 102 at which the auxiliary devices may be connected.

During assembly of the power system 100 disclosed herein, the operator may partially engage the threaded fasteners 146 to the roof panel 108. In an embodiment as shown in the FIG. 3, a play 166 may be defined between the clamp 144 and the frame 106 upon partially engaging the threaded fastener 146 to the threaded receptacle 138 on the roof panel 108. Therefore, in this embodiment, the play 166 may allow an operator to slide the roof panels 108 in a first direction A with respect to the frame 106 (as shown by line with arrows).

In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the threaded receptacle 138 may be located on the panel with an offset 168 from the edge 154 of the frame 106. Therefore, in this embodiment, the offset 168 may allow the operator to slide the roof panels 108 in a second direction B with respect to the frame 106 (as shown by line with arrows).

With reference to the preceding two embodiments, the operator may slide the roof panels 108 in one or more of the first and second directions A, B until the openings 118, 120, and 122 on the respective roof panels 108 (112, 114, and 116) line up and align with the engine air system 130, engine exhaust system 136, and the ventilation system 124. Thereafter, the threaded fasteners 146 may be fully fastened to the roof panel 108 by torque wrenching or other methods commonly known in the art such that the clamps 144 secure the roof panels 108 to the frame 106. Thus, a flexibility in configuring the engine enclosure 104 by the adjustable positioning of the roof panels 108 on the frame 106 may save the operator effort required in aligning the openings 118, 120, and 122 with the auxiliary devices and set up the power system 100 quickly.

While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machine, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. An engine enclosure including:

a frame;

a plurality of roof panels disposed on the frame, the roof panels including one or more threaded receptacles; and

one or more retainer assemblies configured to releasably secure the roof panels to the frame, the retainer assemblies including: a clamp including: a first portion disposed adjacent to the frame; and a second portion substantially offset from the first portion, the second portion including an aperture; and a threaded fastener disposed within the aperture and releasably fastened to the threaded receptacle.

2. The engine enclosure of claim 1, wherein a cross section of the frame is one of square shaped and I-shaped.

3. The engine enclosure of claim 1, wherein the clamp further includes a middle portion extending between the first portion and the second portion.

4. The engine enclosure of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a ledge member, wherein the first portion of the clamp is disposed adjacent to the ledge member such that the ledge member is trapped between the roof panel and the first portion of the clamp.

5. The engine enclosure of claim 1, wherein the roof panels include one or more screw bosses defining the threaded receptacles.

6. The engine enclosure of claim 1, wherein the retainer assembly further includes a spring and a washer disposed between the clamp and the threaded fastener.

7. The engine enclosure of claim 1, wherein the threaded receptacle is located on the roof panel between an edge of the frame and an edge of the roof panel.

8. A power system including:

an engine; and

an engine enclosure including: a frame disposed around the engine; a plurality of roof panels disposed on the frame, the roof panels including one or more threaded receptacles; and one or more retainer assemblies configured to releasably secure the roof panels to the frame, the retainer assemblies including: a clamp including: a first portion disposed adjacent to the frame; and a second portion substantially offset from the first portion, the second portion including an aperture; and a threaded fastener disposed within the aperture and releasably fastened to the threaded receptacle.

9. The power system of claim 8, wherein a cross section of the frame is one of square shaped and I-shaped.

10. The power system of claim 8, wherein the clamp further includes a middle portion extending between the first portion and the second portion.

11. The power system of claim 8, wherein the frame includes a ledge member.

12. The power system of claim 11, wherein the first portion of the clamp is disposed adjacent to the ledge member such that the ledge member of the frame is trapped between the roof panel and the first portion of the clamp.

13. The power system of claim 8, wherein the roof panels include one or more screw bosses defining the threaded receptacles.

14. The power system of claim 8, wherein the retainer assembly further includes a spring and a washer disposed between the clamp and the threaded fastener.

15. The power system of claim 8, wherein the threaded receptacle is located on the roof panel between an edge of the frame and an edge of the roof panel.

16. The power system of claim 8 further including an engine air system connected to the engine via openings on the roof panels.

17. The power system of claim 8 further including a ventilation system connected to the engine enclosure via openings on the roof panels.

18. The power system of claim 8, wherein the engine enclosure further includes one or more side panels including an opening, wherein an engine exhaust system is connected to the engine via the opening on the side panel.

19. A method of installing a power system, the method including:

positioning a frame around an engine of the power system;

positioning one or more roof panels on the frame;

positioning a first portion of a clamp adjacent to the frame;

positioning a second portion of the clamp adjacent to the roof panel;

axially aligning an aperture of the second portion of the clamp to a threaded receptacle of the roof panel;

positioning a threaded fastener within the aperture; and

releasably fastening the threaded fastener to the threaded receptacle such that the roof panel is releasably secured to the frame.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein positioning one or more roof panels on the frame includes moving the roof panels such that openings associated with the roof panels align with an engine air system and a ventilation system.