Apparatus and method of removing abradable material from a turbomachine fan containment case

摘要

An apparatus (10) and method for removing an abradable material from an interior surface (16) of a fan containment case (14), without requiring removal of the fan containment case (14) from its engine (12). The apparatus (10) and method generally involve adjusting the elevation of a blast head (40) and centering a horizontal axis of rotation thereof with the fan containment case (14) to position the blast head (40) adjacent the abradable material on the case surface (16). An erosion media is then sprayed with the blast head (40) in a substantially radial direction relative to the horizontal axis of rotation of the blast head (40), such that the erosion media impacts and erodes the abradable material. The blast head (40) is rotated about the horizontal axis of rotation thereof so that the erosion media is sprayed at the abradable material along the entire circumference of the fan containment case (14).