IP Library Granted Patent US 10,584,593
Granted Patent B2
US 10,584,593 · App. 15/791,464 · Granted Mar 10, 2020

Airfoil having impingement leading edge

Inventors: Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley (Manchester, CT); Carey Clum (East Hartford, CT); Timothy J. Jennings (West Hartford, CT)
Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
F01D5/186F01D5/141F01D5/187F05D2220/32F05D2240/121F05D2240/303F05D2260/201F05D2260/202
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,584,593
App. No.
15/791,464
Granted
Mar 10, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Airfoils bodies having a first end, a second end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge with a leading edge channel having a first channel wall and a second channel wall that join at a channel base to define the leading edge channel. The leading edge channel extends in a radial direction along the leading edge. A first leading edge impingement cavity is located proximate the leading edge and the first channel wall defines a portion of the first leading edge impingement cavity and a second leading edge impingement cavity with the second channel wall forming a portion of the second leading edge impingement cavity. A first leading edge impingement hole is formed in the first channel wall and angled such that air flowing from the first leading edge impingement cavity and through the first leading edge impingement hole impinges upon a portion of the second channel wall.

Claims (30)

1. An airfoil for a gas turbine engine, the airfoil comprising:

an airfoil body extending in a radial direction from a first end to a second end, and extending axially from a leading edge to a trailing edge;

a leading edge channel formed in the leading edge of the airfoil body, the leading edge channel having a first channel wall and a second channel wall that join at a channel base to define the leading edge channel, the leading edge channel extending in a radial direction along the leading edge of the airfoil body;

a first leading edge impingement cavity located within the airfoil body proximate the leading edge, wherein the first channel wall forms a portion of the airfoil body defining the first leading edge impingement cavity;

a second leading edge impingement cavity located within the airfoil body proximate the leading edge, wherein the second channel wall forms a portion of the airfoil body defining the second leading edge impingement cavity; and

a first leading edge impingement hole formed in the first channel wall and angled such that air flowing from the first leading edge impingement cavity and through the first leading edge impingement hole impinges upon a portion of the second channel wall.

2. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the first end is a root of the airfoil body and the second end is a tip of the airfoil, wherein the leading edge channel extends less than a full length of a distance between the root and the tip along the leading edge of the airfoil body.

3. The airfoil of claim 1 , further comprising a second leading edge impingement hole formed in the second channel wall and angled such that air flowing from the second leading edge impingement cavity and through the second leading edge impingement hole impinges upon a portion of the first channel wall.

4. The airfoil of claim 3 , wherein the leading edge channel comprises a plurality of first leading edge impingement holes formed in the first channel wall, wherein the plurality of first leading edge impingement holes extend in an array radially along the first channel wall, and wherein the leading edge channel comprises a plurality of second leading edge impingement holes formed in the second channel wall, wherein the plurality of second leading edge impingement holes extend in an array radially along the second channel wall.

5. The airfoil of claim 1 , further comprising a leading edge feed cavity arranged aft of the first and second leading edge impingement cavities and arranged to supply air into at least one of the first leading edge impingement cavity and the second leading edge impingement cavity.

6. The airfoil of claim 5 , wherein the leading edge feed cavity supplies air into both of the first leading edge impingement cavity and the second leading edge impingement cavity.

7. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the leading edge channel had a depth in an axial direction that is at least twice a diameter of the first leading edge impingement hole.

8. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the leading edge channel comprises a plurality of first leading edge impingement holes formed in the first channel wall, wherein the plurality of first leading edge impingement holes extend in an array radially along the first channel wall.

9. The airfoil of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional channel formed on an exterior surface of the airfoil and extending radially.

10. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the airfoil body forms a blade of a turbine section of the gas turbine engine.

11. A gas turbine engine comprising:

an airfoil having an airfoil body extending in a radial direction from a first end to a second end, and extending axially from a leading edge to a trailing edge;

a leading edge channel formed in the leading edge of the airfoil body, the leading edge channel having a first channel wall and a second channel wall that join at a channel base to define the leading edge channel, the leading edge channel extending in a radial direction along the leading edge of the airfoil body;

a first leading edge impingement cavity located within the airfoil body proximate the leading edge, wherein the first channel wall forms a portion of the airfoil body defining the first leading edge impingement cavity;

a second leading edge impingement cavity located within the airfoil body proximate the leading edge, wherein the second channel wall forms a portion of the airfoil body defining the second leading edge impingement cavity; and

a first leading edge impingement hole formed in the first channel wall and angled such that air flowing from the first leading edge impingement cavity and through the first leading edge impingement hole impinges upon a portion of the second channel wall.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein the first end is a root of the airfoil body and the second end is a tip of the airfoil, wherein the leading edge channel extends less than a full length of a distance between the root and the tip along the leading edge of the airfoil body.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , further comprising a second leading edge impingement hole formed in the second channel wall and angled such that air flowing from the second leading edge impingement cavity and through the second leading edge impingement hole impinges upon a portion of the first channel wall.

14. The gas turbine engine of claim 13 , wherein the leading edge channel comprises a plurality of first leading edge impingement holes formed in the first channel wall, wherein the plurality of first leading edge impingement holes extend in an array radially along the first channel wall, and wherein the leading edge channel comprises a plurality of second leading edge impingement holes formed in the second channel wall, wherein the plurality of second leading edge impingement holes extend in an array radially along the second channel wall.

15. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , further comprising a leading edge feed cavity arranged aft of the first and second leading edge impingement cavities and arranged to supply air into at least one of the first leading edge impingement cavity and the second leading edge impingement cavity.

16. The gas turbine engine of claim 15 , wherein the leading edge feed cavity supplies air into both of the first leading edge impingement cavity and the second leading edge impingement cavity.

17. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein the leading edge channel had a depth in an axial direction that is at least twice a diameter of the first leading edge impingement hole.

18. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein the leading edge channel comprises a plurality of first leading edge impingement holes formed in the first channel wall, wherein the plurality of first leading edge impingement holes extend in an array radially along the first channel wall.

19. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , further comprising at least one additional channel formed on an exterior surface of the airfoil and extending radially.

20. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein the airfoil is a blade of a turbine section of the gas turbine engine.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2017
From: PROPHETER-HINCKLEY, TRACY A.; CLUM, CAREY; JENNINGS, TIMOTHY J.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043929/0512 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190120063A1 · Apr 25, 2019