IP Library Granted Patent US 11,639,685
Granted Patent B1
US 11,639,685 · App. 17/537,223 · Granted May 2, 2023

Blades including integrated damping structures and methods of forming the same

Inventors: Li Zheng (Niskayuna, NY); Nicholas J. Kray (Evendale, OH); Changjie Sun (Clifton Park, NY)
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
F02C7/00F01D5/16F01D5/18F01D5/26F05D2220/32F05D2260/96
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,639,685
App. No.
17/537,223
Granted
May 2, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

Blades including integrated damping structures are disclosed herein. An airfoil to be disposed within a flow path of a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining an axial axis, a radial axis and a circumferential axis comprising an airfoil body including a first face, a second face and a recessed portion formed in the second face, and an airfoil cap having a first surface, the airfoil cap disposed within the recessed portion, the first surface substantially flush with the second face.

Claims (39)

1. An airfoil to be disposed within a flow path of a gas turbine engine, the airfoil comprising:

an airfoil body including:

a first face; and

a second face including a recessed portion; and

an airfoil cap including a first surface, the airfoil cap disposed within the recessed portion, the first surface substantially flush with the second face; and

a joint formed by an interface between a first integral feature of the airfoil cap and a second integral feature of the recessed portion, the interface is oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first face.

2. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the joint acts as a frictional damper for the airfoil.

3. The airfoil of claim 2 , wherein the first integral feature is a first rib, the second integral feature is a second rib, and the joint is a slip joint.

4. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion of the second face includes a lip, the lip abutting a fourth face of the airfoil cap.

5. The airfoil of claim 4 , further including a wear-resistant coating disposed on at least one of the lip or the interface.

6. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the airfoil cap and the recessed portion define a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity having a first size and a first shape, the second cavity having a second size and a second shape, the first size different than the second size, the first shape different than the second shape.

7. The airfoil of claim 6 , further including a cell structure disposed in the first cavity, the cell structure including:

an external structure; and

an internal structure retained by the external structure, the internal structure slidable with respect to the external structure.

8. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a fan section; and

an airfoil disposed within the fan section, the airfoil including:

an airfoil body including:

a first face; and

a second face including a recessed portion; and

an airfoil cap including a first surface, the airfoil cap disposed within the recessed portion, the first surface substantially flush with the second face; and

a joint formed by an interface between a first integral feature of the airfoil cap and a second integral feature of the recessed portion, the interface is oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first face.

9. The gas turbine engine of claim 8 , wherein the joint acts as a frictional damper for the airfoil.

10. The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the first integral feature is a first rib, the second integral feature is a second rib, and the joint is a slip joint formed.

11. The gas turbine engine of claim 8 , wherein the recessed portion of the second face includes a lip, the lip abutting a fourth face of the airfoil cap.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein the airfoil includes a wear-resistant coating disposed on at least one of the lip or the interface.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 8 , wherein the airfoil cap and the recessed portion define a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity having a first size and a first shape, the second cavity having a second size and a second shape, the first size different than the second size, the first shape different than the second shape.

14. The gas turbine engine of claim 13 , wherein the airfoil includes a cell structure disposed in the first cavity, the cell structure including:

an external structure; and

an internal structure retained by the external structure, the internal structure slidable with respect to the external structure.

15. A method including:

forming an airfoil body including a first face, a second face, and a recessed portion formed in the second face;

forming an airfoil cap including a first surface; and

disposing the airfoil cap within the recessed portion such that the first surface is substantially flush with the second face to form an airfoil, the disposition of the airfoil cap including forming a joint between a first integral feature of the airfoil body and a second integral feature of the airfoil cap.

16. The method of claim 15 , further including disposing the airfoil within a flow path of a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining an axial axis, a radial axis and a circumferential axis.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the joint acts as a frictional damper for the airfoil.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first integral feature is a first rib, the second integral feature is a second rib, and the joint is a slip joint.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the disposing of the airfoil cap within the recessed portion defines a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity having a first size and a first shape, the second cavity having a second size and a second shape, the first size different than the second size, the first shape different than the second shape.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the disposing of the airfoil cap within the recessed portion includes disposing a fourth face of the airfoil cap onto to a lip of the airfoil body, the lip including a wear-resistant coating.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2022
From: ZHENG, LI; KRAY, NICHOLAS J.; SUN, CHANGJIE
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 060429/0518 →
Cited By (3)
US 12,467,371 US 12,535,007 US 12,607,126