IP Library Granted Patent US 9,085,984
Granted Patent B2
US 9,085,984 · App. 13/545,248 · Granted Jul 21, 2015

Airfoil

Inventors: Neil Ristau (Simpsonville, SC); Gunnar Leif Siden (Greenville, SC)
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
F01D5/141F05D2240/304F05D2250/711F05D2250/712
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 9,085,984
App. No.
13/545,248
Granted
Jul 21, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An airfoil includes a leading edge, a trailing edge downstream from the leading edge, a pressure surface between the leading and trailing edges, and a suction surface between the leading and trailing edges and opposite the pressure surface. A first convex section on the suction surface decreases in curvature downstream from the leading edge, and a throat on the suction surface is downstream from the first convex section. A second convex section is on the suction surface downstream from the throat, and a first convex segment of the second convex section increases in curvature.

Claims (46)

1. An airfoil comprising:

a. a leading edge;

b. a trailing edge downstream from the leading edge;

c. a pressure surface between the leading and trailing edges;

d. a suction surface between the leading and trailing edges and opposite the pressure surface;

e. a first convex section on the suction surface, wherein the first convex section decreases in curvature downstream from the leading edge;

f. a throat on the suction surface downstream from the first convex section;

g. a second convex section on the suction surface downstream from the throat;

h. a first convex segment of the second convex section, wherein the first convex segment of the second convex section increases in curvature; and

i. a first concave section on the pressure surface and a second concave section on the pressure surface downstream from the first concave section, wherein the first concave section increases in curvature downstream from the leading edge and the second concave section increases in curvature downstream from the first concave section.

2. The airfoil as in claim 1 , wherein the first convex section continuously decreases in curvature downstream from the leading edge.

3. The airfoil as in claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate section between the first convex section and the second convex section, wherein the intermediate section has a curvature of zero.

4. The airfoil as in claim 1 , further comprising a second convex segment of the second convex section downstream from the first convex segment, wherein the second convex segment decreases in curvature.

5. The airfoil as in claim 1 , wherein the second concave section has a larger maximum curvature than the first concave section.

6. The airfoil as in claim 1 , wherein the second concave section includes a first concave segment that increases in curvature and a second concave segment downstream from the first concave segment that decreases in curvature.

7. An airfoil comprising:

a. a leading edge;

b. a trailing edge downstream from the leading edge;

c. a pressure surface between the leading and trailing edges;

d. a suction surface between the leading and trailing edges and opposite the pressure surface;

e. a first concave section on the pressure surface, wherein the first concave section increases in curvature downstream from the leading edge;

f. a second concave section on the pressure surface downstream from the first concave section;

g. a first concave segment of the second concave section, wherein the first concave segment of the second concave section increases in curvature; and

h. wherein the second concave section has a larger maximum curvature than the first concave section.

8. The airfoil as in claim 7 , further comprising a second concave segment downstream from the first concave segment that decreases in curvature.

9. The airfoil as in claim 7 , further comprising a first convex section on the suction surface, a throat on the suction surface downstream from the first convex section, and a second convex section on the suction surface downstream from the throat, wherein the first convex section decreases in curvature downstream from the leading edge and the second convex section increases in curvature downstream from the throat.

10. The airfoil as in claim 9 , wherein the first convex section continuously decreases in curvature downstream from the leading edge.

11. The airfoil as in claim 9 , further comprising an intermediate section between the first convex section and the second convex section, wherein the intermediate section has a curvature of zero.

12. The airfoil as in claim 9 , wherein the second convex section includes a first convex segment that increases in curvature and a second convex segment downstream from the first convex segment that decreases in curvature.

13. An airfoil comprising:

a. a leading edge;

b. a trailing edge downstream from the leading edge;

c. a pressure surface between the leading and trailing edges;

d. a first concave section on the pressure surface, wherein the first concave section increases in curvature downstream from the leading edge;

e. a second concave section on the pressure surface downstream from the first concave section;

f. a first concave segment of the second concave section, wherein the first concave segment of the second concave section increases in curvature;

g. a suction surface between the leading and trailing edges and opposite the pressure surface;

h. a first convex section on the suction surface, wherein the first convex section decreases in curvature downstream from the leading edge;

i. a throat on the suction surface downstream from the first convex section;

j. a second convex section on the suction surface downstream from the throat; and

k. a first convex segment of the second convex section, wherein the first convex segment of the second convex section increases in curvature.

14. The airfoil as in claim 13 , wherein the first convex section continuously decreases in curvature downstream from the leading edge.

15. The airfoil as in claim 13 , further comprising an intermediate section between the first convex section and the second convex section, wherein the intermediate section has a curvature of zero.

16. The airfoil as in claim 13 , further comprising a second convex segment of the second convex section downstream from the first convex segment, wherein the second convex segment decreases in curvature.

17. The airfoil as in claim 13 , wherein the second concave section has a larger maximum curvature than the first concave section.

18. The airfoil as in claim 13 , wherein the second concave section includes the first concave segment that increases in curvature and a second concave segment downstream from the first concave segment that decreases in curvature.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 065727/0001 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Aug 30, 2013
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: ENERGY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
Reel/Frame 031254/0494 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2012
From: RISTAU, NEIL; SIDEN, GUNNAR LEIF
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 028520/0958 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140017089A1 · Jan 16, 2014