Granted Patent B2

US 12,392,259 · App. 18/491,574 · Granted Aug 19, 2025

Inventors: Zachary Oras (Riverview, FL); Logan Mitchell (Tampa, FL); Zachary Ezzo (Tampa, FL); Zachary Hopkins (San Diego, CA)

Assignee: Chromalloy Gas Turbine LLC

F01D25/285B33Y80/00F05D2260/02

Abstract

Claims (74)

1. A unitary cover for a gas turbine component, the unitary cover comprising:

a unitarily constructed cover for the gas turbine component, the unitarily constructed cover including:

a top portion;

a bottom portion;

at least one wall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a chamber accessible via the bottom portion, the chamber configured to retain the component such that at least a part of the component is protected by the unitary cover; and

a first stop and a second stop each extending into the chamber, the first stop and the second stop disposed in different vertical planes;

wherein:

the unitary cover includes an elastomeric material;

each of the first stop and the second stop are disposed on the bottom portion;

the first stop includes a first lower stop and a second lower stop, the first lower stop facing the second lower stop;

the second stop includes a first upper stop and a second upper stop, the first upper stop facing the second upper stop; and

the at least one wall includes a plurality of walls, each of the first lower stop, the second lower stop, the first upper stop, and the second upper stop being disposed on a different one of the plurality of walls.

2. The unitary cover of claim 1 , wherein the unitary cover is additively manufactured.

3. The unitary cover of claim 2 , wherein the gas turbine component is at least one of a blade and a vane.

4. The unitary cover of claim 1 , wherein the top portion includes a first section, a second section, and a recessed portion between the first section and the second section.

5. The unitary cover of claim 4 , wherein:

at least one of the first section and the second section is frusto-ovalur; and

the recessed section includes a cutout.

6. The unitary cover of claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion includes a parallelogram configuration.

7. The unitary cover of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall includes ribbing.

8. An additively manufactured unitary cover for a blade of a gas turbine, the unitary cover comprising:

a unitarily constructed cover including:

a top portion corresponding to a tip of the blade;

a bottom portion;

at least one wall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a chamber accessible via the bottom portion, the chamber configured to retain the blade such that at least a part of the blade is protected by the unitary cover; and

a first stop and a second stop each extending into the chamber, the first stop and the second stop disposed in different vertical planes.

9. The additively manufactured unitary cover of claim 8 , wherein the at least a part of the blade protected by the unitary cover includes an airfoil and a gas path surface of a platform of the blade.

10. The additively manufactured unitary cover of claim 9 , wherein the first stop includes a first lower stop and a second lower stop, the first lower stop facing the second lower stop.

11. The additively manufactured unitary cover of claim 8 , wherein the second stop is configured to maintain a distance between the tip of the blade and the top portion.

12. The additively manufactured unitary cover of claim 8 , wherein when the blade is retained in the chamber, a dovetail of the blade is exposed.

13. A unitary cover for a gas turbine component, the unitary cover comprising:

a unitarily constructed cover for the gas turbine component, the unitarily constructed cover including:

a top portion;

a bottom portion;

at least one wall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a chamber accessible via the bottom portion, the chamber configured to retain the component such that at least a part of the component is protected by the unitary cover; and

a first stop and a second stop each extending into the chamber, the first stop and the second stop disposed in different vertical planes;

wherein:

the unitary cover includes an elastomeric material;

the first stop is configured to contact the component to preclude the component from falling out of the unitary cover;

the second stop is configured to contact the component to maintain a distance between the component and the top portion.

14. A unitary cover for a gas turbine component, the unitary cover comprising:

a unitarily constructed cover for the gas turbine component, the unitarily constructed cover including:

a top portion;

a bottom portion;

at least one wall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a chamber accessible via the bottom portion, the chamber configured to retain the component such that at least a part of the component is protected by the unitary cover; and

a first stop and a second stop each extending into the chamber, the first stop and the second stop disposed in different vertical planes;

wherein:

the unitary cover includes an elastomeric material; and

the at least one wall includes four walls.

15. The unitary cover for a gas turbine component of claim 14 , wherein the at least one wall includes ribbing.

16. A unitary cover for a gas turbine component, the unitary cover comprising:

a unitarily constructed cover for the gas turbine component, the unitarily constructed cover including:

a top portion;

a bottom portion;

at least one wall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a chamber accessible via the bottom portion, the chamber configured to retain the component such that at least a part of the component is protected by the unitary cover; and

a first stop and a second stop each extending into the chamber, the first stop and the second stop disposed in different vertical planes;

wherein:

the unitary cover includes an elastomeric material; and

the top portion includes a first section, a second section, and a recessed section between the first section and the second section.

17. A unitary cover for a gas turbine component, the unitary cover comprising:

a unitarily constructed cover for the gas turbine component, the unitarily constructed cover including:

a top portion;

a bottom portion;

at least one wall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a chamber accessible via the bottom portion, the chamber configured to retain the component such that at least a part of the component is protected by the unitary cover; and

a first stop and a second stop each extending into the chamber, the first stop and the second stop disposed in different vertical planes;

wherein:

the unitary cover includes an elastomeric material; and

the bottom portion includes a parallelogram configuration.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (65)