Turbine Engine Components with Near Surface Cooling Channels and Methods of Making the Same
First Claim
1. A turbine vane comprising:
- a core having an outer peripheral surface, the core having an airfoil shape, a plurality of channels formed in the core such that each channel opens to the outer peripheral surface of the core, the channels extending substantially radially so as to be elongated in the radial direction;
a first platform attached to the core;
a non-permeable skin having a hollow interior, the skin being airfoil-shaped and having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the skin being sized so that the core can be received in the hollow interior of the skin; and
a second platform attached to the skin,the core being received in the hollow interior of the skin such that the outer peripheral surface of the core engages the inner peripheral surface of the skin such that a plurality of generally radial cooling channels are formed between the channels in the core and the inner peripheral surface of the skin, the skin being attached to the core over at least a portion of the engaging surfaces of the outer peripheral surface of the core and the inner peripheral surface of the skin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A turbine airfoil has an airfoil-shaped core and a skin extending about the outer peripheral surface of the core. The core and/or the skin are configured such that a plurality of cooling channels is formed between them. In one embodiment, the cooling channels are formed by a plurality of radially extending channels in the core. In another embodiment, the cooling channels are formed by providing a wave-shaped skin such that, when the skin is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the core, the cooling channels can be formed in the space between the outer peripheral surface of the core and each wave of the skin. Such airfoil constructions can allow the inclusion of different materials in the airfoil. Further, such constructions can allow greater flexibility in the formation of cooling channels. Moreover, such constructions can help to achieve thinner outer walls and near surface cooling of the airfoil.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A turbine vane comprising:
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a core having an outer peripheral surface, the core having an airfoil shape, a plurality of channels formed in the core such that each channel opens to the outer peripheral surface of the core, the channels extending substantially radially so as to be elongated in the radial direction; a first platform attached to the core; a non-permeable skin having a hollow interior, the skin being airfoil-shaped and having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the skin being sized so that the core can be received in the hollow interior of the skin; and a second platform attached to the skin, the core being received in the hollow interior of the skin such that the outer peripheral surface of the core engages the inner peripheral surface of the skin such that a plurality of generally radial cooling channels are formed between the channels in the core and the inner peripheral surface of the skin, the skin being attached to the core over at least a portion of the engaging surfaces of the outer peripheral surface of the core and the inner peripheral surface of the skin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of forming a turbine vane comprising the steps of:
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forming an airfoil-shaped core having an outer peripheral surface; forming a plurality of channels in the core such that each channel opens to the outer peripheral surface of the core, the channels extending substantially radially so as to be elongated in the radial direction; forming a non-permeable, airfoil-shaped skin having a hollow interior, the skin having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the skin being sized so that the core can be received in the hollow interior of the skin; bringing the core and the skin together such that the core is received in the hollow interior of the skin such that the outer peripheral surface of the core engages the inner peripheral surface of the skin to thereby form a plurality of generally radial cooling channels between the channels in the core and the inner peripheral surface of the skin; and attaching the skin to the core over at least a portion of the engaging surfaces of the outer peripheral surface of the core and the inner peripheral surface of the skin. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A turbine engine component comprising:
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a core having an outer peripheral surface; a skin extending about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the core, the skin being wavy so as to have a plurality of peaks and valleys, the skin engaging the core such that the valleys of the skin substantially abut the outer peripheral surface of the core, the valleys being attached to the core such that a plurality of elongated cooling channels are formed in the space between the outer peripheral surface of the core and each wave of the skin. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification