Method of making an airfoil
First Claim
1. A method of making an airfoil, said method comprising the steps of providing first and second groups of metal plies, providing a separator ply, positioning the two groups of plies with the separator ply between them, forming an airfoil blank by interconnecting and deforming the two groups of plies and the separator ply to form an airfoil blank having first and second sections with the separator ply between the sections, separating the two sections of the airfoil blank to provide access to the interior of the airfoil blank by dissolving the material of the separator ply, and, after performing the step of dissolving the material of the separator ply, removing material from one of the sections to provide a cavity in the one section, and interconnecting the two sections of the airfoil blank with the cavity in the one section facing toward the other section.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method of making an airfoil includes stacking plies in two groups. A separator ply is positioned between the two groups of plies. The groups of plies and the separator ply are interconnected to form an airfoil blank. The airfoil blank is shaped, by forging or other methods, to have a desired configuration. The material of the separator ply is then dissolved or otherwise removed from between the two sections of the airfoil blank to provide access to the interior of the airfoil blank. Material is removed from inner sides of the two separated sections to form core receiving cavities. After cores have been placed in the cavities, the two sections of the airfoil blank are interconnected and the shaping of the airfoil is completed. The cores are subsequently removed from the completed airfoil.
33 Citations
14 Claims
- 1. A method of making an airfoil, said method comprising the steps of providing first and second groups of metal plies, providing a separator ply, positioning the two groups of plies with the separator ply between them, forming an airfoil blank by interconnecting and deforming the two groups of plies and the separator ply to form an airfoil blank having first and second sections with the separator ply between the sections, separating the two sections of the airfoil blank to provide access to the interior of the airfoil blank by dissolving the material of the separator ply, and, after performing the step of dissolving the material of the separator ply, removing material from one of the sections to provide a cavity in the one section, and interconnecting the two sections of the airfoil blank with the cavity in the one section facing toward the other section.
- 9. A method of making an airfoil, said method comprising the steps of providing metal material for first and second longitudinally extending sections of the airfoil, positioning a longitudinally extending separator piece between the material for the first and second airfoil sections, interconnecting the separator piece and the material for the first and second airfoil sections, shaping the separator piece and the first and second airfoil sections after having performed said interconnecting step, subsequently removing the material of the separator piece from between the first and second airfoil sections to separate them, removing material from at least one of the airfoil sections after having separated them, and thereafter interconnecting the first and second airfoil sections.
Specification