Fixture for disposing a laser blocking material in an airfoil
First Claim
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1. A fixture for disposing a laser blocking material in an airfoil from a source for supplying blocking material under pressure, the airfoil having a first end and a second end spaced spanwise from the first end, the fixture having a passage for the blocking material, which comprises:
- a sprue plate having a spanwise facing seal surface which faces the first end of the airfoil, the sprue plate having a portion of the passage for receiving blocking material extending through the sprue plate and in flow communication with the rotor blade through the seal surface; and
,a member having a surface facing spanwise toward the seal surface of the sprue plate which is spaced spanwise from the sprue plate and which engages the airfoil, the surface of the member being softer than the material of the rotor blade;
wherein in the installed (operative) condition the source of pressurized blocking material is in flow communication with the passage and the passage is in flow communication with the airfoil; and
wherein in the installed (operative) condition, the sprue plate is urged toward the first end of the airfoil to exert a force on the airfoil and the airfoil is urged against the member both to position the airfoil between the seal surface and the surface of the member, and, to urge the seal surface toward the first end of the airfoil to block the loss of material from the passage between the sprue plate and the first end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fixture 56 for disposing laser blocking material 52 on the interior of an airfoil 10 is disclosed. Various construction details are developed which allow for the repetitive disposition of the laser blocking material in one airfoil after another. In one embodiment, the fixture includes a sprue plate 62 and locating block 126 which are spanwisely spaced and engage the ends 14, 18 of the airfoil.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A fixture for disposing a laser blocking material in an airfoil from a source for supplying blocking material under pressure, the airfoil having a first end and a second end spaced spanwise from the first end, the fixture having a passage for the blocking material, which comprises:
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a sprue plate having a spanwise facing seal surface which faces the first end of the airfoil, the sprue plate having a portion of the passage for receiving blocking material extending through the sprue plate and in flow communication with the rotor blade through the seal surface; and
,a member having a surface facing spanwise toward the seal surface of the sprue plate which is spaced spanwise from the sprue plate and which engages the airfoil, the surface of the member being softer than the material of the rotor blade; wherein in the installed (operative) condition the source of pressurized blocking material is in flow communication with the passage and the passage is in flow communication with the airfoil; and
wherein in the installed (operative) condition, the sprue plate is urged toward the first end of the airfoil to exert a force on the airfoil and the airfoil is urged against the member both to position the airfoil between the seal surface and the surface of the member, and, to urge the seal surface toward the first end of the airfoil to block the loss of material from the passage between the sprue plate and the first end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13)
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10. A fixture having a passage for disposing a laser blocking material in a rotor blade from means for injecting the blocking material under pressure having a nozzle, the rotor blade having a first end and a second end spaced spanwise from the first end, which comprises:
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A. a sprue plate having 1) a portion of the passage extending spanwise through the sprue plate for receiving pressurized blocking material and in flow communication with the rotor blade, 2) a first side having a first spanwise facing surface which faces spanwise away from the rotor blade in the operative condition and has an opening for receiving the pressurized blocking material, 3) a second side having a second spanwise facing surface having an area A1 which faces spanwise toward the rotor blade in the operative condition, the second side having a projection which extends in the spanwise direction a distance S1 and which extends around the passage to provide a bounded perimeter about the passage, the projection further having a third seal surface which faces in the spanwise direction and which has a spanwise facing area A2 which is less than the area A1 (A2<
A1);B. a sprue plate holder having a slot which adapts the sprue plate holder to receive the sprue plate and means for preventing relative movement between the sprue plate and the sprue plate holder; and
,C. a block of material having a fourth surface facing spanwise which is softer than the tip material of the rotor blade, which is spaced spanwise from the sprue plate holder by the spanwise length of the airfoil and which adapts the block to engage the tip of the airfoil; wherein in the installed condition the sprue plate holder is integrally attached to the injection machine and the nozzle of the injection machine is pressed against the sprue plate to receive pressurized blocking material, and wherein in the installed condition the sprue plate is urged against the root of the airfoil and the airfoil against the block to form a seal between the third surface of the projection and the root. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification