Divoted airfoil baffle having aimed cooling holes

• US 8,152,468 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Propheter-Hinckley, Tracy A., Learned, Amanda Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Landau, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicely, Joseph C
• Application Number:
  US12/403,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20100232946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 416/97.R, 416/96.A, 416/224, 416/232, 415/115
• US Class Current: 416/96.A
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/189 the insert having a tubular cross-section, e.g. airfoil shape
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/121 related to the leading edge of a stator vane
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/303 related to the leading edge of a rotor blade
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/201 by impingement of a fluid

Abstract

A baffle insert for an internally cooled airfoil comprises a liner, a divoted segment and a plurality of cooling holes. The liner has a continuous perimeter formed to shape a hollow body having a first end and a second end. The divoted segment of the hollow body is positioned between the first end and the second end. The plurality of cooling holes is positioned on the divoted segment to aim cooling air exiting the baffle insert at a common location.

Claims

1. A baffle insert for an internally cooled airfoil, the baffle insert comprising:

a liner having a continuous perimeter formed to shape a hollow body having a first end and a second end;

a divoted segment of the hollow body positioned between the first end and the second end; and

a plurality of cooling holes positioned on the divoted segment to aim cooling air exiting the baffle insert;

wherein the divoted segment comprises an elongate, longitudinal depression in the hollow body extending between the first end and the second end, the depression comprising;

a first curved segment having a first column of cooling holes;

a second curved segment having a second column of cooling holes; and

an elbow segment connecting the first curved segment with the second curved segment and having a third column of cooling holes centered on the divoted segment.

2. The baffle insert of claim 1 wherein the elbow is disposed along a leading edge of the hollow body.

3. The baffle insert of claim 1 wherein the first and second columns of cooling holes extend approximately perpendicularly through the curved segments of the depression so as to discharge cooling air at an oblique angle with respect to a profile of the liner.

4. The baffle insert of claim 3 wherein the cooling holes of the first column, the second column and the third column are approximately equally sized and disposed in parallel rows.

5. The baffle insert of claim 3 wherein the first and second curved segments and the elbow segment are disposed about an arc to focus cooling air at a common location to promote mixing of the cooling air.

6. The baffle insert of claim 3 wherein the third column of cooling holes extends approximately perpendicularly through the elbow segment of the depression so as to discharge cooling air normal with respect to a profile of the liner.

7. The baffle insert of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the continuous perimeter of the hollow body are open and walls of the hollow body are not touching such that a single, continuous cooling passage is formed within the baffle insert.

8. The baffle insert of claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of divoted segments each shaped to focus cooling air at different common locations.

9. The baffle insert of claim 1 wherein the divoted segment comprises a seamless portion of the hollow liner body.

10. The baffle insert of claim 1 wherein the liner is formed of sheet metal.

11. An internally cooled airfoil comprising:

an outer airfoil body shaped to form a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side and a suction side surrounding an internal cooling channel; and

a baffle insert disposed within the internal cooling channel, the baffle insert comprising;

a continuous inner liner body having a perimeter shaped to correspond to the shape of the internal cooling channel and to form a cooling air supply duct;

a divot disposed along the inner liner body; and

a plurality of cooling holes positioned on the divot to aim cooling air from the supply duct onto the outer airfoil body at a common location;

wherein the divot comprises;

a first leg including a first column of cooling holes configured to direct cooling air at an oblique angle to the internal cooling channel;

a second leg including a second column of cooling holes configured to direct cooling air at an oblique angle to the internal cooling channel; and

an elbow connecting the first leg with the second leg, the elbow including a third column of cooling holes configured to direct cooling air normal to the internal cooling channel.

12. The internally cooled airfoil of claim 11 wherein the continuous inner liner body forms a single air supply duct within the baffle insert.

13. The internally cooled airfoil of claim 12 wherein the baffle insert is displaced from the outer airfoil body along the entire continuous inner liner body such that a cooling circuit is formed between the outer airfoil body and the baffle insert.

14. The internally cooled airfoil of claim 11 wherein the common location comprises a hotspot on the outer airfoil body.

15. The internally cooled airfoil of claim 11 wherein the outer airfoil body comprises a stationary vane comprising:

an inner diameter vane shroud; and

an outer diameter vane shroud;

wherein the baffle insert is supported within the internal cooling channel by the inner diameter vane shroud and the outer diameter vane shroud.

16. The internally cooled airfoil of claim 11 wherein the third column of cooling holes is centered on the divot.

17. A baffle for providing impingement cooling to an interior of an airfoil, the baffle comprising:

a plurality of equally sized cooling holes disposed along a continuous contour in the baffle such that cooling air emanating from the cooling holes is entrained before impacting the airfoil, wherein the baffle is comprised of sheet metal, wherein the contour comprises an elbow segment connecting a first curved segment with a second curved segment and having a central column of cooling holes, wherein the central column of cooling holes is centered on the continuous contour in the baffle.

18. The baffle of claim 17 wherein the contour comprises:

the first curved segment having a first column of cooling holes;

the second curved segment having a second column of cooling holes.

19. The baffle of claim 18 wherein the elbow segment is positioned at a seamless leading edge portion of the baffle.

20. The baffle of claim 19 wherein the baffle is open at inner and outer diameter ends to form a hoop-like structure approximating a shape of an airfoil.