Hollow core airfoil stiffener rib
First Claim
1. A gas turbine engine blade comprising an airfoil extending from a platform to a tip between a leading edge and a trailing edge, said airfoil having a hollow core portion adjacent said leading edge and spaced-apart from said trailing edge in a chordwise direction, the hollow core portion extending from the platform to the tip, and a stiffener rib provided in the hollow core portion of said airfoil and extending across a thickness of the airfoil between opposed side walls of the hollow core portion, the stiffener rib being positioned closer to the leading edge than the trailing edge in the chordwise direction, the stiffener rib having an elongated cross-section including a longitudinal length L greater than a width W, the stiffener rib having a longitudinal axis which is angled to have a radial upward component and an axial component in a direction away from the leading edge of the airfoil, the longitudinal axis of the stiffener rib extending through the trailing edge at a location adjacent to a trailing edge tip corner where the trailing edge meets the tip of the blade.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stiffener rib for a non-cooled, hollow core airfoil of a turbine blade is described. The stiffener rib is constituted by an elongated solid metal piece dimensioned for securement in a hollow region of a core portion of the airfoil. The stiffener rib is shaped and oriented upwards from a leading edge of the airfoil at a predetermined calculated angle to minimize mode 2 deformation of the blade at a trailing edge thereof while improving the rigidity of the turbine blade.
10 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A gas turbine engine blade comprising an airfoil extending from a platform to a tip between a leading edge and a trailing edge, said airfoil having a hollow core portion adjacent said leading edge and spaced-apart from said trailing edge in a chordwise direction, the hollow core portion extending from the platform to the tip, and a stiffener rib provided in the hollow core portion of said airfoil and extending across a thickness of the airfoil between opposed side walls of the hollow core portion, the stiffener rib being positioned closer to the leading edge than the trailing edge in the chordwise direction, the stiffener rib having an elongated cross-section including a longitudinal length L greater than a width W, the stiffener rib having a longitudinal axis which is angled to have a radial upward component and an axial component in a direction away from the leading edge of the airfoil, the longitudinal axis of the stiffener rib extending through the trailing edge at a location adjacent to a trailing edge tip corner where the trailing edge meets the tip of the blade.
- 7. A stiffener rib for a non-cooled, hollow core airfoil of a turbine or compressor blade, said stiffener rib being constituted by an elongated solid metal piece positioned in a hollow region of a hollow core portion of said airfoil adjacent to a leading edge of the airfoil and spaced-apart from a trailing edge of the airfoil in a chordwise direction, and said stiffener rib being shaped and oriented upwards from a leading edge of said airfoil at a predetermined calculated angle to minimize mode 2 deformation of said blade at a trailing edge thereof while improving the rigidity of said turbine blade, and wherein the stiffener rib is positioned closer to the leading edge than the trailing edge in a chordwise direction.
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14. A method of minimizing deflection of a trailing edge of a non-cooled hollow core airfoil subject to mode-2 deformation, comprising the steps of:
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i) calculating by dynamic analytical model for mode 2 the dimension and orientation of a stiffener rib for location in a hollow region of a core portion of said hollow core airfoil adjacent to a leading edge of the airfoil and spaced-apart from the trailing edge of the airfoil in a chordwise direction, and ii) securing said stiffener rib across opposed side walls of said airfoil and oriented angularly upwards from a leading edge of said airfoil at a predetermined angle to minimize deflection of said blade at said trailing edge in the running range of said airfoil and improve the rigidity thereof, the stiffener rib being positioned closer to the leading edge than the trailing edge in a chordwise direction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification