Gas Turbine Blade Plug Interference Fit Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas turbine engine blade closure and cooling air management processes are limited by material joining methods that cause stress, high rejection rates, and increased servicing costs, and require substantial processing time, which can damage blade surfaces and reduce blade life.

Innovation Solution

The use of plugs retained by an interference fit within cored passages of the blade, without material joining processes, to close core printouts and control cooling air flow, utilizing non-cylindrical fitting surfaces and back plates to prevent or meter fluid flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If material joining processes are used to close core printouts and control cooling air flow, then reliable closure and flow management are achieved, but stress is introduced, blade surfaces are damaged, and blade life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure reliabilityVSAvoidblade strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the material joining process from the blade manufacturing and servicing workflow. By using plugs that rely solely on interference fit within cored passages, the harmful material joining operations are completely removed, preventing stress introduction and surface damage while maintaining reliable closure of core printouts and control of cooling air flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The plug acts as an intermediary element that provides the closure and flow control function without requiring material joining. The interference fit mechanism serves as a mediator that achieves reliable attachment through precise geometric matching rather than through material bonding processes that damage the blade

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If material joining processes are used to close core printouts, then secure attachment is achieved, but processing time increases and servicing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The plug is designed as a simple, replaceable component that can be easily installed and removed without complex material joining processes. This disposable-like approach allows for rapid servicing and replacement, dramatically reducing processing time and servicing costs while maintaining secure attachment through the interference fit mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure system is segmented into separate, independent plugs that can be individually manufactured and installed. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex, time-consuming material joining processes and allows for parallel processing during manufacturing and rapid replacement during servicing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If plugs are retained by interference fit without material joining, then stress is reduced and blade life is extended, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade integrityVSAvoidfitting surface precision

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The plug and cored passage are designed with asymmetric, non-cylindrical geometries that create a unique interference fit pattern. This asymmetric design concentrates the precision requirements in specific key areas of the fitting surfaces while allowing greater tolerance in other areas, reducing overall manufacturing difficulty compared to requiring uniform high precision throughout

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The interference fit design applies precision requirements locally to specific critical surfaces of the plug and passage rather than requiring uniform high precision across all surfaces. This localized quality approach maintains blade integrity through precise fitting at critical interfaces while reducing overall manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution eliminates the need for material joining processes, reduces stress and processing time, and allows for more efficient blade servicing, while maintaining temperature control and extending blade life by ensuring reliable closure and flow management without altering local material properties.

Implementation Method 1

the plug is configured to be retained in the attachment opening by an interference fit without the use of a material joining process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInterference fit: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS8888455B2Gas turbine engine and blade for gas turbine engine

Publication Date: 2014.11.18 ROLLS ROYCE CORP

AI summary

One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine blade. Another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and blades. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.