Multi-Piece Grit Blast Masking Boot for Turbine Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing masking systems for turbine components, such as one-piece rubber molded boots and metal casted boots, are difficult to attach and remove, leading to damage and improper masking during the grit blasting process, which compromises the integrity of the components.
Innovation Solution
A boot assembly comprising two interlocking boots with notches forming a continuous notch and tortuous paths to expose the turbine component, secured by an interference fit or snap connection, allowing easy assembly and disassembly without tools, and formed from resilient materials like silicone or hard rubber to withstand high temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If one-piece rubber molded boots are used for masking, then the masking coverage is complete, but the boots are difficult to attach and remove, causing damage to turbine components
Solution Approach 1:
The boot assembly is divided into multiple separable pieces (first boot piece, second boot piece, third boot piece) that can be independently attached and removed from the turbine component. This segmentation allows the masking boots to maintain complete coverage when assembled while enabling easy attachment and removal of individual pieces without damaging the component.
2Strength
If metal casted boots are used for masking, then the structural strength is high, but the rigidity causes improper masking and undesired portions being grit blasted
Solution Approach 1:
The boot assembly uses resilient elastomeric material (flexible shell) instead of rigid metal casting. This flexible material can conform precisely to the contours of the turbine component, ensuring accurate masking of desired portions while allowing the structural integrity needed for the grit blasting process. The flexibility enables proper adaptation to the component surface without causing undesired exposure.
3Reliability
If one-piece molded boots are used, then the masking is comprehensive, but the difficulty of attachment and removal leads to component damage and scratches
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the boot assembly into multiple attachable pieces, the system maintains comprehensive masking coverage when assembled while allowing each piece to be independently attached and removed. This reduces the force and complexity required for attachment and removal operations, thereby minimizing damage and scratches to the turbine component.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material provides flexibility that allows the boot pieces to be attached and removed without exerting excessive force on the component. The resilient nature of the material enables gentle handling during assembly and disassembly, preventing damage while maintaining complete masking coverage.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A boot assembly (10) is configured to hold and mask a portion of a turbine component (12). The boot assembly includes a first boot (14) comprising a boot receiving area (32), a turbine component receiving area (34), and a notch (38) that extends into the turbine component receiving area. A second boot (16) is configured to be received within the boot receiving area of the first boot, the second boot comprising a boot engagement face (56), a turbine engagement portion (70), and a notch (66) extending into the turbine engagement portion. The first and second boots are configured so that when assembled together, the notches of the first and second boots combine to form a continuous notch with an open end and a closed end. The continuous notch is configured to expose both sides of a target part of the turbine component (12) when the turbine component is masked by the boot assembly. A cross-sectional area of the continuous notch is larger toward the open end of the continuous notch than at the closed end of the continuous notch.