Roller Tool Spacer for Jet Engine Blade Edge Deformation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rolling tool devices for deep rolling blade elements in jet engine rotor areas risk deformation of the blade leading edge during retraction due to excessive forces, leading to potential damage and stress-induced distortion.

Innovation Solution

A rolling tool device with a spacer device that sets a minimum distance between rolling regions, preventing excessive force on the blade leading edge and ensuring uniform stress induction, thereby avoiding deformation and damage, and allowing for adjustable distance settings via mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, magnetic, thermal, or chemical means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the rolling tool device applies force to the blade leading edge during retraction, then the machining process can be completed, but the blade leading edge deforms due to excessive force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachining completionVSAvoidblade leading edge deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer device is positioned in advance to prevent the rolling regions from applying excessive force to the blade leading edge during retraction. By establishing a minimum distance barrier before contact occurs, the device preemptively counteracts the harmful force that would otherwise deform the blade leading edge while still allowing the machining process to complete.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Ease of operation

If the rolling regions are allowed to come into contact before engaging the component, then the tool can be positioned, but forces between rolling regions exceed limits and damage the rolling areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool positioningVSAvoidrolling area damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer device acts as a protective barrier that cushions against excessive forces between the rolling regions before they can cause damage. By maintaining a minimum distance through the spacer, any forces that develop during positioning are limited to safe levels that prevent damage to the rolling areas while still allowing proper tool positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Manufacturing precision

If the minimum distance between rolling regions is fixed, then deformation is prevented, but the device complexity increases due to the spacer mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeformation preventionVSAvoidspacer device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer device serves as an intermediary element between the rolling regions and the blade leading edge. This mediator component simplifies the overall control by providing a passive mechanical constraint that automatically maintains the minimum distance, eliminating the need for complex active control systems while effectively preventing deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2711122B1Roller tool device

Publication Date: 2018.05.16 ROLLS ROYCE DEUT LTD & CO KG

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AI summary

The rolling tool device (14) has a tool carrier (15) that is rotatably connected with the two clamping portions (17,18). The clamping portions are respectively provided with the rolling regions (21,22). A distance between the rolling regions is variable in dependence on a rotating movement of the clamping portions. The separate spacer (40) is provided to define a minimum spacing of the rolling regions relative to each another, and is fixedly connected to the clamping portions.