US4010531A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tip cap apparatus and method of installation
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1976-04-02
•
Granted: 1977-03-08
•
Expires: 1996-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A hollow turbomachinery blade is formed by way of casting or the like with an open tip end except for a bridge which is formed integrally with the blade side walls at a central position with respect to the leading and trailing edges. Also formed integrally with the blade side walls, proximate the tip end openings near the leading and trailing edges, are a plurality of supporting and retaining bosses, the supporting bosses being in substantially the same plane as the cast cap, and the retaining bosses being disposed radially outward thereof. Each of the forward and rear tip caps is installed by placing it over the bridge ad then sliding it either forward or rearward to be captured by the supporting and retaining bosses and to thereby close the respective tip opening. Each of the tip caps is then brazed into position so as not to allow its sliding back out.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard H. Andersen
- 👤 William A. Litzinger
- 👤 Robert J. Corsmeier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:05
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D5/00; F01D5/12; F01D5/14; F01D5/20; B; B23; B23P; B23P15/00; B23P15/04; F01D5/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49316; Y10T29/49336; Y10T29/49339; Y10T29/49341
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An improved method of constructing a tubomachinery blade of the type having convex and concave side walls defining a cavity with a radially outer tip end, and a tip cap which forms a closure for the tip end comprising the steps of: a. forming a blade having convex and concave side walls defining a cavity with an open tip end; b. providing respective radially spaced platform and retaining means in said cavity on the inner periphery of the side walls, proximate the tip end thereof; c. providing a closure element in the cavity to interconnect the side walls near the tip end to close a portion thereof; d. placing a tip cap in contiguity with the radially outer surface of said closure element; and e. sliding said tip cap to a position wherein it is captured between said platform and said retaining means to close another portion of the tip end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
An improved method of constructing a tubomachinery blade of the type having convex and concave side walls defining a cavity with a radially outer tip end, and a tip cap which forms a closure for the tip end comprising the steps of: a. forming a blade having convex and concave side walls defining a cavity with an open tip end; b. providing respective radially spaced platform and retaining means in said cavity on the inner periphery of the side walls, proximate the tip end thereof; c. providing a closure element in the cavity to interconnect the side walls near the tip end to close a portion thereof; d. placing a tip cap in contiguity with the radially outer surface of said closure element; and e. sliding said tip cap to a position wherein it is captured between said platform and said retaining means to close another portion of the tip end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An improved method of constructing a turbomachine blade as set forth in claim 1 wherein said respective platform and retaining means for formed integrally with said side walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An improved method of constructing a turbomachine blade as set forth in claim 2 wherein said platform and retaining means are formed by the casting process at the same time the blade side walls are formed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An improved method of constructing a turbomachine blade as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure means is formed by the casting process at the same time the side walls are formed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An improved method of constructing a turbomachine blade as set forth in claim 1 wherein the radially outer surface of said platform means and said closure means are placed in substantially the same plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An improved method of constructing a turbomachine blade as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure element is placed centrally with respect to the respective leading and trailing edges of the blade.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
An improved method of constructing a turbomachine blade as set forth in claim 1 and including the steps of placing a second tip cap in contiguity with the radially outer surface of said closure element; and, sliding said second tip cap to a second position where it is captured between said platform and said retaining means to close a third portion of the tip end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An improved method of constructing a turbomachine blade as set forth in claim 1 and including the further step of brazing said tip cap to said closure element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
An improved method of constructing a turbomachine blade as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cavity includes at least one longitudinal rib for defining a coolant flow passage and further including the step of connecting the radially outer end of said rib to said tip cap as by brazing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US665600A
Cited
US3574482A
Cited
US3628885A
Cited
US3885886A
Cited
US3899267A
Cited
US3854842A
Cited
US3966357A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-07 | 1980-09-06 | 1981-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-07 | 1984-09-06 | 1985-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-07 | 1988-09-06 | 1989-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |