# US 10,309,243 B2 · Grooved blade outer air seals > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,243 B2 - Document ID: US10309243B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/708,746 - Filed: 2015-05-11 - Published: 2015-11-26 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-23 - Assignees: United Technologies Corporation - Applicants: United Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Michael G McCaffrey; Alan C. Barron - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309243B2 ## CPC - F01D 11/08: for sealing space between rotor blade tips and stator (specially-shaped blade tips therefor F01D5/20) - B25J 9/1697: {Vision controlled systems} - B25J 11/0055: {Cutting} - F01D 9/02: Nozzles; Nozzle boxes; Stator blades; Guide conduits {, e.g. individual nozzles (nozzle boxes F01D9/047)} - F01D 9/04: forming ring or sector - F01D 11/12: using a rubstrip, e.g. erodible. deformable or resiliently-biased part - F01D 11/122: {with erodable or abradable material (blades having cutting or grinding tips F01D5/20)} - F01D 25/145: {Thermally insulated casings} - F01D 25/24: Casings (modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14); Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings (casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M {; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045}) - F05D 2220/30: in turbines - F05D 2230/90: Coating; Surface treatment - F05D 2240/55: Seals - Y10S 901/10: Sensor physically contacts and follows work contour - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A blade outer air seal for a turbomachine includes a base portion configured to attach to a turbomachine housing, a thermal coating disposed on the base portion, and at least one groove defined in an external surface of the thermal coating. The groove can be machined. A method of manufacturing a blade outer air seal includes disposing a thermal coating on a base portion, and machining at least one groove into the thermal coating. The method can also include using an automated force sensing and vision sensing equipped robotic system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A blade outer air seal for a turbomachine, comprising: a base portion configured to attach to a turbomachine housing; a thermal coating disposed on the base portion; and at least one groove defined in an external surface of the thermal coating, wherein the at least one groove includes a first groove and at least one second groove at least partially intersecting the first groove and wherein the first groove is machined into the thermal coating to a first depth that does not extend through to the base portion and the at least one second groove is machined into the thermal coating at a second depth, the first depth being greater than the second depth. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A blade outer air seal of claim 1, wherein the at least one groove can be machined. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A blade outer air seal of claim 1, wherein the base portion includes a metal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A blade outer air seal of claim 1, wherein the thermal coating includes a ceramic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A blade outer air seal of claim 1, wherein the first groove and the at least one second groove are linear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A blade outer air seal of claim 5, wherein the first groove and the at least one second groove are at least partially radially aligned with respect to a longitudinal axis defined by the base portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A blade outer air seal of claim 5, wherein the first groove and the at least one second groove are at least partially axially aligned with respect to a longitudinal axis defined by the base portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A blade outer air seal of claim 1, wherein the first groove or the at least one second groove is disposed at an oblique angle relative to an axial direction of the turbomachine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A blade outer air seal of claim 1, wherein the first groove or the at least one second groove is disposed at right angle relative to an axial direction of the turbomachine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A blade outer air seal of claim 1, wherein the first groove and the at least one second groove defines a non-linear shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A blade outer air seal of claim 1, wherein the first groove and the at least one second groove includes an undercut created by contacting a cutting device to the thermal coating at a non-right angle relative to the surface of the thermal coating. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A blade outer air seal of claim 1, wherein the at least one groove is a plurality of grooves and the first groove of each of the plurality of grooves is located in a first portion of the thermal coating, and wherein the at least one second groove of each of the plurality of grooves is located in a second portion of the thermal coating, wherein the first groove of each of the plurality of grooves is being different from the at least one second groove of each of the plurality of grooves. ### Claim 13 A method of manufacturing a blade outer air seal, comprising: disposing a thermal coating on a base portion of the blade outer air seal; and machining at least one groove into an external surface of the thermal coating, wherein the at least one groove includes a first groove and at least one second groove at least partially intersecting the first groove and wherein the first groove is machined into the thermal coating to a first depth that does not extend through to the base portion and the at least one second groove is machined into the thermal coating at a second depth, the first depth being greater than the second depth. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method of claim 13, wherein the machining further includes using a robotic machining system including a tactile sensing and vision sensing cutting device, both integrated in the robot controller, configured to control dimensions of the at least one groove. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method of claim 13, wherein the machining further includes contacting a cutting device to the thermal coating at an angle relative to a surface of the thermal coating to create an undercut.