# US 11,078,806 B2 · Apparatus and methods for cleaning internal cavities of blades > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,806 B2 - Document ID: US11078806B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/217,751 - Filed: 2018-12-12 - Published: 2020-06-18 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-12 - Assignees: Raytheon Technologies Corporation - Applicants: United Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Karthikeyan Baskaran; Garimella Balaji Rao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078806B2 ## CPC - F01D 25/002: {Cleaning of turbomachines} - B08B 7/02: by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned {(B08B7/0007 takes precedence)} - B08B 9/00: Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto - B25J 11/0085: {Cleaning} - F01D 5/005: {Repairing methods or devices} - F01D 5/288: {Protective coatings for blades} - F05D 2240/12: Fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes - F05D 2240/30: Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor - F05D 2240/301: Cross-sectional characteristics - F05D 2260/202: by film cooling - F05D 2260/607: Preventing clogging or obstruction of flow paths by dirt, dust, or foreign particles - Y02T 50/60: Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - 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 - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An apparatus for dislodging material within an airfoil element is disclosed. In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a robotic arm configured for multi-axis movement of a mounting head with respect to the airfoil element; a vibration mechanism connected to the mounting head; and a tip member connected to the vibration mechanism and configured for vibratory contact with a surface of the airfoil element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for dislodging material within an airfoil element, comprising: a mounting head; a robotic arm configured for multi-axis movement of the mounting head with respect to the airfoil element; a vibration mechanism connected to the mounting head; a tip member connected to the vibration mechanism and configured for vibratory contact with a surface of the airfoil element; a pneumatic cylinder connected to the mounting head and configured to maintain the tip member in direct contact against the surface of the airfoil element under a reverse pressure; and a sub-atmospheric pressure source configured to provide the reverse pressure to the pneumatic cylinder, wherein the pneumatic cylinder includes a rod connected to the mounting head and wherein the pneumatic cylinder is configured to translate the tip member in an axial direction with respect to the rod and toward the surface of the airfoil. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vibration mechanism is an air scribe or an air hammer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vibration mechanism is configured to vibrate the tip member within a range of about ten-thousand cycles per minute to about fifteen-thousand cycles per minute. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tip member is connected to the vibration mechanism by a coupler. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vice configured to grasp the airfoil element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a backstop member configured to support a portion of the airfoil element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the robotic arm is configured to translate the tip member against the surface of the airfoil element in a spanwise direction and in a chordwise direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the vibration mechanism is configured to vibrate the tip member in a range of about ten-thousand cycles per minute to about fifteen-thousand cycles per minute. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tip member is constructed of a plastic material and includes a contact portion, the contact portion configured for contacting the surface of the airfoil element, and a chuck portion, the chuck portion configured for positioning within a coupler. ### Claim 10 An apparatus for dislodging material within an internal cooling passage system of a turbine blade, comprising: a mounting head; a robotic arm configured for multi-axis movement of the mounting head with respect to the turbine blade; a vibration mechanism connected to the mounting head; and a tip member connected to the vibration mechanism and configured for vibratory contact with a surface of the turbine blade; a pneumatic cylinder connected to the mounting head and configured to maintain the tip member in direct contact against the surface of the turbine blade under a reverse pressure; and a sub-atmospheric pressure source configured to provide the reverse pressure to the pneumatic cylinder, wherein the pneumatic cylinder includes a rod connected to the mounting head and wherein the pneumatic cylinder is configured to translate the tip member in an axial direction with respect to the rod and toward the surface of the turbine blade. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the vibration mechanism is configured to vibrate the tip member in a range of about ten-thousand cycles per minute to about fifteen-thousand cycles per minute.