Turbulated cooling holes

Abstract

A component for use in a flow path of a gas turbine engine. The component includes a body having an exterior surface mountable in the gas turbine engine so the exterior surface is exposed to gases flowing through the flow path of the engine. The body has a cooling hole extending through the body to the exterior surface for transporting cooling air from a cooling air source outside the flow path of the engine to the exterior surface of the body for providing a layer of cooling air adjacent the exterior surface of the body to cool the surface and create a thermal barrier between the exterior surface and the gases flowing through the flow path of the gas turbine engine. The cooling hole is defined by an elongate annular surface extending through the body of the component and terminating at the exterior surface of the body. The hole has a length, a maximum width less than about 0.010 inches, and a cross-sectional shape which varies along the length in a predetermined manner for affecting characteristics of cooling air transported through the hole.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.