Blades having coolant channels lined with a shape memory alloy and an associated fabrication method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorRobert L. Villhard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A damped blade is provided that includes a blade structural member defining at least one coolant channel and a liner formed of a shape memory alloy extending at least partially along the at least one coolant channel defined by the blade structural member. The shape memory alloy that forms the liner is maintained generally at its transition temperature by means of coolant circulated through the coolant channel. The shape memory alloy that forms the liner will resist the onset of vibrations within the blade, thereby effectively damping blade vibrations. A method of fabricating a damped blade is also provided.
Claims41
A damped blade comprising:
- a blade structural member defining at least one coolant channel;
- and
- a liner extending at least partially along the at least one coolant channel defined by said blade structural member, said liner formed of a shape memory alloy having a transition temperature, whereby coolant passed through the at least one coolant channel maintains the shape memory alloy generally at the transition temperature.
A damped blade comprising:
- a blade structural member extending along a blade longitudinal axis from an inner end to an outer end, said blade structural member defining at least one coolant channel comprised of first and second legs disposed in fluid communication with one another, wherein the first and second legs each extend longitudinally from the inner end of said blade structural member to proximate the outer end of said blade structural member;
- and
- a liner extending at least partially along the at least one coolant channel defined by said blade structural member, said liner formed of a shape memory alloy.
A blade damping system comprising:
- a blade comprising:
- a blade structural member defining at least one coolant channel;
- and
- a liner extending at least partially along the at least one coolant channel, said liner formed of a shape memory alloy;
- and
- a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the at least one coolant channel for extracting heat from coolant following passage of the coolant through the at least one coolant channel and for thereafter redirecting the coolant to the at least one coolant channel.
A damped blade comprising:
- a blade structural member defining at least one coolant channel;
- and
- a liner extending at least partially along the at least one coolant channel defined by said blade structural member said liner formed of a shape memory alloy, said liner being in contact with the at least one coolant channel along the length of the at least one coolant channel.
A liner for defining a coolant channel within a blade comprising:
- a tube formed of a shape memory alloy for defining the coolant channel, said tube including a surface feature on an exterior surface thereof for enhancing a load transfer path with the blade.
A method of fabricating a blade comprising:
- positioning a liner formed of a shape memory alloy (SMA) within a mold;
- filling the mold with an at least partially molten blade material having a lower melting temperature than the shape memory alloy such that the blade material at least partially surrounds the liner;
- permitting the blade material to at least partially solidify;
- and
- removing the mold to thereby produce the blade having the liner at least partially embedded therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.