Methods and apparatus for fabricating gas turbine engines
OwnerMichael Rucker, Bhupendra Gupta +1inventors
InventorsMichael Rucker, Bhupendra Gupta, Howard Farr
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus of fabricating gas turbine engine components are provided. The method includes positioning a non-consumable shield adjacent to an edge of the component such that a gap is defined between the shield and the component, wherein the shield and gap form a fluid flow restriction adjacent to the edge, and inducing an electrical current from an anode to the component through an electrolyte bath such that a coating is applied to the component.
Claims20
A method of fabricating a gas turbine engine component, said method comprising:
- positioning a non-consumable shield adjacent to an edge of the component such that a gap is defined between the shield and the component, wherein the shield and gap form a fluid flow restriction adjacent to the edge;
- and
- inducing an electrical current from an anode to the component through an electrolyte bath such that a coating is applied to the component.
An electroplating apparatus comprising:
- an electroplating bath comprising an electrolytic solution;
- a power source;
- an anode coupled to said power source;
- a component coupled to said power source and immersed within said electrolytic solution, said component comprising a plating surface bordered by an edge;
- and
- a non-consumable shield positioned adjacent said component edge such that a gap is defined between said edge and said shield, said shield and said gap forming a fluid flow restriction adjacent to said edge.
An electroplating apparatus comprising:
- an electroplating bath comprising an electrolytic solution comprising platinum;
- a power source;
- an anode coupled to said power source;
- a component to be electroplated coupled to said power source and immersed within said electrolytic solution, said component comprising a plating surface and an edge;
- and
- a non-consumable shield positioned adjacent said edge such that a gap is defined between said edge and said shield, said shield and said gap forming a fluid flow restriction adjacent to said edge, said shield configured to displace an electric field away from said edge to facilitate reducing an amount of electroplating deposited on said edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.