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AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsKenneth F. Udall, Jeffrey Allen, Mark W. Turner, James M. Townsend
Estimating the term…
A hollow aerofoil (30) comprises an aerofoil portion (40) having a leading edge (42), a trailing edge (44), a concave pressure surface wall (46) extending from the leading edge (42) to the trailing edge (44) and a convex suction surface (48) extending from the leading edge (42) to the trailing edge (44). The concave pressure surface wall (46) and the convex suction surface wall (48) are integral and define a cavity (50). A plurality of webs (52) extend across the cavity (50) between the concave pressure surface wall (46) and the convex suction surface wall (48). At least one of the webs (52A) extends substantially perpendicularly to the concave pressure surface wall (46) and the convex suction surface wall (48) and at least one of the webs (52B) extends substantially diagonally to the concave pressure surface wall (46) and the convex suction surface wall (48).
A hollow aerofoil comprising an aerofoil portion having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a concave pressure surface wall extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge and a convex suction surface wall extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, the concave pressure surface wall and the convex suction surface wall being integral and defining a cavity and a plurality of webs extending across the cavity between the concave pressure surface wall and the convex suction surface wall, wherein at least one of the webs extending substantially perpendicularly to the concave pressure surface wall and the convex suction surface wall and at least one of the webs extending substantially diagonally to the concave pressure surface wall and the convex suction surface wall.
A method of manufacturing a hollow aerofoil comprising an aerofoil portion having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a concave pressure surface wall extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge and a convex suction surface wall extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, the concave pressure surface wall and the convex suction surface wall being integral and define a cavity and a plurality of integral webs extending across the cavity between the concave pressure surface wall and the convex suction surface wall, wherein at least one of the webs extending substantially perpendicularly to the concave pressure surface wall and the convex suction surface wall and at least one of the webs extending diagonally to the concave pressure surface wall and the convex suction surface wall, the method comprising (a) depositing a layer of a metal powder onto a platform, (b) directing a radiation beam in a predetermined pattern onto the layer of metal powder to melt and sinter the metal powder to form a layer of the hollow aerofoil, repeating steps (a) and (b) to build up the hollow aerofoil layer by layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.