Method of manufacturing a unitary venturi

Abstract

A method for fabricating a unitary venturi is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of determining three-dimensional information of the unitary venturi having an annular venturi wall and a swirler having a plurality of vanes arranged circumferentially around a swirler axis, converting the three-dimensional information into a plurality of slices that each define a cross-sectional layer of the unitary venturi, and successively forming each layer of the unitary venturi by fusing a metallic powder using laser energy. Exemplary embodiments are disclosed, showing a unitary venturi comprising an annular venturi wall having a swirler axis and a heat shield located at an end wherein unitary venturi is made by using a rapid manufacturing process. In one aspect of the invention, the rapid manufacturing process is a laser sintering process.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.