Hydroformed turbine blade
AssigneeVari-Form, Inc.
InventorsMartin L. Bliss, Trevor M. Clark, Jose U. Coelho, Timothy R. Flint, Blair J. Longhouse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In at least one implementation, a method of making a turbine blade may include providing a preform having a hollow cross-section, hydroforming the preform to form a turbine blade body comprising a shell that includes a continuous hollow portion along its interior, and providing a mounting portion attached to the body to mount the turbine blade to a hub. In one or more implementations of the method, the mounting portion may be provided during the step of hydroforming the preform and the mounting portion may be formed from the same preform as the turbine blade body.
Claims22
A method of making a turbine blade, comprising the steps of:
- providing a preform having a hollow cross-section;
- hydroforming the preform to form a turbine blade body comprising a shell that includes a continuous hollow portion along its interior;
- and
- providing a mounting portion attached to the body to mount the turbine blade to a hub.
A turbine blade, comprising:
- a mounting portion, a free end, and a body extending between the mounting portion and the free end, wherein the turbine blade includes a continuous hollow interior along its entire length through the mounting portion, the body, and the free end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.