Turbine blade assembly
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJian Zhang, Herbert Chidsey Roberts, III, John McConnell Delvaux
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turbine blade assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine blade assembly may generally include a turbine blade having a root portion and an airfoil. The airfoil may extend radially from the root portion to an airfoil tip. Additionally, the turbine blade assembly may include a composite rod extending within the turbine blade. The composite rod may include a first end coupled to the airfoil at the airfoil tip and a second end coupled to the root portion. Moreover, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite rod may be designed to be less than or equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the airfoil.
Claims20
A turbine blade assembly, comprising:
- a turbine blade, said turbine blade including a root portion and an airfoil, said airfoil extending radially from said root portion to an airfoil tip;
- and
- a composite rod extending within said turbine blade, said composite rod including a first end coupled to said airfoil at said airfoil tip and a second end coupled to said root portion,
- wherein a coefficient of thermal expansion of said composite rod is less than or equal to a coefficient of thermal expansion of said airfoil.
A turbine blade assembly, comprising:
- a turbine blade, said turbine blade including a root portion and an airfoil, said airfoil extending radially from said root portion to an airfoil tip;
- a tip cover coupled to said airfoil at said airfoil tip;
- a rod extending within said turbine blade, said rod including a first end coupled to said tip cover and a second end coupled to said root portion;
- and
- means for coupling said second end of said rod to said root portion.
An assembly for applying a compressive force within a component, the assembly comprising:
- an attachment plate defining an opening;
- a composite rod including a first end and a second end, said first end being configured to engage said attachment plate at said opening, said second end being configured to be inserted through said opening;
- a first clamp plate including a first clamping surface;
- and
- a second clamp plate including a second clamping surface,
- wherein said first and second clamp plates are configured to be positioned around said composite rod such that said first and second clamping surfaces engage said second end of said composite rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.