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US 2012/0244289 A1Published application
Coating Apparatus and Methods
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorDonn R. Blankenship
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coating end effector may be carried by a robot. A plasma spray head is mounted by a joint to the end effector. A plurality of actuators couple the end effector and plasma spray head to provide articulation of the joint. The apparatus may be used to coat an airfoil cluster of a gas turbine engine. The coating may include passing the head between the airfoils.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- coating an airfoil cluster, the airfoil cluster comprising a metallic substrate including:
- at least first and second airfoils, each airfoil having a pressure side and a suction side, the pressure side of the first airfoil facing the suction side of the second airfoil,
- wherein the coating comprises:
- moving a robotic end effector carrying a plasma spray head;
- articulating a joint between the end effector and plasma spray head;
- and
- discharging a plasma spray from the plasma spray head to coat the cluster, including while the plasma spray head is between the first and second airfoils.
4 more elements
A coating apparatus comprising:
- a robot;
- an end effector carried by the robot;
- a plasma spray head;
- a joint mounting the plasma spray head to the end effector;
- and
- a plurality of actuators coupling the end effector and plasma spray head to provide multi-axis articulation of the joint.
3 more elements
A coating apparatus comprising:
- a plasma spray head;
- an end effector;
- a joint mounting the plasma spray head to the end effector;
- and
- a plurality of push-pull actuators coupling the end effector and plasma spray head to provide multi-axis articulation of the joint.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.