Drag Finishing System, Method and Fixture for Gas Turbine Engine Airfoils
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsMicah Beckman, Thomas James Raymond
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system, fixture and method for media finishing a cluster of airfoils are provided. The fixture may include a base having a first end and a second end, a receptacle disposed on the base and configured to receive the stator cluster, and at least one mock airfoil disposed at each of the first and second ends of the base in alignment with the airfoils of the cluster.
Claims20
A fixture for coupling a cluster of airfoils to a media finishing mechanism, the fixture comprising:
- a base having a first end and a second end;
- a receptacle disposed on the base and configured to receive the cluster;
- and
- at least one mock airfoil disposed at each of the first and second ends of the base in alignment with the airfoils of the cluster.
A system for media finishing, comprising:
- at least one airfoil cluster a fixture having a first end, a second end, and a receptacle disposed between the first and second ends configured to receive the airfoil cluster;
- at least one mock airfoil disposed at each of the first and second ends of the fixture in radial alignment with and adjacent to the endmost airfoils of the airfoil cluster;
- and
- an abrasive media bath into which the fixture and the airfoil cluster are placed.
A method for media finishing a cluster having a plurality of airfoils, comprising the steps of:
- determining a configuration of the airfoils;
- providing a fixture having at least one mock airfoil of substantially like configuration at each end thereof;
- attaching the cluster onto the fixture such that each mock airfoil is positioned adjacent to and in alignment with an endmost airfoil of the cluster;
- coupling the fixture to a media finishing mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.