# US 2016/0258306 A1 · Baffle inserts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0258306 A1 - Document ID: US20160258306A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/635,168 - Filed: 2015-03-02 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-02 - Assignees: United Technologies Corporation - Applicants: United Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler; Gina Cavallo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258306A1 ## CPC - F01D 9/065: {Fluid supply or removal conduits traversing the working fluid flow, e.g. for lubrication-, cooling-, or sealing fluids (see also F01D25/16, F01D25/24 and F01D25/26)} - F01D 5/188: {with an insert in the blade cavity to guide the cooling fluid, e.g. forming a separation wall} - F01D 5/189: {the insert having a tubular cross-section, e.g. airfoil shape} - F01D 9/041: {using blades (F01D5/148 takes precedence)} - F01D 25/12: Cooling - F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines - F05D 2230/64: using positioning or alignment devices for aligning or centring, e.g. pins - F05D 2230/642: using maintaining alignment while permitting differential dilatation - F05D 2240/12: Fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes - F05D 2240/126: Baffles or ribs - F05D 2260/221: Improvement of heat transfer - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract An airfoil includes an airfoil body extending from an inner diameter platform to an opposed outer diameter platform along a longitudinal axis. The airfoil body defines a leading edge and a trailing edge and has a cavity defined between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the inner diameter platform and the outer diameter platform. The cavity includes an airfoil protrusion extending inward from an inner surface of the airfoil body. The airfoil includes a baffle body within the cavity extending along a baffle body axis. The baffle body has a baffle protrusion extending along a central protrusion axis at an angle with respect to the baffle body axis. The end of the baffle protrusion abuts an end of the airfoil protrusion. A flow path is defined between the inner surface of the airfoil body and the outer surface of the baffle body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A baffle insert for an airfoil, comprising: a baffle body extending from a first end to a second end along a baffle body axis, the baffle body including: a plurality of protrusions extending outward along respective central protrusion axes at an angle with respect to the baffle body axis, wherein the distance between an end of a first protrusion and an outer surface of the baffle body taken along the respective central protrusion axis of the first protrusion is less than that of a second protrusion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The baffle insert as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of protrusions proximate to the second end of the baffle body is longer than one of the plurality of protrusions proximate to the first end of the baffle body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The baffle insert as recited in claim 1, wherein the protrusions extend from a leading edge side of the baffle body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The baffle insert as recited in claim 1, wherein the protrusions extend from a trailing edge side of the baffle body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The baffle insert as recited in claim 1, wherein the protrusions extend from a suction side of the baffle body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The baffle insert as recited in claim 1, wherein the protrusions extend from a pressure side of the baffle body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The baffle insert as recited in claim 1, wherein a distance between the outer surface of the baffle body and the baffle body axis taken in a direction normal to the outer surface of the baffle body varies along the baffle body axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The baffle insert as recited in claim 1, wherein the maximum distance from the baffle body axis to the outer surface of the baffle body, taken in a transverse direction with respect to the baffle body axis, is less than or equal to the minimum distance taken from the baffle body axis to an end of each one of the protrusions in a transverse direction with respect to the baffle body axis. ### Claim 9 An airfoil comprising: an airfoil body extending from an inner diameter platform to an opposed outer diameter platform along a longitudinal axis, wherein the airfoil body defines a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a cavity defined between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the inner diameter platform and the outer diameter platform, the cavity having an airfoil protrusion extending inward from an inner surface of the airfoil body; and a baffle body within the cavity extending along a baffle body axis, the baffle body having a baffle protrusion extending along a central protrusion axis at an angle with respect to the baffle body axis, wherein the end of the baffle protrusion abuts an end of the airfoil protrusion to maintain the position of the baffle body within the airfoil body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The airfoil as recited in claim 9, wherein the distance between the inner surface of the airfoil body and an outer surface of the baffle body varies along the baffle body axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The airfoil as recited in claim 9, wherein the airfoil body includes a fluid inlet proximate to one of the inner or outer diameter platforms, wherein the distance between the inner surface of the airfoil body and the outer surface of the baffle body taken in a direction normal to the inner surface of the airfoil body is smaller proximate the platform opposite the fluid inlet than proximate to the other platform. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The airfoil as recited in claim 9, wherein a flow path is defined between the inner surface of the airfoil body and the outer surface of the baffle body, and wherein the cross-sectional area of the flow path varies along the baffle body axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The airfoil as recited in claim 9, wherein the airfoil body includes a fluid inlet proximate to the outer diameter platform, wherein a flow path is defined between the inner surface of the airfoil body and the outer surface of the baffle body, wherein the cross-sectional area of the flow path converges in a direction away from the fluid inlet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The airfoil as recited in claim 9, wherein the airfoil body includes a fluid inlet proximate to the inner diameter platform, wherein a flow path is defined between the inner surface of the airfoil body and the outer surface of the baffle body, wherein the cross-sectional area of the flow path converges in a direction away from the fluid inlet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The airfoil as recited in claim 9, wherein the surface area of the end of one of the baffle protrusion or the airfoil protrusion is greater than the surface area of the end of the other abutting protrusion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The airfoil as recited in claim 9, wherein the airfoil protrusion is one of a plurality of airfoil protrusions and wherein the baffle protrusion is one of a plurality of baffle protrusions, wherein each baffle protrusion abuts a respective airfoil protrusion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The airfoil as recited in claim 9, wherein the baffle protrusion is a first baffle protrusion proximate to a first end of the baffle body, wherein the first baffle protrusion is shorter than a second baffle protrusion proximate to a second end of the baffle body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The airfoil as recited in claim 9, wherein the distance between the outer surface of the baffle body and the baffle body axis taken in a direction normal to the outer surface of the baffle body varies along the baffle body axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The airfoil as recited in claim 9, wherein the maximum distance from the baffle body axis to the outer surface of the baffle body taken in a transverse direction with respect to the baffle body axis is less than or equal to the minimum distance from the baffle body axis to the end of the baffle protrusion taken in a transverse direction with respect to the baffle body axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The airfoil as recited in claim 9, wherein the inner surface of the airfoil body includes inwardly extending raised tripping portions.