# US 2018/0021899 A1 · Methods of manufacturing a tandem guide vane segment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0021899 A1 - Document ID: US20180021899A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/650,235 - Filed: 2017-07-14 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-22 - Assignees: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG - Applicants: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG - Inventors: Oliver KOEHNE; Felix GOEPPINGER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021899A1 ## CPC - B23P 15/02: turbine or like blades from one piece - F01D 5/146: {of blades with tandem configuration, split blades or slotted blades} - F01D 9/042: {fixing blades to stators (fixing stator-rings in the casing or to each other F01D25/246)} - F01D 9/044: {permanently, e.g. by welding, brazing, casting or the like} - B23C 2215/44: Turbine blades - B23P 15/006: {turbine wheels} - F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines - F05D 2230/10: by removing material - F05D 2230/21: by casting - F05D 2230/232: by welding - F05D 2240/12: Fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - B23C: MILLING (broaching B23D; broach-milling in making gears B23F; arrangement for copying or controlling B23Q) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract Methods for manufacturing a tandem guide vane segment that includes an outer platform, a front guide vane, and a rear guide vane, wherein the front guide vane and the rear guide vane are arranged in a firmly fixated manner with respect to one another. One method includes manufacturing an integral front segment section that includes the front guide vane and a front section of the outer platform, manufacturing an integral rear segment section that includes the rear guide vane and a rear section of the outer platform, and connecting the two segment sections to each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for manufacturing a tandem guide vane segment that comprises an outer platform, a front guide vane, and a rear guide vane, wherein the front guide vane and the rear guide vane are arranged in a firmly fixated manner with respect to one another and form a gap in between them, wherein the method comprises: manufacturing an integral intermediate structure that has material areas that comprise the final outer platform, the final front guide vane, and the final rear guide vane, wherein, in the intermediate structure, the gap between the final front guide vane and the final rear guide vane is filled with material of the intermediate structure, further processing of the intermediate structure into the final tandem guide vane segment, wherein the further processing comprises manufacturing a gap in the intermediate structure for separating the front and the rear guide vane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the manufacturing of the integral intermediate structure is performed by means of forging or casting. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the forming of the gap is performed by means of a milling or a cutting method. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the tandem guide vane segment to be manufactured additionally comprises an inner platform, wherein the integral intermediate structure also comprises material areas that comprise the final inner platform. ### Claim 5 A method for manufacturing a tandem guide vane segment that comprises an outer platform, a front guide vane, and a rear guide vane, wherein the front guide vane and the rear guide vane are arranged in a firmly fixated manner with respect to one another, and overlap each other in the axial direction, wherein the method comprises: manufacturing an integral front segment section that comprises the front guide vane and a front section of the outer platform, manufacturing an integral rear segment section that comprises the rear guide vane and a rear section of the outer platform, and connecting the two segment sections. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the front segment section forms a rear limiting line to the rear segment section in the area of the outer platform, the rear segment section forms a front limiting line to the front segment section in the area of the outer platform, the two limiting lines are embodied in an S-shaped or Z-shaped manner, wherein the front guide vane does not protrude beyond the rear limiting line, and the rear guide vane does not protrude beyond the front limiting line, and the two segment sections are connected to each other along the two limiting lines. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the front segment section forms a rear limiting line to the rear segment section in the area of the outer platform, the rear segment section forms a front limiting line to the front segment section in the area of the outer platform, the two limiting lines are embodied in a rectilinear manner, wherein the front guide vane protrudes beyond the rear limiting line, and/or the rear guide vane protrudes beyond the front limiting line, and the two segment sections are connected to each other along the two limiting lines. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the tandem guide vane segment to be manufactured additionally comprises an inner platform, wherein the front segment section further comprises a front section of the inner platform, and the rear segment section further comprises a rear section of the inner platform. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the front segment section forms a rear limiting line to the rear segment section in the area of the inner platform, the rear segment section forms a front limiting line to the front segment section in the area of the inner platform, the two limiting lines are embodied in an S-shaped or Z-shaped manner, so that that the front guide vane does not protrude beyond the rear limiting line, and the rear guide vane does not protrude beyond the front limiting line, and the two segment sections are additionally connected to each other along the two limiting lines in the area of the inner platform. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the front segment section forms a rear limiting line to the rear segment section in the area of the inner platform, the rear segment section forms a front limiting line to the front segment section in the area of the inner platform, the two limiting lines are embodied in a rectilinear manner, wherein the front guide vane protrudes beyond the rear limiting line, and/or the rear guide vane protrudes beyond the front limiting line, and the two segment sections are additionally connected to each other along the two limiting lines in the area of the inner platform. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the tandem guide vane segment to be manufactured additionally comprises an inner platform, wherein the inner platform is formed integrally only with the front segment section. ### Claim 12 A method for manufacturing a tandem guide vane segment that comprises as components an outer platform, a front guide vane, and a rear guide vane, wherein the front guide vane and the rear guide vane are arranged in a firmly fixated manner with respect to one another, wherein the method comprises: manufacturing at least one of the guide vanes as a separate structural component, and connecting the guide vane manufactured as a separate structural component to at least one of the other structural components. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein all components are manufactured as separate structural components and are connected to each other by form-fitting and/or welding or soldering. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the outer platform and one of the guide vanes are manufactured as an integral structural component, the other guide vane is manufactured as a separate structural component, and the other guide vane is connected to the integral structural component. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one guide vane that is manufactured as a separate structural component is connected to the outer platform by means of a friction welding method. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the tandem guide vane segment additionally comprises an inner platform, and the at least one guide vane manufactured as a separate structural component is connected to the inner platform by means of a friction welding method. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein respectively one recess for attaching the front and the rear guide vanes is formed in the outer platform, respectively one projection is formed at the radially outer end of the front guide vane and the rear guide vane, and the front guide vane and the rear guide vane are connected with the outer platform by inserting the projection into the respective recess. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the tandem guide vane segment additionally comprises an inner platform, wherein the inner platform is also manufactured as a separate part, and wherein respectively one recess for attaching the front guide vane and rear guide vane is formed in the inner platform, respectively one projection is formed at the radially inner end of the front guide vane and the rear guide vane, and the front guide vane and the rear guide vane are connected to the inner platform by respectively inserting the projection into in the respective recess of the inner platform. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the outer platform and one of the guide vanes are manufactured as an integral structural component, wherein an elongated reception structure is formed in the outer platform, the other guide vane is manufactured as a separate structural component, wherein an outer connecting structure is formed at the radially outer end of the other guide vane, which is suitable to be inserted into the elongated outer reception structure of the outer platform, and the other guide vane is connected to the integral structural component by being inserted with its outer connecting structure into the elongated reception structure of the outer platform. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the tandem guide vane segment additionally comprises an inner platform, wherein the inner platform is manufactured as an integral structural component together with the outer platform and the one guide vane, an elongated reception structure is also formed in the inner platform, an inner connecting structure is formed at the other guide vane at its radially inner end, and the other guide vane is connected to the integral structural component by inserting the other guide vane with its outer connecting structure into the elongated reception structure of the outer platform, and with its inner connecting structure into the elongated reception structure of the inner platform. ### Claim 21 A method for manufacturing a tandem guide vane segment that comprises an outer platform, an inner platform, a front guide vane, and a rear guide vane, wherein the front guide vane and the rear guide vane are arranged in a firmly fixated manner with respect to one another, wherein the method comprises: manufacturing the outer platform and one of the guide vanes as a first integral structural component; manufacturing the inner platform and the other guide vane as a second integral structural component; and connecting the two integral structural components by connecting the radially outer vane end of the other guide vane to the outer platform, and the radially inner vane end of the one guide vane to the inner platform. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein the connection of the two integral structural components is performed by respectively inserting projections of the guide vanes into recesses of the platforms. ### Claim 23 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the outer platform of the tandem guide vane segment is formed in a rectangular manner and has limiting lines that extend in a rectilinear manner in the axial direction. ### Claim 24 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the tandem guide vane segment is formed with exactly one front guide vane and exactly one rear guide vane. ### Claim 25 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the tandem guide vane segment is formed with multiple front guide vanes that are arranged at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction, and multiple rear guide vanes arranged at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction, wherein respectively one front guide vane and one rear guide vane form a tandem vane.