Method and a gauge for measuring the service life remaining in a blade

A gauge for measuring service life remaining in a blade of a gas turbine engine, the blade having a root region, an opposed tip, a midspan region disposed therebetween, the midspan region including a leading edge extending from the root region to the tip, a trailing edge extending from the root region to the tip and spaced from the leading edge, a spanwise direction extending between the root region and the tip, and a chordal direction extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the gauge comprising:

• a first stop for positioning the blade in the spanwise direction;
• a second stop for positioning the blade at a point along the chordal direction a predetermined distance from the tip of the blade where the blade is characterized by a predetermined thickness;
• and
• means for measuring a distance from the point to the trailing edge, such that the distance indicates the remaining blade service life.

A gauge for measuring service life remaining in a blade of a gas turbine engine, the blade having a root region, an opposed tip, a midspan region disposed therebetween, the midspan region including a leading edge extending from the root region to the tip, a trailing edge extending from the root region to the tip and spaced from the leading edge, a spanwise direction extending between the root region and the tip, and a chordal direction extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the gauge comprising:

• a U-shaped housing including two spaced parallel side walls joined by a rear wall;
• a first stop for positioning the blade in the spanwise direction, the first stop including a rod extending between the side walls of the housing;
• a second stop for positioning the blade at a point along the chordal direction where the blade is characterized by a predetermined blade thickness at a predetermined distance from the tip of the blade;
• the second stop including two posts, each post being engaged with one of the side walls of the housing to form a gap therebetween;
• and
• a movable rod extending through the rear wall of the housing, said rod having a graduation for dividing the rod into a plurality of regions,
• whereby upon insertion of the blade into the housing the blade moves the movable rod and the region protruding from the rear wall indicates the distance from the point to the trailing edge.

A gauge for measuring service life remaining in a blade of a gas turbine engine, the blade having a root region, an opposed tip, a midspan region disposed therebetween, the midspan region including a leading edge extending from the root region to the tip, a trailing edge extending from the root region to the tip and spaced from the leading edge, a spanwise direction extending between the root region and the tip, and a chordal direction extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the gauge comprising:

• a U-shaped housing including two spaced parallel side walls joined by a rear wall;
• a first stop for positioning the blade in the spanwise direction, the first stop including a rod extending between the side walls of the housing;
• a second stop for positioning the blade at a point along the chordal direction where the blade is characterized by a predetermined blade thickness at a predetermined distance from the tip of the blade;
• the
• second stop including a post engaged with one side wall of the housing and a micrometer engaged with the other side wall of the housing to form a gap therebetween;
• and
• a digital indicator including a movable rod extending through the rear wall of the housing,
• whereby upon insertion of the blade into the housing the blade moves the movable rod and the digital indicator indicates the distance from the point to the trailing edge.