US 6,273,676 B1 · Method and assembly for masking a flow directing assembly

Abstract

A method and shield assembly 12 for use in processing a flow directing assembly 10, such as a stator vane or rotor blade, is disclosed. Various details are developed for the construction of the shield assembly and for the method of masking the flow directing assembly. The shield assembly has a shield having two sides 52, 56 and at least one tab 56 which extends from one of the sides and through the other side and is pressed against the other side. In one embodiment, the method includes exerting a force against the shield to block movement of the shield from the installed position. The shield assembly might include a locking member for this purpose which has a projection 106a which is attached to the shield or a locking member 42 which is not attached to the shield and which has a tab 114 which engages the shield and a projection 112 which engages the airfoil. Alternatively, the shield assembly might include a clamp 92 which presses the shield against the airfoil.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method for masking a flow directing assembly of a rotary machine having a flow directing surface, the flow directing assembly having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a base end and a tip end, while exposing a portion of the assembly in the location of at least one of said ends for processing and then unmasking the assembly after processing, comprising:

disposing about the flow directing assembly a shield having a front, a front edge, a rear, a rear edge, two sides, and having the sides joined at the front edge and further having tabs at the rear edge, the shield having an installed position with respect to the flow directing assembly;
pulling at least one tab both through the other side and over the other side, the tab extending with respect to the other side at a point past the rear edge;
pressing each pulled tab into a faying relationship with the other side to urge the sides together;
spanwisely positioning the shield to the installed position with respect to one of said ends at any time prior to removing the shield;
unbending the tabs from the faying side to permit opening the shield;
and,
removing the shield from the flow directing assembly.

4 more elements

An assembly for masking a flow directing assembly of a rotary machine during processing of the flow directing assembly at elevated temperatures which would destroy an elastomeric shield, the flow directing assembly having a flow directing surface having a leading edge, a trailing edge, cooling openings, and having a base end and a tip end, while exposing a portion of the assembly in the location of at least one of said ends for processing and then unmasking the assembly after processing, which comprises:

a shield having an installed position with respect to the flow directing assembly which masks the flow directing assembly, the shield being disposed in the installed position about the flow directing surface and having sides which are disposed adjacent the flow directing surface between the leading edge and the trailing edge;
means for blocking the movement of the shield from the installed position during processing at elevated temperatures that would destroy an elastomer and for engaging a separate member, the separate member having at least one opening;
wherein said means extends into the opening and wherein the separate member is separate from the means and is selected from the group of the shield and the flow directing assembly;
and,
wherein a means for blocking movement of the shield which is attached to the shield engages at least one opening in the flow directing assembly or wherein a means for blocking movement of the shield which is separate from the shield engages at least one opening in the shield.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and assembly for masking a flow directing assembly

Life of this patent

Method and assembly for masking a flow directing assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24