Complex hole shaping
AssigneeMeyer Tool, Inc.
InventorsRonald E. Forrester, Dwight Evans Kimberlin, Gregory J. Lang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for forming a complex hole through a wall of a structure. The complex hole has a smaller cross-sectional area within the wall and an outer portion with a larger cross-sectional area adjacent a first surface of the wall. The complex hole further has an inner portion extending between the smaller cross-sectional area and an inlet opening on a second surface of the wall. The method uses an EDM process to automatically first, form an entry hole in the wall extending from the first surface to a first location inside the wall, and second, form the outer portion of the complex hole in a direction moving from the first location inside the wall toward the first surface, and third, form the inner portion of the complex hole.
Claims21
A method for forming a complex hole through a wall of a structure, the complex hole having an outer portion having a larger cross-sectional area adjacent a first surface of the wall, the complex hole having a smaller cross-sectional area within the wall, and the complex hole having an inner portion extending between the smaller cross-sectional area and an inlet opening on a second surface of the wall, the method comprising:
- automatically forming with an EDM process an entry hole in the wall extending from the first surface to a first location inside the wall;
- thereafter automatically cutting the outer portion of the complex hole with an EDM process by cutting the outer portion in a direction moving from the first location inside the wall toward the first surface;
- and
- thereafter, automatically forming the inner portion of the complex hole with an EDM process.
A method for forming a cooling hole through a wall of a structure, the cooling hole having a diffuser with an outlet of a larger cross-sectional area on a first surface of the wall, the diffuser tapering to a smaller cross-sectional area within the wall, and the cooling hole having a through-hole extending from the smaller cross-sectional area to a second surface of the wall, the method comprising:
- first, drilling with an EDM tool an entry hole in the wall extending from the first surface to a location inside the wall;
- then, automatically forming with the EDM tool the diffuser starting at the location inside the wall and moving toward the first surface;
- and
- thereafter, forming with the EDM tool the through-hole.
A method of forming a cooling hole in an air-cooled component of a gas turbine engine, the component having a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the cooling hole having
- a diffuser portion extending between an outlet opening having a larger cross-sectional area on the outer surface and a smaller cross-sectional area location inside the wall portion, and
- an inlet portion extending between the smaller cross-sectional area location and an inlet opening on the inner surface, the method comprising:
- drilling with an EDM tool an entry hole from the outer surface to the smaller cross-sectional area location;
- then, forming the diffuser with the EDM tool by first removing material closer to the smaller cross-sectional area location and thereafter, removing material closer to the outlet opening on the outer surface, and
- thereafter, removing with the EDM tool material between the smaller cross-sectional area location and the inlet opening to form the inlet portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.