Method of replacing a composite airfoil
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorJoseph L. Moroso
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of replacing a portion of a composite airfoil in a turbine. The method comprises the steps of providing a turbine with a plurality of composite airfoils mounted on a wheel. At least one of the composite airfoils has a core made of a non-plastic material and a plastic airfoil portion to envelope at least a portion of the core. A composite airfoil having an airfoil portion in need of replacement is accessed. The plastic airfoil portion is removed to expose the core while the core is mounted on the wheel. A plastic airfoil portion is molded to envelope the core while the core is mounted on the wheel.
Claims8
A method of replacing a portion of a composite airfoil in a turbine, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a turbine with a plurality of composite airfoils mounted on a wheel, at least one of the composite airfoils having a core made of a non-plastic material and a plastic airfoil portion to envelope at least a portion of the core;
- accessing a composite airfoil having an airfoil portion in need of replacement;
- removing the plastic airfoil portion to expose the core while the core is mounted on the wheel;
- and
- molding a plastic airfoil portion to envelope the core while the core is mounted on the wheel, wherein the molding step comprises the steps of:
- providing a mold;
- placing and sealing the mold around the core;
- and directing flowable plastic material into the mold by injection molding to form the plastic airfoil portion enveloping the core.
A method of replacing a portion of a composite airfoil in a turbine, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a turbine with a plurality of composite airfoils mounted on a wheel, at least one of the composite airfoils having a core made of a non-plastic material and a plastic airfoil portion to envelope at least a portion of the core;
- accessing a composite airfoil having an airfoil portion in need of replacement;
- removing the plastic airfoil portion to expose the core while the core is mounted on the wheel;
- and
- molding a plastic airfoil portion to envelope at least the a leading edge of the core while the core is mounted on the wheel, wherein the molding step comprises the steps of:
- providing a mold;
- placing and sealing the mold around the core;
- and directing flowable plastic material into the mold by injection molding to form the plastic airfoil portion enveloping the core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.