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US 9,752,442 B2Granted
Airfoil with variable profile responsive to thermal conditions
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsRichard K. Hayford, Paul M. Lutjen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airfoil includes an airfoil body having a first section and a second section that differ in coefficient of thermal expansion by at least 10% and that each have a through-thickness that is 20% or greater than a through-thickness of the airfoil body. The second section is arranged in thermomechanical juxtaposition with the first section such that the first section and the second section cooperatively thermomechanically control a profile of the airfoil body responsive to varying thermal conditions.
Claims19
An airfoil comprising:
- an airfoil body including a first section and a second section that differ in coefficient of thermal expansion by at least 10% and that each have a through-thickness that is 20% or greater than a through-thickness of the airfoil body, the second section being arranged in thermomechanical juxtaposition with the first section such that the first section and the second section cooperatively thermomechanically control a profile of the airfoil body responsive to varying thermal conditions, wherein the first section forms a pressure side of the airfoil body and a suction side of the airfoil body, and the second section is disposed on the first section and has a wedge shape that tapers toward a radially inner end of the airfoil body.
A turbomachine comprising:
- an airfoil including an airfoil body having a first section and a second section that differ in coefficient of thermal expansion by at least 10% and that each have a through-thickness that is 20% or greater than a through-thickness of the airfoil body, the second section being arranged in thermomechanical juxtaposition with the first section such that the first section and the second section cooperatively thermomechanically control a profile of the airfoil body responsive to varying thermal conditions, wherein the first section forms a pressure side of the airfoil body and a suction side of the airfoil body, and the second section is disposed on the first section and has a wedge shape that tapers toward a radially inner end of the airfoil body.
An airfoil comprising:
- an airfoil body including a first section and a second section that differ in coefficient of thermal expansion by at least 10% and that each have a through-thickness that is 20% or greater than a through-thickness of the airfoil body, the second section being arranged in thermomechanical juxtaposition with the first section such that the first section and the second section cooperatively thermomechanically control a profile of the airfoil body responsive to varying thermal conditions, wherein the first section is a core and the second section is a shell circumscribing the core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.