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US 9,868,155 B2Granted
Monolithic shrouded impeller
AssigneeIngersoll-Rand Company
InventorsThomas E. Gerber, Michael A. Nuchereno, Noel D. Blair, Jr., Robert Small
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Abstract
An impeller including a hub body, a shroud surrounding the hub body, and a plurality of impeller blades extending from the hub body to the shroud, wherein the hub body, the shroud, and the plurality of impeller blades are a one-piece structure.
Claims18
An impeller, comprising:
- a hub body, wherein the hub body includes at least one internal void separate from a shaft aperture;
- a shroud surrounding the hub body;
- a plurality of impeller blades extending from the hub body to the shroud, wherein the hub body, the shroud, and the plurality of impeller blades are a one-piece structure;
- wherein at least one of the plurality of impeller blades comprises at least one internal void;
- a rib extending between opposing internal walls of the hub body through the at least one internal void;
- and
- wherein the at least one internal void remains devoid of solid material after the one-piece structure is completely formed.
4 more elements
An impeller, comprising:
- a hub body;
- a shroud surrounding the hub body;
- a plurality of impeller blades extending from the hub body to the shroud, wherein the hub body, the shroud, and the plurality of impeller blades are integrated with one another as a one-piece structure;
- wherein the hub body and/or the shroud, and at least one of the plurality of impeller blades comprises at least one internal void;
- at least one supporting rib extending through the at least one of the internal void;
- and
- wherein the at least one internal void remains within the impeller in a final form.
4 more elements
A method of manufacturing a one-piece shrouded impeller, comprising:
- forming a first shape with a first layer of metal particles;
- adding additional layers of metal particles on top of the first layer of particles;
- forming shapes with each of the additional layers of metal particles until formation of the one-piece shrouded impeller;
- wherein forming shapes in the additional layers of metal particles comprises forming one or more internal voids within the one-piece shrouded impeller;
- forming a rib through one or more of the internal voids;
- and
- wherein the one or more internal voids are present in the one-piece shrouded impeller after manufacturing processes are complete.
4 more elements
An impeller, comprising:
- a hub body, wherein the hub body includes at least one internal void separate from a shaft aperture;
- a shroud surrounding the hub body;
- a plurality of impeller blades extending from the hub body to the shroud, wherein the hub body, the shroud, and the plurality of impeller blades are a one-piece structure;
- wherein at least one of the plurality of impeller blades comprises at least one internal void;
- a rib extending between opposing internal walls of the hub body through the at least one internal void;
- and
- wherein the at least one internal void comprises an annular void in the hub that extends circumferentially about an axis of the impeller.
4 more elements
An impeller, comprising:
- a hub body;
- a shroud surrounding the hub body;
- a plurality of impeller blades extending from the hub body to the shroud, wherein the hub body, the shroud, and the plurality of impeller blades are integrated with one another as a one-piece structure;
- wherein the hub body and/or the shroud, and at least one of the plurality of impeller blades comprises at least one internal void;
- at least one supporting rib extending through the at least one of the internal void;
- and
- wherein the at least one internal void comprises an annular void that extends circumferentially about an axis of the impeller.
4 more elements
A method of manufacturing a one-piece shrouded impeller comprising:
- forming a first shape with a first layer of metal particles;
- adding additional layers of metal particles on top of the first layer of particles;
- forming shapes with each of the additional layers of metal particles until formation of the one-piece shrouded impeller;
- wherein forming shapes in the additional layers of metal particles comprises forming one or more internal voids within the one-piece shrouded impeller;
- forming a rib through one or more of the internal voids;
- and
- removing excess metal particles.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.