Avco Corporation

Barry Goldblatt

Michael S Saboe

A composite, ceramic/metallic fabricated blade unit for an axial flow rotor includes an elongated metallic support member having an airfoil-shaped strut, one end of which is connected to a dovetail root for attachment to the rotor disc, while the opposite end thereof includes an end cap of generally airfoil-shape. The circumferential undercut extending between the end cap and the blade root is clad with an airfoil-shaped ceramic member such that the cross-section of the ceramic member substantially corresponds to the airfoil-shaped cross-section of the end cap, whereby the resulting composite ceramic/metallic blade has a smooth, exterior airfoil surface. The metallic support member has a longitudinally extending opening through which coolant is passed during the fabrication of the blade. Simultaneously, ceramic material is applied and bonded to the outer surface of the elongated airfoil-shaped strut portion, with the internal cooling of the metallic strut during the processing operation allowing the metal to withstand the processing temperature of the ceramic material.

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Orange, CT, United States of America

Barry Goldblatt