Rolls-royce Corporation

Matthew D Curren

Simon Read

Eric P Ravey

A rotary blade tip insert for incorporation into a rotary blade, for example, a rotary fan blade in a gas turbine engine. The tip insert comprises a sleeve for insertion into a recess provided in said rotary blade. The sleeve has a radially outer end defining an opening, a radially inner end and opposing wall portions extending between said ends. The tip insert further comprises a tip element having a crown portion and a root portion for insertion into the opening of said sleeve.

Rotary blade with tip insert

A welding method including the steps of: providing, in a first position, a weld target assembly having a welding region and a weld tab located adjacent the welding region, the weld tab changeable from a first physical configuration to a second physical configuration when subject to a first type of weld operation; performing a first weld process on the welding region and weld tab; moving the assembly from the first to a second position; providing safeguard apparatus for cooperating with the weld tab to: prevent the assembly from moving to the second position when the first weld procedure did not include the first type of weld operation; and permit the assembly be moved to the second position when the first weld procedure included the first type of weld operation. The assembly includes a sub-assembly having a foot member and blade portion welded together, thereby ultimately forming an output guide vane.

Welding method and system

A mechanical joint for joining two components, the joint having a male part on one component and a corresponding female part on the other component. The male and female parts have respective castellations which intercalate on insertion of the male part into the female part along a direction of insertion. Respective abutment surfaces are formed on the projections of the castellations. The castellations are configured such that, after the insertion of the male part into the female part, the male and female parts can be rotated relative to each other around the direction of insertion to bring: (i) the abutment surfaces into facing alignment and thereby prevent the parts from being pulled apart, and (ii) the indentations of the castellations into facing alignment. The joint has one or more locking members which are insertable into the facing indentations to prevent further relative rotation of the male and female parts.

Mechanical joint

A damped assembly within a gas turbine, comprising a first member and a second member mechanically connected via an intermediate vibration dampener which has at least first and second surfaces for contacting the first and second members respectively, wherein either or both of the first and second surfaces include a plurality of raised portions in direct contact with the respective member and a plurality of recessed portions which contain adhesive for bonding the intermediate vibration dampener to the respective member.

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Derby, United Kingdom

Matthew D Curren