United Technologies Corporation

Paul M Buxe

James F Marshall

Paul A Smith, Jr

A Paul Matheny

A method and apparatus are disclosed for fabrication of hollow articles by hot consolidation of metal alloy powder between a hollow core and a fluid pressure resistant outer shell. The hollow core is formed, a disposable layer is applied to define the object contour, a fluid pressure resistant metallic layer is formed over the disposable layer, which is then melted, removed and replaced by the metal alloy powder, and this assembly is hot isostatically pressed. The powder and core materials are preferably selected to be metallurgically compatible, so the core becomes an integral part of the finished article. The hollow article is inflated in a form die to establish the finished article contour.

Powder forging of hollow articles

A snap ring substantially uniform corss section is placed within a groove in a rotor disk of a bladed rotor. Unbalance of the bladed rotor with the ring installed is determined. The snap ring is removed for grinding to correct the unbalance and reinstalled at the same location grinding on or near the rotor is thereby avoided.

Gas turbine engine balancing

An augmentor liner support band is formed having finger positioners for connecting the support band to an augmentor liner; the support band being formed of three built-up ribbons, or strips, or sheet metal, one inner ribbon having spaced fingers extending therefrom; a second and middle ribbon being corrugated; and a third plain outer ribbon extending around the corrugated ribbon forming a rigid band. The inner ribbon is circumferentially spaced from an augmentor liner while the free ends of the extending fingers are attached to an axially spaced part of the augmentor liner.

Augmentor liner support band having finger positioners

The neck portion of a rotor blade includes an annular, axially projecting segment integral with the neck and having side edges abutting corresponding segments of adjacent blades to form a segmented annular ring which cooperates with static structure to define an interstage annular seal. Each blade also includes an air dam extending laterally from each side of the root neck and extending radially between the blade platform and the annular seal segment. The air dams of adjacent blades also abut each other to define an annular seal which prevents the axial flow of air across the rotor stage under the blade platforms between the blade root necks. In a preferred embodiment thin strips of silicone rubber are used to seal any gaps between the abutting edges of adjacent blades.

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Lake Park, FL, United States of America

Paul M Buxe