United Technologies Corporation

Other

Robert G Adinolfi

Joseph Parkos, Jr

Gary A Gruver

Joseph F Loersch

James W Neal

Lester W Jordan

Richard James Dansereau

Melvin C Barlow

Raymond M Hammond

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming abrasive surfaces on the tips of a plurality of workpieces such as the tips of gas turbine airfoil blades. The method broadly comprises the steps of providing a mechanical masking device having a plurality of openings arranged around the circumference of the device, installing an array containing a plurality of workpieces to be coated within the mechanical masking device so that portions of the workpieces including the tips thereof extend through the openings, immersing the mechanical masking device with the installed array of workpieces in a tank containing a plating bath with a matrix material and an abrasive grit material in slurry form so that the workpieces lie in a substantially horizontal plane, and applying a current through the plating bath to form the abrasive surfaces on the tips of the workpieces. The mechanical masking device protects portions of the array from the coating operation. A barrier device is also used to confine the abrasive grit material within a desired space during the formation of the abrasive coating on the tip portions.

Method for abrasive tipping of integrally bladed rotors

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming abrasive surfaces on the tips of a plurality of workpieces such as the tips of gas turbine airfoil blades. The method broadly comprises the steps of providing a mechanical masking device having a plurality of openings arranged around the circumference of the device, installing an array containing a plurality of workpieces to be coated within the mechanical masking device so that portions of the workpieces including the tips thereof extend through the openings, immersing the mechanical masking device with the installed array of workpieces in a tank containing a plating bath with a matrix material and an abrasive grit material in slurry form so that the workpieces lie in a substantially horizontal plane, and applying a current through the plating bath to form the abrasive surfaces of the tips of the workpieces. The mechanical masking device protects portions of the array form the coating operation. A barrier device is also used to confine the abrasive grit material within a desired space during the formation of the abrasive coating on the tip portions.

Apparatus for abrasive tipping of integrally bladed rotors

Method for CBN tipping of HPC integrally bladed rotors

The present invention relates to a tool for accurately controlling the location, volume and containment of an abrasive grit material during a plating operation wherein the grit material and a matrix metal are deposited onto a tip portion of at least one workpiece. The tool of the present invention has an inner component with slots for receiving the workpieces to be coated. The tool also has an outer components having a plurality of through slots for permitting a plating solution to flow therethrough and into a space defined by the inner and outer components. The tool further has a slot defined by portions of the inner and outer component for introducing the abrasive grit material into the space. A screen is provided over the slots in the outer component. The screen helps maintain the abrasive grit material within the space while permitting plating solution to flow into the space. The tool of the present invention further has a trough for collecting unused grit material. A method for forming a coating on a tip portion of a workpiece or workpieces using the tool of the present invention is also disclosed.

Mask and grit container

Thin edged workpieces are chemically milled to remove material uniformly from their surfaces by tumbling the workpieces in a barrel in which is contained a sufficient volume of inert polymer particulate media. Titanium airfoils for turbomachinery are able to have an oxidized surface layer removed without suffering small nicks and other damage to their critically shaped edges.

Chemical milling using an inert particulate and moving vessel

By coating a workpiece with a uniform layer of polyimide containing surfactant upon the nonweld areas, spatter produced in electron beam welding of the workpiece is prevented from adhering to the workpiece surface in the nonweld areas. The polyimide coating is so constituted as to be adherent, heat stable, acid resistant, and chemically removeable. Silicone surfactant is preferred.

Weld spatter protective coating

Disclosed is apparatus and method for electrochemically finishing the edges of airfoils and other thin edged objects. When the edge on an airfoil varies in thickness along its length, a tapered electrode is provided which has both a decreased diameter and increased spacing distance, providing a means for obtaining an edge with a radius proportioned to the thickness. Generally, in the system having an electrode with a unit surface area A, and with an electrode-workpiece surface spacing distance S, both A and S are changed so that the ratio A/S is lowered for electrode portions proximate to edge portions having lowered thickness.

Growing community of inventors

Manchester, CT, United States of America

Robert G Adinolfi