Rolls-royce Corporation

Timothy J Summers

Ewan Fergus Thompson

David Savings

Daniel J Blair

A method of forming a protective sheath for an aerofoil component includes: providing a first sheath portion and a second sheath portion, the first sheath portion and the second sheath portion each comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and an end surface between the inner and outer surfaces and having a sacrificial flange at its distal end; positioning the first sheath portion and second sheath portion so that the inner surface of the first sheath portion abuts against the inner surface of the second sheath portion with the end surfaces of the first and second sheath portions aligned to form a mating edge; and joining the first sheath portion to the second sheath portion by welding along the mating edge, wherein the sacrificial flanges are completely consumed and a curved outer profile is formed.

Method of forming a protective sheath for an aerofoil component

An assembly for hot forming a component includes first and second location features reversibly attached to a sheet metal element that forms the component. The assembly is loaded into a high temperature forming rig by loosely locating the location features into corresponding datum features in a forming tool. As the assembly heats up, the location features locate accurately with the datum features. Thus, the assembly can be accurately located onto the tool accurately and with minimal opening of the hot forming rig, thereby improving efficiency and safety.

Datum positioning in dies

A press tool arrangement for use in hot creep forming, a method of hot creep forming a component of titanium alloy, and a resilient urging arrangement usable at elevated temperatures are described. The press tool arrangement includes a die, a holder member engageable with a blank of material in the die, and a resilient urging arrangement engageable with the holder member to urge same against a blank of material in the die.

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Nottingham, United Kingdom

Timothy J Summers