Method for manufacturing hollow airfoils (four-piece concept)
US5285573A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 1993 |
| Grant date | Feb 15, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 8, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49893
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method is provided for making a four-piece hollow airfoil. Four metal sheets are preformed into initial shapes. The sheets are sealed together into two pairs or sub-assemblies. Internal cavities are formed in one sheet from each pair prior to sealing. Each sub-assembly is subjected to high temperature and pressure in order to diffusion bond the sheets together at selected points. The cavities of each sub-assembly are then subjected to internal pressure in order to inflate and superplastically deform the sub-assemblies. The inflated sub-assemblies are combined to form a single assembly and the cavities are again subjected to internal pressure in order to bond the sub-assemblies together. The assembly is then exposed to hot isostatic pressing, after which, excess material is machined off.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.