Flush bucket cover
US6454534B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49321
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A bucket cover to be attached to the tip of a turbine bucket has an aperture with an engageable geometry for receiving a tenon extending from the bucket and retaining the bucket cover to the bucket. The cover has an outer planar surface, an inner planar surface to abut against the bucket and an aperture extending between its surfaces. The aperture is defined by a sidewall that has multiple surfaces of varying cross-sectional size so as to structurally engage a tenon that is deformed during assembly. The sidewall of the aperture has a concave curved portion adjacent the outer planar surface leading to a narrow throat portion that corresponds generally to the size and shape of an undeformed tenon. In a method of making a turbine blade attached to a bucket cover, after a tenon is received in the aperture, the tenon is deformed by application of compressive force so that the tenon fills the aperture of the cover. The deformed tenon engages the various surfaces of the aperture sidewall to secure the cover on the bucket. The button head that is formed on the outer planar surface of the cover by excess tenon material is removed along with a thin layer of the outer planar surface of the bu…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.