Center plenum support for a multiwall turbine airfoil casting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10052683-B2
Application number	US-201514977028-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2015
Priority date	Dec 21, 2015
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A core for a turbine airfoil casting according to an embodiment includes: a center plenum section; and a plurality of outer passage sections; wherein the center plenum section includes at least one boss extending outwardly from the center plenum to an outer profile of the core.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A core for a turbine airfoil casting, comprising:
a center plenum section; and
a plurality of outer passage sections;
wherein the center plenum section includes a first boss and a second boss extending outwardly from the center plenum section to an outer profile of the core,
wherein the first boss extends outwardly from the center plenum section toward a first side of the core, and the second boss extends outwardly from the center plenum section toward a second side of the core.

2. The core according to claim 1 , wherein the first boss has an outer contact surface having a contour matching a contour of a corresponding contact area on a first setter block, and wherein the second boss has an outer contact surface matching a contour of a corresponding contact area on a second setter block.

3. The core according to claim 1 , wherein the core is disposed between a first setter block and a second setter block, and wherein the first and second bosses control the position, and prevent movement of, the center plenum section in a cavity formed by the lower setter block and upper setter block during a firing process.

4. The core according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second bosses have an elliptical shape.

5. The core according to claim 4 , wherein the elliptical shape has a length to width ratio in the range of about 3:1 to about 10:1.

6. The core according to claim 4 , wherein the elliptical shape has a length to width ratio of about 7:1.

7. The core according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second bosses extends outwardly from the center plenum section between a pair of the outer passage sections.

8. The core according to claim 1 , wherein the first boss is disposed on a pressure side of the core and the second boss is disposed on a suction side of the core.

9. The core according to claim 1 , wherein the casting comprises a multiwall airfoil casting.

10. A method for forming a core for a casting, comprising:
positioning a first side of a core on a first setter block, the core comprising a center plenum section and a plurality of outer passage sections, wherein the center plenum section includes a first boss and a second boss extending outwardly from the center plenum section to an outer profile of the core;
closing a second setter block against the second side of the core; and
heating the core,
wherein the first boss extends outwardly from the center plenum section toward a first side of the core, and the second boss extends outwardly from the center plenum section toward a second side of the core.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the first boss has an outer contact surface having a contour matching a contour of a corresponding contact area on the first setter block, and wherein the second boss has an outer contact surface matching a contour of a corresponding contact area on the second setter block.

12. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
controlling, using the first and second bosses, the position of the center plenum sections in a cavity formed by the lower setter block and upper setter block during the heating of the core.

13. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
preventing, using the first and second bosses, movement of the center plenum sections in a cavity formed by the lower setter block and upper setter block during the heating of the core.

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the first and second bosses have an elliptical shape.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the elliptical shape has a length to width ratio in the range of about 3:1 to about 10:1.

16. A method for measuring a thickness T 1 of an inner wall of a multiwall airfoil, the inner wall located between an outer cooling passage and a central plenum of the multiwall airfoil, the central plenum including a protrusion extending toward an outer wall of the multiwall airfoil, the method comprising:
obtaining a thickness measurement T 2 of an outer wall of the multiwall airfoil at a first point adjacent the outer cooling passage; and
obtaining a thickness measurement T 3 of the outer wall of the multiwall airfoil at a second point adjacent the protrusion of the central plenum;
wherein the thickness T 1 of the inner wall of the multiwall airfoil is given by T 1 =(T 3 +D 1 )−(T 2 +D 2 ), wherein D 1 is a depth of the outer cooling passage and D 2 is a depth of the protrusion of the central plenum, and wherein D 1 and D 2 are known from corresponding dimensions of a core used to form the multiwall airfoil.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the protrusion corresponds to a lower boss or an upper boss of a central plenum section of the core.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Foster Gregory Thomas
• Weber David Wayne
• Iduate Michelle Jessica
• Leary Brendon James
• Weber Joseph Anthony

Classifications

• B22C9/12 Primary

  Treating moulds or cores, e.g. drying, hardening · CPC title

• F05D2230/21

  by casting · CPC title

• F05D2220/32

  in gas turbines · CPC title

• G01B17/02

  for measuring thickness · CPC title

• B22C9/108 Primary

  Installation of cores · CPC title