Tooling fixture assembly for processing a component of a gas turbine engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10227874-B2
Application number	US-201615276878-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2016
Priority date	Sep 27, 2016
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

A tooling fixture assembly for processing a component of a gas turbine engine is provided. The tooling fixture assembly includes a component nesting fixture for precisely positioning the component within the fixture using a plurality of datum locators. A transfer block is also positioned at a known location and orientation relative to the component and an adhesive is used to fix the relative position of the component and the transfer block. The component and the transfer block are then removed from the component nesting fixture and installed on a machine for drilling, machining, or otherwise processing the component. After the machining is complete, the adhesive may be removed, such that the component may be detached from the transfer block.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tooling fixture assembly for processing a component of a gas turbine engine, the tooling fixture assembly comprising:
a component nesting fixture configured for receiving the component of the gas turbine engine;
a plurality of datum locators extending from the component nesting fixture and configured to contact the component at desired locations;
a clamping arm extending from the component nesting fixture;
a transfer block;
a transfer block cradle attached to or formed integrally with the component nesting fixture, the transfer block cradle configured for receiving the transfer block and positioning the transfer block proximate the component when the component is received within the component nesting fixture and;
an indicator docking station, the indicator docking station configured for receiving the component nesting fixture and establishing connections with one or more of the plurality of datum locators, the indicator docking station further comprising one or more indicators associated with respective ones of the plurality of datum locators, the one or more indicators configured for providing an indication when the respective one of the plurality of datum locators is contacting the component.

2. The tooling fixture assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member, the biasing member being configured for urging the transfer block toward a corner of the transfer block cradle.

3. The tooling fixture assembly of claim 1 , wherein an electrical connection member is configured to provide an electrical charge to the component when the electrical connection member contacts the component, thereby driving current from the electrical connection member, through the component, to the plurality of datum locators that are contacting the component.

4. The tooling fixture assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of datum locators comprises six datum locators.

5. The tooling fixture assembly of claim 1 , wherein when each of the plurality of datum locators is contacting the component, a gap is defined between the component and the transfer block.

6. The tooling fixture assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive for joining the component and the transfer block.

7. The tooling fixture assembly of claim 6 , wherein the adhesive is an ultraviolet (UV) adhesive that is hardened using a UV light.

8. The tooling fixture assembly of claim 1 , wherein the component is a turbine blade.

9. A method for processing a component of a gas turbine engine using the tooling fixture assembly of claim 1 , the method comprising:
positioning the component in the component nesting fixture at a desired position and orientation;
positioning the transfer block in the component nesting fixture at a known location relative to the component;
fixing the component to the transfer block;
loading the transfer block and the component on a processing machine; and
processing the component.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of positioning the component comprises positioning the component such that the component contacts each of the plurality of datum locators extending from the component nesting fixture.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the component nesting fixture is received in an indicator docking station comprising a plurality of indicators associated with respective ones of the plurality of datum locators, and wherein the method further comprises illuminating each of the plurality of indicators when the respective ones of the plurality of datum locators is contacting the component.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of positioning the transfer block comprises positioning the transfer block within the transfer block cradle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the transfer block cradle further comprises a biasing member, the biasing member being configured for urging the transfer block toward a corner of the transfer block cradle.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising securing the component within the component nesting fixture using the clamping arm.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of fixing the relative position of the component and the transfer block comprises applying an ultraviolet (UV) adhesive and hardening the UV adhesive with UV light.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
separating the component and the transfer block after the processing of the component is complete.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of processing the component comprises electrical discharge machining (EDM) or laser machining the component.

18. The method of claim 9 , wherein the component is an as manufactured component.

19. The method of claim 9 , wherein the component is a used component, and wherein the step of processing the component comprises repairing the component.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Heinrich Todd Gary
• Howard Brian William
• Bendel Jonathan E
• Mayer Stephen Matthew

Classifications

• B23Q3/084

  using adhesive means · CPC title

• F05D2260/202

  by film cooling · CPC title

• F05D2230/12

  by spark erosion methods · CPC title

• F05D2230/13

  using lasers · CPC title

• B23Q3/063 Primary

  for holding turbine blades · CPC title