Fan blade masking/coating check inspection tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10760889-B2
Application number	US-201816129117-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2018
Priority date	Sep 12, 2018
Publication date	Sep 1, 2020
Grant date	Sep 1, 2020

Abstract

A masking and coating check inspection tool for inspecting a masking and/or coating edge on a fan blade includes an elongate planar base having distal first and second ends, bottom surface, top face, length, width, and thickness. The length is greater than the width. A pillar perpendicular to the elongate planar base and projecting upward from the top face between the first and second ends has a first end datum, and a first masking check tolerance band disposed on the first end, configured to provide a pass/fail indication of the first masking edge with respect to the first end datum. The pillar can have second end datum and second masking check tolerance band on the second end configured to provide a pass/fail indication of a second masking edge with respect to the second end datum. The inspection tool can be used on root and platform masking/coating edges.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A masking/coating check inspection tool for inspecting a first masking/coating edge on a fan blade, the masking/coating check inspection tool comprising:
an elongate planar base having a first end, second end, bottom surface, top face, length, width, and thickness, the first and second ends distal from each other and the length greater than the width;
a pillar disposed between the first end and the second end, perpendicular to the elongate planar base and projecting upward from the top face, the pillar having a first end datum; and
a first masking/coating check tolerance band disposed adjacent to the first end, configured to provide a pass/fail indication of the first masking/coating edge with respect to the first end datum.

2. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 1 , wherein:
the first masking/coating check tolerance band is configured to have a near-edge and a far-edge;
the near-edge is configured to correspond with a first masking/coating minimum dimension on the fan blade; and
the far-edge is configured to correspond with a first masking/coating maximum dimension on the fan blade.

3. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 2 , further comprising a first ridge, wherein:
the first ridge extends from the top face;
the first ridge is a clear material; and
the first ridge corresponds to the first masking/coating check tolerance band.

4. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 2 , wherein:
the pillar further comprises a second end datum; and
a second masking/coating check tolerance band is disposed adjacent to the second end, configured to provide a pass/fail indication of a second masking/coating edge with respect to the second end datum.

5. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 4 , further comprising a second ridge, wherein:
the second ridge extends from the top face;
the second ridge is a clear material; and
the second ridge corresponds to the second masking/coating check tolerance band.

6. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 1 , wherein:
the elongate planar base is a clear material; and
at least a portion of the top face has a clouded surface.

7. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 6 , wherein the clear material is acrylic.

8. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 2 , wherein the first masking/coating check tolerance band is configured to accommodate a fan blade root masking/coating edge.

9. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 4 , wherein the second masking/coating check tolerance band is configured to accommodate a fan blade platform masking/coating edge.

10. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 4 , wherein the elongate planar base further comprises radiused corners.

11. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 10 , wherein:
the length is 3.05 in. (7.747 cm);
the width is 1.00 in. (2.540 cm);
the thickness is 0.13 in. (0.33 cm);
the radiused corners have a radius of 0.13 in. (0.33 cm); and
the pillar has a pillar height of 0.62 in. (1.575 cm).

12. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 8 , wherein the first masking/coating check tolerance band is 1.170-1.370 in. (2.9718-3.4798 cm).

13. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 9 , wherein second masking/coating check tolerance band is 0.383-0.423 in. (0.9728-1.0744 cm).

14. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 3 , wherein the first ridge has a height of 0.12 in. (0.305 cm).

15. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 5 , wherein the second ridge has a height of 0.12 in. (0.305 cm).

16. The masking/coating check inspection tool of claim 12 , wherein the fan blade is a component in a 30,000 rpm gas turbine fan.

17. A method of using a masking/coating check inspection tool for inspecting a root masking/coating edge on a root end of a fan blade, the masking/coating check inspection tool comprising:
an elongate planar base having a first end, second end, bottom surface, top face, length, width, and thickness, the first and second ends distal from each other and the length greater than the width;
a pillar disposed between the first end and the second end, perpendicular to the elongate planar base and projecting upward from the top face, the pillar having a first end datum; and
a first masking/coating check tolerance band disposed adjacent to the first end, configured to provide a pass/fail indication of a first masking/coating edge with respect to the first end datum;
the method comprising the steps of:
(a) placing the first end in position on the root end, wherein the first end datum contacts the root end;
(b) viewing the root masking/coating edge relative to the first masking/coating check tolerance band;
(c) evaluating whether the root masking/coating edge is within the first masking/coating check tolerance band;
(d) indicating an favorable result if the root masking/coating edge is within the first masking/coating check tolerance band; and
(e) indicating an unfavorable result if the root masking/coating edge is not within the first masking/coating check tolerance band.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising taking a remedial action if the root masking/coating edge is not within the first masking/coating check tolerance band, wherein the remedial action comprises one or more of re-working the root masking/coating edge and providing process feedback.

19. A method of using a masking/coating check inspection tool for inspecting a platform masking/coating edge on a platform edge of a fan blade, the masking/coating check inspection tool comprising:
an elongate planar base having a first end, second end, bottom surface, top face, length, width, and thickness, the first and second ends distal from each other and the length greater than the width;
a pillar disposed between the first end and the second end, perpendicular to the elongate planar base and projecting upward from the top face, the pillar having a first end datum;
a second masking/coating check tolerance band disposed adjacent to the second end, configured to provide a pass/fail indication of a second masking/coating edge with respect to the second end datum;
the method comprising the steps of:
(a) placing the second end in position on a first region of the platform edge, wherein the second end datum contacts the platform edge;
(b) viewing the platform masking/coating edge relative to the second masking/coating check tolerance band;
(c) evaluating whether the platform masking/coating edge is within the second masking/coating check tolerance band;
(d) indicating an unfavorable result if the platform masking/coating edge is not within the second masking/coating check tolerance band;
(e) indicating a favorable result if the platform masking/coating edge is within the second masking/coating check tolerance band;
(f) placing the second end in position on a next region of the platform edge, wherein the second end datum contacts the platform edge; and
(g) repeating steps (b) through (f) as necessary.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising taking a remedial action if the platform masking/coating edge is not within the second masking/coating check tolerance band, wherein the remedial action comprises one or more of re-working the platform masking/coating edge and providing process feedback.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Sweeney James R

Classifications

• G01B5/003

  Measuring of motor parts · CPC title

• F01D5/288

  Protective coatings for blades · CPC title

• G01B3/30 Primary

  Bars, blocks, or strips in which the distance between a pair of faces is fixed, although it may be preadjustable, e.g. end measure, feeler strip · CPC title

• G01B5/066

  of coating · CPC title

• G01B3/38

  Gauges with an open yoke and opposed faces, i.e. calipers, in which the internal distance between the faces is fixed, although it may be preadjustable · CPC title