Device for holding a turbine engine blade for the purposes of machining

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9586301-B2
Application number	US-201214127386-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2012
Priority date	Jun 21, 2011
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

A device for holding a turbine engine blade for purposes of machining, the device including a support including at least one housing in which at least one block is removably mounted, the block including two jaws presenting an opening for mounting an airfoil of a blade. The block further includes six presser points for pressing against the airfoil, and a movable presser finger for pressing against a pressure side surface or a suction side surface of the blade, the finger being moved by an actuation mechanism such that in a blade clamping position, the presser finger presses the blade against the presser points of the block, which itself is pressed against the support.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for holding a turbine engine blade for purposes of machining, the device comprising:
a support including at least one housing in which at least one block is mounted in a removable manner, the block including an opening for mounting an airfoil of a blade and including at least six presser points for pressing against the airfoil; and
a movable presser finger for pressing against a pressure side surface or a suction side surface of the airfoil via a first end having a rounded surface matching the pressure side surface or the suction side surface, the movable presser finger being movable through an interior space of the block between a first retracted position and a second deployed position for clamping the blade, wherein
in the first retracted position, the first end of the movable presser finger does not press against the pressure side surface or the suction side surface of the airfoil, and a first gap is provided between a first exterior surface of the block and a first interior surface of the support, and a second gap is provided between a second exterior surface of the block and a second interior surface of the support, the first and second exterior surfaces of the block being opposite each other and the first and second interior surfaces of the support being opposite each other, and
in the second deployed position, the first end of the movable presser finger presses the pressure side surface or the suction side surface of the airfoil against the least six presser points of the block, and pushes the block against the support such that the first exterior surface of the block abuts the first interior surface of the support to maintain the block in place, and the second gap between the second exterior surface of the block and the second interior surface of the support is greater in the second deployed position than in the first retracted position.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least six presser points are formed by studs or removable studs, including ends for coming into contact with the blade that do not have any sharp edges or that are hemispherical.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the block includes an internal wall and a top surface defining the opening for mounting the airfoil;
a first stud, a second stud, and a third stud protruding from the internal wall and mutually spaced-apart for pressing against the pressure side surface or the suction side surface;
a fourth stud protruding from the internal wall for pressing against a trailing edge or leading edge of the blade or close thereto;
a fifth stud protruding from the internal wall for pressing in opposite direction to the movable presser finger; and
a sixth stud protruding from the top surface for pressing against a platform of the blade.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the block includes a seventh stud and an eighth stud protruding from the top surface for pressing against the platform of the blade before the blade is clamped by the movable presser finger, the platform being spaced apart from the seventh stud and the eighth stud after the blade has been clamped.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the block includes a hole for passing the movable presser finger.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the block includes two jaws that are hinged to each other at one end and fastened to each other at another end.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the movable presser finger is connected to a cam actuated by a handle to move the movable presser finger in the position for clamping the blade.

8. The device according to claim 7 , further comprising an abutment for limiting an angular stroke of the handle.

9. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the cam is in contact with the presser finger and rotates around an offset pivot to articulate the presser finger from the first retracted position to the second deployed position.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the presser finger further includes a spring to be articulated from the second deployed position to the first retracted position.

11. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the cam is placed in a recess of the support outside the housing.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the support includes a plurality of housings, each housing for mounting a respective block and blade.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the support includes latches which retain the block inside a corresponding housing.

Assignees

• Marquoin Thomas
• Dupouy Olivier
• Snecma

Inventors

• Marquoin Thomas
• Dupouy Olivier

Classifications

• B23Q3/063 Primary

  for holding turbine blades · CPC title

• B23Q3/061

  adapted for holding a plurality of workpieces · CPC title