Double-wall airfoil

• Main Authors: WILSON; PAUL S, JACKSON; MELVIN R, LACHAPELLE; DONALD G, SKELLY; DAVID W, ROWE; RAYMOND G
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.05.1997
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: ALLOYS; BLASTING; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; CHEMISTRY; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATIONOR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY IONIMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; HEATING; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION INGENERAL; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METALLURGY; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAMTURBINES; STEAM ENGINES; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THESURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS; WEAPONS

A double-wall airfoil for applications such as the blades and vanes of gas turbine engines. The double-wall comprises an outer airfoil skin and an inner support wall that are metallurgically bonded to one another. The double-wall contains integral channels for passage of cooling air adjacent to the airfoil skin. Airfoil skin may be a metal alloy skin or a microlaminate structure, including microlaminate composite structures. Microlaminate composites typically have a lower density than that of the material used for the airfoil support wall, and a simplified internal geometry which promote weight reductions in the airfoils and increases in engine operating efficiency.