Impingement cooled turbine blades and method of making same

Claim 2

A turbine blade comprising: an integral airfoil and tang at the inner end thereof, said airfoil having thin walls defining a chamber extending from its tip end to said inner end, an insert disposed in said chamber in spaced relation to the walls thereof and extending into said tang, said insert forming a plenum sealed from the airfoil chamber and having a substantial thickness in the innermost end thereof, said tang having a passageway from one exterior end face thereof through its upper portion to the insert, said insert having an opening registered with said passageway, a pin extending through said tang and the inner end of said insert in a direction generally normal to the side faces of the tang for mechanically locking the inner end of said insert to said tang, said insert having a plurality of orifices directed toward the chamber wall for impingement thereof of cooling air from said plenum, and means for discharging cooling air from said chamber.

Claim 3

A turbine blade as in claim 1 wherein at least the majority of said orifices are formed in spaced relation along the portion of the insert opposed to the leading edge portion of the arifoil.

Claim 4

A turbine blade as in claim 2 wherein a slotted lug is formed in said tang passageway with an end face exposed therein, the pin extends through and terminates on the end face of the lug and is riveted there against and an opening is provided through the side face of said tang opposite said lug, said opening being aligned with said pin to facilitate riveting thereof.

Claim 5

A turbine blade as in claim 2 wherein a platform is integrally formed intermediate said airfoil and tang, at the base of said airfoil, said airfoil chamber extends beneath the level of said platform thereby providing for cooling thereof and the means for discharging cooling air from said chamber include passageway means extending from said chamber and discharging from the trailing edge of said airfoil.

Claim 6

A turbine blade as in claim 3 wherein aligned openings are provided between the tip end of the blade and said chamber and between the inner end of the chamber and the tang passageway, said inSert being insertable through said aligned openings and sealingly engagable therewith to seal said plenum from said chamber.

Claim 7

A turbine blade comprising: an integral airfoil and tang, said airfoil having thin walls defining a chamber extending from its tip end to its inner end, an insert disposed in said chamber in spaced relation to the walls thereof and extending into said tang, said insert forming a plenum sealed from the airfoil chamber, mechanical means for locking the inner end of said insert to said tang, passageway menas extending from the exterior of said tang into said insert for connection of the plenum with a source of pressurized cooling air, said insert having a plurality of orifices directed toward the chamber wall for impingement thereof of cooling air from said plenums, means for discharging cooling air from said chamber, the tip end of the insert including a separate cap element having an outwardly projecting peripheral flange telescope within and secured to the sidewalls of the insert, an undercut peripheral groove being formed around said tip end opening, and the peripheral flange and outer wall portions of the insert being flared into said undercut groove.

Claim 8

A turbine blade comprising: an integral airfoil and tang, said airfoil having thin walls defining a chamber extending from its tip end to its inner end, an insert disposed in said chamber in spaced relation to the walls thereof and extending into said tang, said insert forming a plenum sealed from the airfoil chamber, mechanical means for locking the inner end of said insert to said tang, passageway menas extending from the exterior of said tang into said insert for connection of the plenum with a source of pressurized cooling air, said insert having a plurality of orifices directed toward the chamber wall for impingement thereof of cooling air from said plenums, means for discharging cooling air from said chamber, the tip end of the insert including a separate cap element having an outwardly projecting peripheral flange telescope within and secured to the sidewalls of the insert, an undercut peripheral groove being formed around said tip end opening, and the peripheral flange and outer wall portions of the insert being flared into said undercut groove.

Claim 9

A turbine blade as in claim 6 wherein said airfoil has integral pins projecting into said chamber and engaging and supporting said insert and said airfoil passageway extends substantially along the height of said trailing edge and pins project into said passageway to provide for increased heat turbulence and heat transfer.