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Patexia Research
Patent No. US 11021963
Issue Date Jun 1, 2021
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Patent 11021963 - Monolithic body including an internal passage with a generally teardrop shaped cross-sectional geometry > Claims

  • 1. A component for a gas turbine engine, the component comprising: a monolithic body configured with an internal passage;the internal passage extending along a centerline within the monolithic body;the internal passage having a cross-sectional geometry perpendicular to the centerline; andthe cross-sectional geometry of at least a first portion of the internal passage having a teardrop shape; andat least a first portion of the centerline following a curved trajectory.
    • 2. The component of claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the teardrop shape comprises a curved segment, a first straight segment and a second straight segment that meets the first straight segment at a corner;the curved segment has and extends circumferentially between a first curved segment end and a second curved segment end;the first straight segment extends from the corner towards the first curved segment end; andthe second straight segment extends from the corner towards the second curved segment end.
      • 3. The component of claim 2, wherein the first straight segment is perpendicular to the second straight segment.
      • 4. The component of claim 2, wherein the first straight segment is angularly offset from the second straight segment by an angle.
        • 5. The component of claim 4, wherein the angle is an acute angle.
    • 6. The component of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional geometry of a second portion of the internal passage has a circular shape.
    • 7. The component of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional geometry of a second portion of the internal passage has a shape that is different than the teardrop shape.
    • 8. The component of claim 1, wherein a second portion of the centerline follows a straight line trajectory;a third portion of the centerline follows a straight line trajectory; andthe first portion of the centerline extends between the second portion of the centerline and the third portion of the centerline.
    • 9. The component of claim 1, wherein the monolithic body is configured as an inlet structure for the gas turbine engine.
  • 10. A component for a gas turbine engine, the component comprising: a monolithic body configured with an internal passage;the internal passage extending along a centerline within the monolithic body;the internal passage having a cross-sectional geometry perpendicular to the centerline;the cross-sectional geometry of at least a first portion of the internal passage having a teardrop shape;the monolithic body including an inner tubular section, an outer tubular section and a vane extending radially outward from the inner tubular section to the outer tubular section; andthe internal passage within the inner tubular section, the outer tubular section and the vane.
    • 11. The component of claim 10, wherein the monolithic body further includes a hub and a strut extending radially inward from the inner tubular section to the hub; andthe internal passage is within the strut and the hub.
  • 12. A component for a gas turbine engine, the component comprising: a monolithic body configured with an internal passage;the internal passage extending along a centerline within the monolithic body;the internal passage having a cross-sectional geometry perpendicular to the centerline;a perimeter of the cross-sectional geometry for at least a first portion of the internal passage including a curved segment, a first straight segment and a second straight segment that meets the first straight segment at a corner;the curved segment extending circumferentially between a first curved segment end and a second curved segment end;the first straight segment extending from the corner towards the first curved segment end; andthe second straight segment extending from the corner towards the second curved segment end.
  • 13. A method for forming a component for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising: additively manufacturing a monolithic body configured with an internal passage;wherein the internal passage extends along a centerline within the monolithic body;wherein the internal passage has a cross-sectional geometry perpendicular to the centerline; andwherein the cross-sectional geometry of at least a first portion of the internal passage has a teardrop shape.
    • 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the internal passage is formed during the additive manufacturing without any support structure within the first portion of the internal passage.
    • 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the teardrop shape has a point and a center; andthe cross-sectional geometry of the first portion of the internal passage is oriented such that a line extending from the center to the point is perpendicular to a build plane for the additive manufacturing.
    • 16. The method of claim 13, wherein a perimeter of the teardrop shape comprises a curved segment, a first straight segment and a second straight segment that meets the first straight segment at a point;the curved segment extends circumferentially between a first curved segment end and a second curved segment end;the first straight segment extends from the point to the first curved segment end; andthe second straight segment extends from the point to the second curved segment end.
      • 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first straight segment is angularly offset from the second straight segment by an angle that is equal to or less than ninety degrees.
    • 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the cross-sectional geometry of a second portion of the internal passage has a shape that is different than the teardrop shape.
    • 19. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a first portion of the centerline follows a curved trajectory.
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