Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a turbine nozzle for a gas turbine engine. The method includes providing a turbine nozzle including a plurality of airfoil vanes that extend between an inner band and an outer band, and forming a compound radii fillet that extends between a first of the airfoil vanes and the outer band, such that at least a second of the airfoil vanes is coupled to the outer band only by a single radii fillet.

Abstract: A method enables a turbine nozzle for a gas turbine engine to be assembled. The method includes providing a turbine nozzle including a plurality of airfoil vanes extending between an inner band and an outer band, wherein the outer band includes at least one mounting system that extends radially outwardly therefrom and includes a rail and at least one hook, and coupling the turbine nozzle into the gas turbine engine using the mounting system such that the turbine nozzle is at least partially supported by at least one hook. The method also includes positioning a seal assembly between at least one hook and the outer band to facilitate reducing radial leakage through the turbine nozzle.

Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a turbine nozzle for a gas turbine engine. The method includes providing a turbine nozzle including a plurality of airfoil vanes that extend between an inner band and an outer band, and forming a compound radii fillet that extends between a first of the airfoil vanes and the outer band, such that at least a second of the airfoil vanes is coupled to the outer band only by a single radii fillet.

Abstract: A method enables a turbine nozzle for a gas turbine engine to be assembled. The method includes providing a turbine nozzle including a plurality of airfoil vanes extending between an inner band and an outer band, wherein the outer band includes at least one mounting system that extends radially outwardly therefrom and includes a rail and at least one hook, and coupling the turbine nozzle into the gas turbine engine using the mounting system such that the turbine nozzle is at least partially supported by at least one hook. The method also includes positioning a seal assembly between at least one hook and the outer band to facilitate reducing radial leakage through the turbine nozzle.

Abstract: Overall performance in enhanced in gas turbine engines by providing a rotating seal including a rotating member arranged to rotate about an axis and having at least one annular projection extending radially outwardly therefrom, and a stator element having a first surface arranged to contact the projection. The stator element includes at least one slot formed in the first surface, the slot axially traversing the projection so as to allow a flow of purge air to pass. More than one such slot can be used, and each slot is preferably angled circumferentially in the direction of rotation of the rotating member.

Abstract: An article comprising an airfoil surface is provided with a thermal insulating outer layer on at least one region, but not all, of the airfoil surface. The region is selected from the airfoil surface which has been observed to experience more strenuous environmental operating conditions during service operation than the airfoil surface outside of the region. In one form, the thermal insulating outer layer is applied to at least one region of each of a plurality of airfoil surfaces. Each airfoil surface is disposed about an axis of rotation with the region of each airfoil surface facing generally outwardly from the axis of rotation and from each other. The airfoil surfaces are rotated about the axis of rotation while a thermal insulating material contacts at least the regions.

Abstract: An article having a design external aerodynamic shape includes a body with a body external surface and an outer portion external surface of an outer portion bonded with a part of but less than substantially all of the body surface. The external surfaces of the body and outer portion each define less than the design external aerodynamic shape. However, together they define such shape. The article is made by selecting the design external aerodynamic shape from an existing article having a first body and a first outer portion. A replacement outer portion is selected in an amount less than the first outer portion and bonded with a region less than substantially all of a replacement body external surface. The replacement body has a replacement body external surface and replacement body external shape different from the first body substantially by that amount. The replacement body is made with the replacement body external shape.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes a platform and an airfoil having a plurality of trailing edge slots separated by land areas larger than the slots. The slots have an exit diffusion half angle of about two degrees. Cooling air flows through the slots and over a trailing edge of the airfoil. The platform includes a plurality of openings extending through the platform at an angle. The openings are positioned between a suction side of the blade and a second end of the platform. The openings transport disk post cooling air to a surface of the platform and provide cooling for the platform.

Abstract: An article comprising an airfoil surface is provided with a thermal insulating outer layer on at least one region, but not all, of the airfoil surface. The region is selected from the airfoil surface which has been observed to experience more strenuous environmental operating conditions during service operation than the airfoil surface outside of the region. In one form, the thermal insulating outer layer is applied to at least one region of each of a plurality of airfoil surfaces. Each airfoil surface is disposed about an axis of rotation with the region of each airfoil surface facing generally outwardly from the axis of rotation and from each other. The airfoil surfaces are rotated about the axis of rotation while a thermal insulating material contacts at least the regions.

Abstract: An airfoil core die includes a tab for forming a continuous and smooth contour and extension of a first trailing edge slot recessed wall to a bottom of the airfoil. The contour is formed on each airfoil core at injection and is maintained through to finish casting of the airfoil.

Abstract: A blocker and swirl inducer hole configuration for use in connection with a high pressure turbine is described. In one embodiment, the blocker holes are oriented to a 45-degree tangential angle with respect to the direction of rotation of the seal, which results in pre-swirling the air before being injected into the swirl cavity. In addition, the number of blocker holes is reduced by as much as 50% of the number of blocker holes used in the known CFM56 turbine. Further, rather than injecting the air into the first swirl cavity as is known, the air is injected into a second swirl cavity. The combined effect of orienting the holes to the 45-degree tangential angle with respect to the direction of rotation of the seal, locating the holes to open into the second swirl cavity, and reducing the flow area by about 50%, results in an increase in blocker hole pressure ratio. Increasing the blocker hole pressure ratio results in a higher hole exit velocity which maximizes the cavity inlet swirl.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes an airfoil having an internal cooling circuit therein. The airfoil extends from a root to a tip cap, and includes laterally opposite pressure and suction sides extending between a leading edge and an opposite trailing edge over which is flowable a combustion gas. A pair of squealer tips extend radially upwardly from the tip cap along the pressure and suction sides, and are spaced apart between the leading and trailing edges to define an upwardly open tip cavity. At least one of the squealer tips includes a slot extending radially inwardly to the tip cap, with the slot also extending along the squealer tip between the leading and trailing edges. A plurality of spaced apart supply holes extend radially through the tip cap in the slot in flow communication with the cooling circuit for channeling the coolant into the slot for cooling the squealer tip.

Abstract: To cool the shroud in the high pressure turbine section of a gas turbine engine, high pressure cooling air is directed in metered flow to baffle plenums and thence through baffle perforations to impingement cool the shroud rails and back surface. Impingement cooling air then flows through elongated, convection cooling passages in the shroud and exits to flow along the shroud front surface with the main gas stream to provide film cooling. The baffle perforations and the convection cooling passages are interactively located to achieve maximum cooling benefit and highly efficient cooling air utilization.

Abstract: An airfoil core die includes a tab for forming a continuous and smooth contour and extension of a first trailing edge slot recessed all to a bottom of the airfoil. The contour is formed on each airfoil core at injection and is maintained through to finish casting of the airfoil.