Patents Examined by Saeed Chaudhyr
  • Method of cleaning internal cavities of an airfoil
    Patent number: 5707453
    Abstract: A cleaning method for gas turbine engine airfoils includes a step of immersing an ultrasonic agitator, such as a welding horn, into a tank with a cleaning solution and a step of directing the ultrasonic agitator onto the portion of the airfoil having the crust layer. A subsequent step of high pressure water jet spray removes the crust debris. The cleaning method of the present invention significantly increases the power density of the ultrasonic cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Shurman, Peter J. Draghi