Abstract: An apparatus and method for mechanically cutting a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves in a foil sheet for use in a metal matrix composite product are disclosed. In one form the mechanical cutting apparatus includes a plurality of spaced apart stationary teeth. The disclosed apparatus may be used in either a batch process or a continuous process. In another form the sheet product grooving technology is integrated with a cleaning line and fiber loading technology.

Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine having a shroud and a rotor with one or more blades. The rotor rotates within the shroud to pressurize a fluid during operation of the engine. An electromagnetic actuator is also included that is operable to move the shroud relative to the rotor to adjust clearance between the shroud and blades. In addition, a controller is included in this system to determine a desired amount of clearance in accordance with an operating mode of the engine. The controller generates an actuation signal to change the clearance in correspondence with the desired amount. The electromagnetic actuator responds to the actuation signal to provide the desired amount of clearance.

Abstract: The attachment of the blade to the disk of a gas turbine engine includes a sloped deep slot formed in the rim of the disk for accepting the dovetail of the root of he fan or compressor blade allowing the removal of a single blade from the disk and includes a segmented retainer plate disposed at the aft end of the bearing against the blade root to react out the slope induced axial blade loads providing a low hub-tip ratio configuration. A blade support disposed between the live rim of the disk and the bottom of the blade serves to support the blades radially during non-operating conditions and includes pockets for retaining weights for dynamic balance of the rotor. A forward mounted snap ring prevents forward movement of the blade during non-operating conditions.

Abstract: The span of the overhung flanges at the rim of the disks of gas turbine engine's compressors are minimized by slotting the one of the adjacent flanges at the distal end to receive the bolt head of the attaching bolt and including an anti-rotational clip allowing the nut to be fastened without the necessity of holding the bolt head. The complementing flange of the adjacent rotor includes mating holes. The anti-rotational clip includes bendable tangs bent in situ to engage the flats of the bolt head and a bent tang to fit snugly into the when radially inserted therein slot.

Abstract: In a gas compressor engine, a rotor to which turbine blades (airfoils) are mounted, is constructed of a fiber composite material. In a first zone of the rotor, a first group of fibers are oriented circumferentially, in the direction of rotor rotation. A second set of fibers are oriented off-axis along the entire longitudinal length of the rotor. The first group of fibers overlay the second group only in specific zones, creating zones in which only the off-axis fibers are located. Race-track shaped apertures are cut in these second zones between fibers and these apertures receive the compressor blades that are inserted from the interior of the rotor. The first zones also provide circumferential seals to receive the base of each compressor blade. The first zones are constructed by building up layers of the circumferential fibers in the first zones.

Abstract: A lightweight, integrally bladed rotor has airfoils (18) and a full hoop blade platform (26), a support ring (28) is inside and spaced from the platform, with radial webs (30) extending from the support ring to the platform. Each web is a radial extension (32) of an airfoil. A radially extending shear plate (36) is secured to the platform and the ring.

Abstract: A bladed turbine disk has a plurality of air cooled blades. The disk has a substantially continuous impervious rim. Each blade has a platform and an impervious base with the cooling air inlet between the platform and base. Each blade base is diffusion bonded to the rim, preferably to a slightly raised plateau. The edge of the bond surface is accessable and free of stress concentration.

Abstract: A latch for releasably maintaining a terminal block in an installed position in a panel aperture includes a U-shaped frame, guides on the terminal block at a leading edge thereof integral with the distal ends of the parallel arms of the frame supporting the latter on the terminal block in cantilever spring fashion and defining a lead-in surface in longitudinal profile, and a latch arm supported on the frame between the support arms in cantilever spring fashion including a ramp at its distal end extending from above the frame to inboard of the lead-in surface. As the terminal block approaches the installed position, the guides facilitate final movement thereto while the relationship between the ramp and the lead-in surface insures that the edge of the aperture will engage the latch arm only on the ramp thereby to prevent misengagement between the latch arm and the panel.

Abstract: An electrical terminal has a flexible contact bow which is integrally connected to an end of the rigid planar base by a curved nose bend. The contact bow has resilient, two-point support means at the opposite end which comprises a curved tail bend and an L-shaped support disposed between the contact bow and the rigid planar base. The L-shaped support includes a depending leg which slidably engages the rigid planar base to provide a first support point for the contact bow. The curved tail bend engages the rigid planar base after the depending leg engages to provide a second support point for the contact bow.