TURBOMACHINE BLADE FITTED WITH AN ELASTOMER GASKET

Abstract

A turbomachine blade (10) comprising a body (11) and an elastomer gasket (12) fastened to said body (11).

Claims

1. A rotor wheel having at least one turbomachine blade, said blade comprising a body and an elastomer gasket fastened to said body, an inter-blade platform adjacent to said blade, the platform presenting a plate that extends circumferentially, whereas, considered in a radial direction, the gasket extends under said plate, the inter-blade platform having a second gasket fastened to the plate, said second gasket being configured to co-operate with said blade, and when considered in the radial direction, the second gasket extends between the gasket of the blade and the plate.

2. A rotor wheel according to claim 1, wherein the gasket is configured to co-operate with the inter-blade platform.

3. A rotor wheel according to claim 1, wherein the blade extends in a height direction and presents, in the height direction, a root and an airfoil, the gasket being fastened on the root and extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the height direction.

4. A rotor wheel according to claim 1, wherein the gasket presents a linear base and a linear lip extending from the linear base, the linear base being fastened on the blade while the distal end of the linear lip presents a flyweight.

5. A rotor wheel according to claim 1, wherein the gasket is bonded to the body.

6. A rotor wheel according to claim 1, wherein the body of the blade is made of composite material.

7. A rotor wheel according to claim 1, wherein the second gasket is linear.

8. A turbomachine fitted with a rotor wheel according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The invention and its advantages can be better understood on reading the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples. The description is made with reference to the sheets of the accompanying figures, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a turbojet presenting a fan;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a blade in a first embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section view of the FIG. 1 turbojet fan fitted with a blade of the first embodiment;

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a blade in a second embodiment;

[0040] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section view of the FIG. 1 turbojet fan fitted with a blade of the second embodiment; and

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a variant of the FIG. 5 fan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a turbomachine 100, specifically a turbojet 100 having a rotor wheel 80, specifically a fan 80, fitted with blades 10 as shown in FIG. 2 or in FIG. 4. In this example, all of the blades 10 and all of the platforms 20 of the fan 80 are identical.

[0043] With reference to FIG. 2, the blade 10 extends in a height direction H, and in its height direction it presents a root 10A surmounted by an airfoil 10B, the root 10A and the airfoil 10B forming the body 11 of the blade 10. In this example, the body 11 is made of composite material. In the height direction H, the root 10A presents a free end 10AA, and the airfoil 10B presents a free end 10BA. An elastomer gasket 12 is fastened to the body 11, and in this example to the root 10A. The gasket 12 is linear and extends perpendicularly to the height direction H. The gasket 12 extends over the entire periphery of the root 10A, naturally considered perpendicularly to the height direction H.

[0044] The gasket 12 presents a linear base 12A and a linear lip 12B connected to the base 12A. The gasket 12 is fastened to the body via its base 12A, which base is adhesively bonded to the body 11. A linear rib 12C is formed on the distal end 12BB of the lip 12B, thus forming a flyweight. In this example, the rib 12C is in the form of a cylindrical bead centered on the distal end of the lip 12B. The lip 12B extends in the height direction H towards the free end 10AA of the root 10A (i.e. radially towards the inside of the wheel 80, see FIG. 3). In this example, the lip 12B extends beside the root 10A relative to the base 12A.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, when the blade 10 is mounted in a rotor wheel 80, the height direction H of each blade 10 coincides with a radial direction R of the wheel 80. The rotor wheel 80 thus extends in an axial direction X, a radial direction R, and a circumferential direction C.

[0046] The gasket 12 co-operates with two inter-blade platforms 20 that are adjacent to the blade 10. More particularly, each platform 20 presents a plate 20B extending circumferentially, the platform 20 being mounted on the wheel 80 by conventional means (not shown), the gasket 12 co-operating with the inside circumferential surface 20BA of the plate 20B. Thus, the gasket 12 is arranged in the radial direction R below the plate 20B. In operation (i.e. when the wheel 80 is rotating), the rib 12C is pressed against the surface 20BA of the plate 20B by centrifugal forces, thereby ensuring good sealing between the blade 10 and the platform 20 at the blade root, under all circumstances.

[0047] In general manner, it can be understood that the gasket 12 is configured to remain in contact with the platform 20, and more particularly with the surface 20BA under all conditions, including at rest when the wheel 80 is not rotating.

[0048] FIGS. 2 and 3 correspond to the first above-described variant. FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show a second embodiment of the blade, corresponding to the second above-described variant. The blade in the second embodiment is identical to the blade in the first embodiment, with the exception of the elastomer gasket. Thus, only the reference signs relating to the gasket are modified, the other reference signs remaining unchanged.

[0049] In FIGS. 4 and 5, the lip 12′B of the gasket 12′ extends in the height direction H towards the free end 10BA of the airfoil 10B (radially towards the outside of the wheel 80). In this example, the lip 12′B extends beside the airfoil 10B relative to the base 12′A. Naturally, when the gasket 12′ co-operates with a platform 20, the lip 12′B is folded and deforms elastically in such a manner that the lip 12′B extends substantially in the circumferential direction C of the wheel 80 (i.e. forming an angle lying in the range 0° to 45° relative to the circumferential direction C). More generally, when the blade 10 is mounted in a rotor wheel 80, the gasket 12′ co-operates with an inter-blade platform 20 so that the lip 12′B extends substantially perpendicularly to the radial direction R (or the height direction H of the blade 10).

[0050] FIG. 6 shows a rotor wheel that is modified relative to the rotor wheel of FIG. 5. The only modification lies in the presence of a second gasket 32 arranged on the inside surface 20BA of the plate 20B of the platform. Thus, compared with FIG. 4, the reference signs for common elements remain unchanged.

[0051] The second gasket 32 is arranged radially between the plate 20B and the gasket 12′ (or first gasket 12′) of the blade 10. In this example, the second gasket 32 is a linear gasket presenting a second liner base 32A fastened to the inside surface 20BA of the plate 20B, and a second linear lip 32B. The second lip 32B extends radially towards the root 10A of the blade 10 (i.e. radially towards the inside of the wheel 80). The distal end 32BA of the second linear lip 32B co-operates with the blade 10. Naturally, the rib 12′C of the first gasket 12′ co-operates with the inside surface 20BA. The second lip 32B also co-operates in part with the lip 12′B (or first lip 12′B) of the gasket 12′. Thus, in this example, the second gasket 32 forms firstly a second barrier for improving sealing, and also serves to block the gasket 12′ of the blade 10 in position so as to avoid any potential excessive deformation thereof.

[0052] Naturally, the present invention is described with reference to specific embodiments, and it is clear that modifications and changes may be made to those embodiments without going beyond the general ambit of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual characteristics of the various embodiments shown and/or mentioned may be combined in additional embodiments. Consequently, the description and the drawings should be considered in a sense that is illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0053] For example, the first embodiment blade 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, could be mounted in a rotor wheel having an inter-blade platform 20 fitted with a gasket 32 as shown in FIG. 6.