BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Disclosure
[0001] The present disclosure relates to blades, and more particularly to blade tip surfaces
such as those for cooperating with abradable coatings on turbomachines, such as in
gas turbine engines.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] A variety of rotating blades are known for use in gas turbine engines. Traditionally,
air seals are used between rotating blades and the inner surface of the engine case
in order to increase engine efficiency. Engine efficiency can be correlated to the
clearance between tips of the blades and the inner diameter of the air seal. In this
regard, some air seals are provided as an abradable air seal that incorporates an
abradable material affixed to the inner surface of a casing. During operation, the
rotating blade tips of the blades contact and abrade the abradable material (also
known as "rubbing").
[0003] Performance requirements for abradable air seal systems can include efficiency standards
and maintenance cost targets, among other requirements. In order to meet these standards,
abradable air seal systems can be required to have low gas permeability, low roughness,
good erosion resistance, but still be abradable during interaction with blades. These
requirements can conflict with one another, for example, typically the more erosion
resistant an air seal is, the greater the increase in the density and hardness of
the seal, tending to increase the difficulty of abrading such a seal. In order to
cut the hard and dense abradable material, blades can include abrasive tip coatings
such as Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN), which tends to increase the cost of the blades.
[0004] Such conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory
for their intended purpose. However, there is still a need in the art for improved
blades for use in sealing systems. The present disclosure provides solutions for these
problems.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] A blade includes a blade body extending from a blade root to an opposed blade tip
surface along a longitudinal axis. The blade body defines a pressure side and a suction
side. The blade body includes a cutting edge defined where the tip surface of the
blade body meets the pressure side of the blade body. The cutting edge is configured
to abrade a seal section of an engine case.
[0006] The blade can include cutting points extending axially from the blade tip surface
along the longitudinal axis. The blade can include a coating disposed on a portion
of the blade tip surface. The coating can include TiN, TiCN, TiAIN, Al
2O
3, CBN, diamond, or the like. The coating can be disposed only on a portion of the
blade tip surface that includes the cutting points, for example.
[0007] The blade tip surface can include a chamfered surface between the pressure side and
the suction side of the blade body that tapers toward the blade root in a direction
from the pressure side to the suction side. The blade tip surface can include a land
on the blade tip surface between the pressure side and the chamfered surface. A portion
of the land can be at a ninety degree angle with respect to a portion of the pressure
side of the blade body. The cutting edge can define an arcuate portion transitioning
between the pressure side and the land of the blade tip surface. The cutting points
can be disposed only on the land of the blade tip surface. The cutting edge can include
a projection portion. The projection portion can extend from the pressure side of
the blade body.
[0008] A method for manufacturing a blade includes forming an airfoil with a root and an
opposed tip surface along a longitudinal axis, wherein the airfoil defines a pressure
side and a suction side. The method also includes forming a cutting edge where the
tip surface of the airfoil meets the pressure side of the airfoil.
[0009] Forming a cutting edge can include machining a chamfered surface between the pressure
side and the suction side on the tip surface, machining an arcuate portion between
the pressure side and a land, and/or machining a projection portion extending from
the pressure side. Machining a chamfered surface can include tapering the chamfered
surface toward the root in a direction from the pressure side to the suction side.
[0010] Forming a cutting edge can include forging a chamfered surface between the pressure
side and the suction side on the tip surface, forging an arcuate portion between the
pressure side and a land, and/or forging a projection portion extending from the pressure
side. Forging a chamfered surface can include tapering the chamfered surface toward
the root in a direction from the pressure side to the suction side. The method can
include forming cutting points in the tip surface. The method can also include coating
a portion of the tip surface with a coating material including at least one of TiN,
TiCN, TiAIN, Al
2O
3, CBN, and diamond.
[0011] A gas turbine engine includes a case defining a centerline axis, an abradable liner
disposed radially inward from the case, a hub radially inward from the case and the
abradable liner, and a plurality of blade bodies extending radially outward from the
hub for rotation about the centerline axis. The abradable liner includes a layer of
rub material disposed on an inner diameter of the abradable liner. The cutting edge
of each blade body is positioned proximate an inner diameter of the layer of rub material
for abrading the layer of rub material during circumferential movement of the cutting
edges as the blade bodies rotate about the centerline axis.
[0012] According to a first aspect, an integrally bladed rotor is provided, the integrally
bladed rotor having: a plurality of blades integrally formed with a hub as a single
component, each of the plurality of blades having a blade body extending from the
hub to an opposed blade tip surface along a longitudinal axis, wherein the blade body
defines a pressure side and a suction side, and wherein the blade body includes a
cutting edge defined between the blade tip surface of the blade body and the pressure
side of the blade body, wherein the cutting edge is configured to abrade a seal section
of an engine case.
[0013] The integrally bladed rotor may include cutting points extending axially from the
blade tip surface along the longitudinal axis.
[0014] A coating may be disposed on a portion of the blade tip surface, wherein the coating
may include abrasive particles, the abrasive particles including at least one of TiN,
TiCN, TiAIN, Al
2O
3, carbide particles, CBN and diamond. The abrasive particles may be retained in a
matrix material.
[0015] The coating may be disposed only on a portion of the blade tip surface that includes
the cutting points.
[0016] The blade tip surface may include a chamfered surface between the pressure side and
the suction side of the blade body that tapers toward the hub in a direction from
the pressure side to the suction side.
[0017] The blade tip surface may include a land on the blade tip surface between the pressure
side and the chamfered surface.
[0018] A portion of the land may be at a ninety degree angle with respect to a portion of
the pressure side of the blade body.
[0019] The cutting edge may define an arcuate portion transitioning between the pressure
side and a land of the blade tip surface, wherein the land may be between the pressure
side and the chamfered surface.
[0020] Cutting points extending axially from the blade tip surface along the longitudinal
axis may be disposed only on a land of the blade tip surface, wherein the land may
be on the blade tip surface between the pressure side and the chamfered surface.
[0021] The cutting edge may include a projection portion, wherein the projection portion
extends from the pressure side of the blade body.
[0022] According to a second aspect, a method for manufacturing an integrally bladed rotor
is disclosed, the method including: forming a plurality of airfoils integrally with
a hub to form a single component, each of the plurality of airfoils having an opposed
tip surface with respect to the hub extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein each
of the plurality of airfoils defines a pressure side and a suction side; and forming
a cutting edge between the tip surface and the pressure side of each of the plurality
of airfoils, wherein the cutting edge is configured to abrade a seal section of an
engine case.
[0023] Forming a cutting edge may include machining a chamfered surface on the tip surface
between the pressure side and the suction side, wherein machining a chamfered surface
may include tapering the chamfered surface toward the hub in a direction from the
pressure side to the suction side.
[0024] Forming a cutting edge may include machining an arcuate portion between the pressure
side and a land, wherein the land may be a surface on the tip surface between the
pressure side and a chamfered surface, wherein the chamfered surface may be on the
tip surface between the pressure side and the suction side.
[0025] Forming a cutting edge may include machining a projection portion extending from
the pressure side.
[0026] Forming a cutting edge may include forging a chamfered surface between the pressure
side and the suction side, wherein forging a chamfered surface may include tapering
the chamfered surface toward the hub in a direction from the pressure side to the
suction side.
[0027] Forming a cutting edge may include forging an arcuate portion between the pressure
side and a land, wherein the land may be a surface on the tip surface between the
pressure side and a chamfered surface, wherein the chamfered surface may be on the
tip surface between the pressure side and the suction side.
[0028] Forming a cutting edge may include forging a projection portion extending from the
pressure side.
[0029] The method may further comprise forming cutting points in the tip surface, wherein
the cutting points may extend axially from the tip surface along the longitudinal
axis.
[0030] The method may further comprise coating a portion of the tip surface with a coating
material, wherein the coating material may include abrasive particles, and the abrasive
particles may include at least one of TiN, TiCN, TiAIN, Al
2O
3, carbide particles, CBN and diamond. The abrasive particles may be retained in a
matrix material.
[0031] According to a third aspect, a gas turbine engine is provided, the gas turbine engine
having: a case defining a centerline axis; an abradable liner disposed radially inward
from the case including a layer of rub material disposed on an inner diameter of the
abradable liner; an integrally bladed rotor having a hub radially inward of the case
and the abradable liner; and a plurality of blade bodies integrally formed with the
hub as a single component and extending radially outward from the hub for rotation
about the centerline axis, wherein each blade body extends from the hub to an opposed
respective blade tip surface along a respective longitudinal axis, wherein each blade
body defines a respective pressure side and a respective suction side, wherein each
blade body includes a respective cutting edge defined between the blade tip surface
and the pressure side of the blade body, wherein the cutting edge of each blade body
is positioned proximate an inner diameter of the layer of rub material for abrading
the layer of rub material during circumferential movement of the cutting edges as
the blade bodies rotate about the centerline axis.
[0032] These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will
become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will
readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure
without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described by
way of example only in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting an exemplary embodiment of a gas turbine engine
with an integrally bladed rotor constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;
Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a blade of the
integrally bladed rotor constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, showing
a pressure side of the blade and a cutting edge;
Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the blade shown in Fig.
2 disposed in the a gas turbine engine of Fig. 1, showing the cutting edge proximate
to an abradable liner;
Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of another exemplary embodiment
of a blade of an integrally bladed rotor with a cutting edge constructed in accordance
with the present disclosure, showing an arcuate portion on the blade tip surface with
a coating;
Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of another exemplary embodiment
of a blade of an integrally bladed rotor with a cutting edge constructed in accordance
with the present disclosure, showing a projection portion on the blade tip surface
with a coating; and
Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of another exemplary embodiment
of a blade of an integrally bladed rotor with a cutting edge constructed in accordance
with the present disclosure, showing cutting points dispose on a portion of the blade
tip surface with a coating.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify
similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of
explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary embodiment
of a gas turbine engine in accordance with the disclosure is shown in Fig. 1 and is
designated generally by reference character 100. An enlarged perspective view of an
exemplary embodiment of a gas turbine blade in accordance with the disclosure is shown
in Fig. 2. Other embodiments of gas turbine blades in accordance with the disclosure,
or aspects thereof, are provided in Figs. 3-6, as will be described. The systems and
methods described herein can be used to enable blades, e.g. nickel blades with or
without any coating, to be used in abradable seal systems for gas turbine engines.
[0035] Fig. 1 schematically shows a gas turbine engine 100 including (in serial flow communication)
a fan 102, a compressor 104, a combustor 106, and a turbine 108. Gas turbine engine
100 is circumferentially disposed about an engine centerline axis A. Gas turbine engine
100 includes an engine case 110 and an integrally bladed rotor 111 having a hub 112
with a plurality of blades 114 radially inward from case 110. The plurality of blades
114 being integrally formed with the hub 112 in order to form a single component,
the plurality of blades projecting integrally and radially outward from hub 112 for
rotation about centerline axis A.
[0036] Now with reference to Figs. 2 and 3, blade 114 of the integrally bladed rotor 111
includes a blade body 124 integrally formed with the hub 112 and radially extends
from the hub 112 to a blade tip surface 128 along a longitudinal axis B. Blade body
124 defines a pressure side 130 and a suction side 132. Blade body 124 includes a
cutting edge 134 defined between tip surface 128 of blade body 124 and pressure side
130 of blade body 124. Cutting edge 134 is configured to abrade a portion of an abradable
liner 116, e.g. a seal section, of case 110. Those skilled in the art will readily
appreciate that cutting edge 134 acts similar to a cutting edge of a cutting machine
tool. Instead of removing abradable liner 116 material with friction wear, abradable
liner 116 material is removed by the cutting action of cutting edge 134. It is contemplated
that the reduced friction energy consumption as compared with traditional blades tends
to reduce heat generation during rubbing of abradable liner 116 and improves the life
of the integrally bladed rotor 111.
[0037] Those skilled in the art will also readily appreciate that blade 114 tends to reduce
costs as compared with CBN tipped blades used in traditional seal systems because
no CBN tipping is required for blade 114. In addition, it is contemplated that blade
114 can rub harder abradable layers, e.g. abradable liner 116, than traditional CBN
tipped blades, therein increasing efficiency and engine performance, notably in the
high-pressure compressor (HPC) section 104 of gas turbine 100. The pressure and temperature
are higher in HPC section 104 therefore any clearance/gap reduction typically have
a higher impact on efficiency improvements. In addition, in HPC section 104, abradables
with high temperature capability, such as nickel and cobalt based materials, are often
needed which tend to make it harder to abrade than other abradables found in other
turbine sections.
[0038] As shown in Fig. 3, abradable liner 116 is located between the blade 114 and an inner
surface 118 of engine case 110. Abradable liner 116 includes a layer of rub material
120 disposed on an inner diameter 122 of abradable liner 116. Blade tip surface 128
includes a chamfered surface 136 between pressure side 130 and suction side 132 of
blade body 124 that tapers toward the hub 112 in a direction from pressure side 130
to suction side 132. The chamfered surface 136 reduces the width of contact of the
blade tip surface 128 with the rub material 120. Blade tip surface 128 includes a
land 138 between pressure side 130 and chamfered surface 136. A portion of land 138
is at a ninety degree angle with respect to a portion of pressure side 130. Those
skilled in the art will readily appreciate that while the angle between land 138 and
pressure side 130 is shown and described herein as approximately ninety degrees, the
angle can vary depending on the application. For example, a smaller angle tends to
increase cutting capability, but there may be a trade-off of reduced cutting edge
strength. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that a relief angle θ between
land 138 and chamfered surface 136 can range from 2 to 6 degrees. Relief angle θ reduces
the contact between blade tip surface 128 and abradable liner 116, tending to reduce
friction force and frictional heat generation as compared to traditional blades.
[0039] With continued reference to Fig. 3, cutting edge 134 of blade body 124 is positioned
proximate an inner diameter 121 of layer of rub material 120 for abrading layer of
rub material 120 during circumferential movement of cutting edge 134 as blade body
124 rotates about centerline axis A, shown in Fig. 1, as indicated schematically by
the arrow.
[0040] As shown in Fig. 4, blade 214 is similar to blade 114. Cutting edge 234 of blade
214 defines an arcuate portion 240 transitioning between pressure side 230 and land
238 of blade tip surface 228. Blade tip surface 228 also includes a coating 246, described
in further detail below. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that arcuate
portion 240 can be stronger than a sharp cutting edge, but there may be a trade-off
of increased frictional forces and higher energy tending to cause increased heat generation.
[0041] Now with reference to Fig. 5, blade 314 is similar to blade 114. Cutting edge 334
of blade 314 includes a projection portion 342. Projection portion 342 extends from
pressure side 330 of blade body 324, e.g. extending left as oriented in Fig. 5. An
angle β between pressure side 330 and projection portion 342, e.g. rake angle, can
range from 0 to 4 degrees, and/or can be a variety of suitable angles depending on
the given application. For example, the larger angle β is, the sharper and more efficient
cutting edge 334 can be, tending to require less force to cut through an abradable
liner, e.g. abradable liner 116, but there may be a trade-off of reduced cutting edge
334 strength. Blade tip surface 328 also includes a coating 346, described in further
detail below.
[0042] As shown in Fig. 6, blade 414 is substantially similar to blade 114. Blade 414 includes
asperities or raised material such as cutting points 444 extending axially from blade
tip surface 428 along longitudinal axis B. Cutting points are disposed on land 438
of blade tip surface 428. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that cutting
points 444 can also be disposed on lands 138, 238 and 338 of blades 114, 214 and 314,
respectively. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the reduced surface
area contact between cutting points 444 and an abradable liner, e.g. abradable liner
116, as compared to the surface area contact between the abradable liner a blade tip
surface 428 without cutting points 444, tends to reduce heat generation.
[0043] With reference now to Figs. 3-6, blades 214, 314 and 414 include a coating 246, 346
and 446 disposed on a portion of blade tip surfaces 228, 328, and 428. The coating
246, 346 and 446 may be a hard anodize or thin film coating that does cover the entire
portion of blade tip surfaces 228, 328, and 428. The coating 246, 346 and 446 may
be disposed only on the cutting edge 134, 234, 334, and 434. In at least one embodiment,
the coating 246, 346 and 446 may be disposed on a thin area between blade tip surface
128, 228, 328, and 428 and pressure side 130, 230, 330, and 430 and be provided instead
of the cutting edge .
[0044] The coating 246, 346, and 446 can include abrasive particles or an abrasive grit,
retained in a matrix material. The abrasive particles / abrasive grit may extend above
or beyond the matrix material reducing the contact area to reduce the cutting load
and heat between the cutting features and the abradable liner 116 therefore improving
the life of the blades of the integrally bladed rotor. The abrasive particles can
include TiN, TiCN, TiAIN, Al
2O
3, carbide particles, diamond, CBN and/or any other suitable coating for machining
high strength aerospace alloys. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that
the CBN coating varies from CBN abrasive tipping in that the CBN abrasives are typically
brazed or plated on the tips of the blades, while the CBN coating is a thin layer,
in the range of microns, on the blade tip, similar to a coated cutting tool edge.
Coatings 246, 346 and 446 tend to reduce the wearing away of blade material, e.g.
a nickel alloy material, during rubbing. As shown in Fig. 6, coating 446 is disposed
only on a portion of blade tip surface 428 that includes cutting points 444. Those
skilled in the art will readily appreciate that, while blade 414 is shown with coating
446 only on cutting points 444, coating 446 can be applied directly to a cutting edge,
e.g. cutting edge 134, of a blade, e.g. blade 114, similar to coatings 246 and 346
shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It is also contemplated that other suitable coatings can be
applied to blade tip surfaces 128, 228, 328 and 428 depending on where blades 114,
214, 314 and 414 are being used in the turbine engine.
[0045] With reference now to Figs. 1-6, a method for manufacturing an integrally bladed
rotor, e.g. blades 114, 214, 314 and 414 extending from hub 112, includes forming
an airfoil, e.g. blade bodies 124, 224, 324 and 424, extending from the hub 112 towards
an opposed tip surface, e.g. tip surfaces 128, 228, 328 and 428, along a longitudinal
axis, e.g. longitudinal axis B, wherein the airfoil defines a pressure side, e.g.
pressure sides 130, 230, 330 and 430, and a suction side, e.g. suction sides 132,
232, 332 and 432, and forming a cutting edge, e.g. cutting edges 134, 234, 334 and
434, between the tip surface of the airfoil and the pressure side of the airfoil.
The cutting edge is configured to abrade a seal section, e.g. abradable liner 116,
of an engine case, e.g. engine case 110.
[0046] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that forming the cutting edge can
include either machining or forging a chamfered surface, e.g. chamfered surfaces 136,
236, 336 and 436, between the pressure side and the suction side. Machining and/or
forging the chamfered surface includes tapering the chamfered surface toward the blade
root in a direction from the pressure side to the suction side. It is also contemplated
that forming the cutting edge can include machining and/or forging an arcuate portion,
e.g. arcuate portion 240, between the pressure side and a land. Further, those skilled
in the art will also readily appreciate that forming the cutting edge can include
machining and/or forging a projection portion, e.g. projection portion 342, extending
from the pressure side.
[0047] In addition, it is contemplated that the method can include forming cutting points,
e.g. cutting points 444, in the tip surface. Those skilled in the art will readily
appreciate that the cutting points can be formed by machining, knurling or any other
suitable manufacturing process. It is contemplated that the method can also include
coating a portion of the tip surface with a coating material including at least one
of TiN, TiCN, TiAIN, Al
2O
3, CBN and diamond. Those skilled the art will readily appreciate that physical vapor
deposition (PVD) and/or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) can be used to deposit the
coatings, e.g. coatings 146, 246, 346 and 446, described above. It is contemplated
that the methods described herein are suitable for mass production of the integrally
bladed rotor disk.
[0048] The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in
the drawings, provide for blades with superior properties including increased efficiency
and potentially reduced cost. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure
have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled
in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
1. An integrally bladed rotor (111), comprising:
a plurality of blades (114; 214; 314; 414) integrally formed with a hub (112) as a
single component, each of the plurality of blades having a blade body (124; 324; 424)
extending from the hub (112) to an opposed blade tip surface (128; 228; 328; 428)
along a longitudinal axis, wherein the blade body (124; 324; 424) defines a pressure
side (130; 230; 330; 430) and a suction side (132; 232; 332; 432), and wherein the
blade body (124; 324; 424) includes a cutting edge (134; 234; 334; 434) defined between
the blade tip surface (128; 228; 328; 428) of the blade body and the pressure side
(130; 230; 330; 430) of the blade body, wherein the cutting edge (134; 234; 334; 434)
is configured to abrade a seal section (116) of an engine case (110).
2. The integrally bladed rotor (111) as in claim 1, further comprising cutting points
(444) extending axially from the blade tip surface (428) along the longitudinal axis.
3. The integrally bladed rotor (111) as in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a coating
(246; 346; 446) disposed on a portion of the blade tip surface (128; 228; 328; 428),
wherein the coating (246; 346; 446) includes abrasive particles, the abrasive particles
including at least one of TiN, TiCN, TiAIN, Al2O3, carbide particles, CBN and diamond, and wherein the abrasive particles are retained
in a matrix material.
4. The integrally bladed rotor (111) as in claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein
the coating (246; 346; 446) is disposed only on a portion of the blade tip surface
(128; 228; 328; 428) that includes the cutting points (444).
5. The integrally bladed rotor (111) as in any preceding claim, wherein the blade tip
surface (128; 228; 328; 428) includes a chamfered surface (136; 236; 336; 436) between
the pressure side (130; 230; 330; 430) and the suction side (132; 232; 332; 432) of
the blade body (124; 324; 424) that tapers toward the hub (112) in a direction from
the pressure side to the suction side.
6. The integrally bladed rotor (111) as in claim 5, wherein the blade tip surface (128;
228; 328; 428) includes a land (138; 238; 338; 438) on the blade tip surface between
the pressure side (130; 230; 330; 430) and the chamfered surface (136; 236; 336; 436),
optionally wherein a portion of the land (138; 238; 338; 438) is at a ninety degree
angle with respect to a portion of the pressure side (130; 230; 330; 430) of the blade
body (124; 324; 424).
7. The integrally bladed rotor (111) as in claim 5, wherein the cutting edge (134; 234;
334; 434) defines an arcuate portion (240) transitioning between the pressure side
(130; 230; 330; 430) and a land (138; 238; 338; 438) of the blade tip surface (128;
228; 328; 428), wherein the land is between the pressure side and the chamfered surface
(136; 236; 336; 436), or wherein cutting points (444) extending axially from the blade
tip surface (128; 228; 328; 428) along the longitudinal axis are disposed only on
a land (138; 238; 338; 438) of the blade tip surface, wherein the land is on the blade
tip surface between the pressure side (130; 230; 330; 430) and the chamfered surface
(136; 236; 336; 436).
8. The integrally bladed rotor (111) as in any preceding claim, wherein the cutting edge
(134; 234; 334; 434) includes a projection portion (342), wherein the projection portion
extends from the pressure side (130; 230; 330; 430) of the blade body (124; 324; 424).
9. A method for manufacturing an integrally bladed rotor (111), the method comprising:
forming a plurality of airfoils integrally with a hub (112) to form a single component,
each of the plurality of airfoils having an opposed tip surface (128; 228; 328; 428)
with respect to the hub extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein each of the plurality
of airfoils defines a pressure side (130; 230; 330; 430) and a suction side (132;
232; 332; 432); and
forming a cutting edge (134; 234; 334; 434) between the tip surface (128; 228; 328;
428) and the pressure side (130; 230; 330; 430) of each of the plurality of airfoils,
wherein the cutting edge is configured to abrade a seal section (116) of an engine
case (110).
10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein forming a cutting edge (134; 234; 334; 434)
includes machining and/or forging a chamfered surface (136; 236; 336; 436) between
the pressure side (130; 230; 330; 430) and the suction side (132; 232; 332; 432),
wherein machining and/or forging a chamfered surface includes tapering the chamfered
surface toward the hub (112) in a direction from the pressure side to the suction
side, wherein the machining of the chamfered surface includes machining the chamfered
surface on the tip surface (128; 228; 328; 428).
11. The method as recited in claim 9 or 10, wherein forming a cutting edge (134; 234;
334; 434) includes machining and/or forging an arcuate portion (240) between the pressure
side (130; 230; 330; 430) and a land (138; 238; 338; 438), wherein the land is surface
on the tip surface (128; 228; 328; 428) between the pressure side and a chamfered
surface (136; 236; 336; 436), wherein the chamfered surface is on the tip surface
between the pressure side and the suction side (132; 232; 332; 432).
12. The method as recited in claim 9, 10, or 11, wherein forming a cutting edge (134;
234; 334; 434) includes machining and/or forging a projection portion (342) extending
from the pressure side (130; 230; 330; 430).
13. The method as recited in any of claims 9 to 12, further comprising forming cutting
points (444) in the tip surface (128; 228; 328; 428), wherein the cutting points extend
axially from the tip surface along the longitudinal axis.
14. The method as recited in any of claims 9 to 13, further comprising coating a portion
of the tip surface (128; 228; 328; 428) with a coating material (246; 346; 446) including
abrasive particles, the abrasive particles comprising at least one of TiN, TiCN, TiAIN,
Al2O3, carbide particles, CBN and diamond, and wherein the abrasive particles are retained
in a matrix material.
15. A gas turbine engine (100) comprising:
a case (110) defining a centerline axis;
an abradable liner (116) disposed radially inward from the case including a layer
of rub material (120) disposed on an inner diameter (122) of the abradable liner;
an integrally bladed rotor (111) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 having a hub (112)
radially inward of the case (110) and the abradable liner (116); and
wherein the plurality of blade bodies (124; 324; 424) extend radially outward from
the hub (112) for rotation about the centerline axis, and the cutting edge (134; 234;
334; 434) of each blade body being positioned proximate an inner diameter (121) of
the layer of rub material (120) for abrading the layer of rub material during circumferential
movement of the cutting edges as the blade bodies rotate about the centerline axis.