Patent ID: 8752289
Filing Date: 2014-06-17
Classification: B21D,B23P,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a pair of aerofoil reinforcing edges, wherein each reinforcing edge comprises a relatively thick nose portion contoured to fit along the edge of the turbo machine aerofoil, and a pair of opposing, relatively thin, tail portions to overlap a suction surface and pressure surface respectively of the turbo machine aerofoil, the method comprising: a first step of creating a pre-from assembly comprising a pair of substantially thin metal sheets held against opposite faces of a substantially thick inner plate, the inner plate including an opening cut to form a closed cavity, the cut-out section of the inner plate being included in the pre-form assembly; a second step of creating a pre-form from the pre-form assembly by diffusion bonding, the cut-out section being masked to prevent bonding to the metal sheets; a third step of forming a predefined hollow workpiece from the pre-form by superplastic forming, the hollow workpiece incorporating the reinforcing edges; and a fourth step of cutting through the metal sheets from opposite sides to form the pair of reinforcing edges from the workpiece, the cut-out section is a sacrificial barrier to prevent through-penetration.