Patent ID: 8845283
Filing Date: 2014-09-30
Classification: F01D,F04D,F05D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A compressor blade configured to inhibit rub encounters between a blade tip thereof and an interior surface of a case that surrounds compressor rotating hardware that comprises the compressor blade, the compressor blade comprising: a cap that defines the blade tip of the compressor blade at a radially outermost end of the compressor blade; flexible elements extending from a surface of the cap that defines the blade tip and being supported solely by the cap, the flexible elements extending from the surface in a span-wise direction of the compressor blade, the flexible elements being operable to become rigid due to centrifugal stiffening at compressor operating speeds, the flexible elements comprising flexible cutting elements that exhibit an abrasiveness relative to the interior surface of the case so as to be operable to cut a groove in the interior surface of the case at compressor operating speeds, and the groove cut thereby is more nearly coaxial with an axis of rotation of the compressor rotating hardware than the interior surface so as to inhibit rub encounters between the blade tip and the interior surface of the case.