当前申请(专利权)人地址：
Incorporated in the United Kingdom, 62 Buckingham Gate, LONDON, SW1E 6AT, United Kingdom
摘要：
A method of supporting a cantilevered component mounted to a hub by locating a cassette in proximity to the cantilevered component, the cassette defining a volume for filling with an encapsulant; filling the volume with an encapsulant material; and causing the encapsulant to solidify to the cantilevered component to support the cantilevered component. The cantilevered component is preferably an aerofoil of a bladed disk and the encapsulant provides support to change the vibration response of the blade during a subsequent machining step. The encapsulant may be cured by applying energy, by reaction with a chemical initiator, or by being heated and cooled which sinters a particulate encapsulant.
权利要求：
Claims:
1. A method of supporting a blade mounted on a hub, the method comprising the step of
locating a cassette in proximity to a blade mounted on a hub, the cassette defining a
volume for filling with an encapsulant;
filling the volume with an encapsulant material; and
causing the encapsulant to solidify to the blade to support the blade on the hub. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cassette has walls extending in a direction
away from the hub, a bottom facing the hub and a top facing away from the hub, the
method comprising placing the cassette in proximity to the blade and filling the volume
with encapsulant through the top of the cassette.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cassette is placed to surround the
blade
4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the cassette is placed in proximity to the blade,
the blade forming one wall of the cassette.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein a sealant is applied between the blade and the
other walls of the cassette.
6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the method comprises providing a
sheet between the hub and the cassette for separating the hub from the volume. 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the sheet comprises one or more openings, the
method comprising inserting a blade through a respective opening.
8. A method according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the sheet has a plurality of alignment
features and the cassette has a plurality of complementary alignment features, the
method comprising aligning the cassette to the hub by engaging the alignment features
with the complementary alignment features.
9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the cassette is removed after the
encapsulant is solidified.
10. A method according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the volume is filled with a liquid
encapsulant that is solidified by cooling.
11. A method according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the volume is filed with a liquid
encapsulant that is solidified by applying energy to cure the encapsulant. 12. A method according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the volume is filled with a liquid
encapsulant that is solidified by reaction with a chemical initiator.
13. A method according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the volume is filled with a
particulate encapsulant that is heated and cooled to solidify the encapsulant to the
blade to support the blade on the hub.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the heating and cooling sinters the particulate
encapsulant.
15. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the cassette comprises integral
heating or cooling elements.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the integral heating elements are selected
from the group comprising: resistive heating wires or conduits configured to carry a
heating or cooling fluid.
17. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein following support of the blade with
the solidified encapsulant, the blade is machined in a machining step.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the blade is machined in the machining step
whilst the blade is supported by the solid encapsulant.
19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the machining step machines the blade and
removes at least a portion of the solidified encapsulant.
20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the machining step further removes at least a
portion of the cassette.
21. A method of supporting a cantilevered component mounted to a hub, the method
comprising the step of locating a cassette in proximity to the cantilevered component,
the cassette defining a volume for filling with an encapsulant;
filling the volume with an encapsulant material; and
causing the encapsulant to solidify to the cantilevered component to support the
cantilevered component.
22. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the blade or cantilevered
component is supported to change its vibration response.
23. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the blade or cantilevered
component is integrally formed with its respective hub.