US 11,814,973 B2
Methods and apparatus to provide damping of an airfoil
Li Zheng, Niskayuna, NY (US); Changjie Sun, Clifton Park, NY (US); and Nicholas J. Kray, Evendale, OH (US)
Assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Jan. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/568,555.
Prior Publication US 2023/0212957 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. F01D 25/06 (2006.01); F01D 9/04 (2006.01); F01D 5/18 (2006.01); F01D 25/02 (2006.01); F01D 5/04 (2006.01)
CPC F01D 25/06 (2013.01) [F01D 5/18 (2013.01); F01D 9/041 (2013.01); F01D 25/02 (2013.01); F01D 5/046 (2013.01); F05D 2220/32 (2013.01); F05D 2240/12 (2013.01); F05D 2260/96 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An airfoil comprising:
a shell defining an exterior surface of the airfoil and forming a cavity in an interior surface of the airfoil;
a lattice damper disposed in the cavity, the lattice damper to reduce vibrational loads exerted on the airfoil, the lattice damper including a plurality of unit cells, the plurality of unit cells being cross-cube shaped and hollow with a single continuous surface;
an inlet opening extending through a wall of the shell proximate a leading edge of the airfoil;
an outlet opening extending through the wall of the shell proximate a trailing edge of the airfoil; and
a plurality of channels defined in the lattice damper to fluidly couple the inlet opening to the outlet opening, the inlet opening to receive heated fluid to flow from the leading edge to the trailing edge via the plurality of channels.