Shaping an edge of an aerofoil, especially re-shaping the leading edge of an eroded gas turbine engine blade

摘要

An apparatus 100 for shaping an edge 46 such as the leading edge of an aerofoil 44 comprises a brush 102 having a plurality of bristles 104 extending substantially parallel to each other, a motor 106 for rotating the brush 102 about an axis 108 substantially parallel to the bristles 104 of the brush 102, a support structure 110 holding the brush 102 such that the axis 108 intersects a first surface 54 or a second surface 56 of the edge 46 of the aerofoil 44, means to move the brush 102 such that the brush 102 contacts the first surface 54 or the second surface 56 of the edge 46 and means to produce relative movement of the brush 102 and the aerofoil 44 such that the first brush 102 moves longitudinally along the edge 46 of the aerofoil 44 to shape the edge 46 of the aerofoil 44. The axis 108 may intersect the surface 54 or 56 at an adjustable angle between 30° and 75°. The bristles 104 may be alumina or silicon carbide. The apparatus 100 may be used for re-shaping the leading edge of a worn gas turbine engine blade which has been eroded in service and which may be re-shaped in-situ within the engine. The apparatus may also be used with aerofoils from a steam turbine, a water turbine or a wind turbine.