초록 ▼

A cooled fluid flow component for a combustion engine which directs cooling fluid through complementary guided-flow regions to ensure effective cooling of the component tip end, without producing overcooled regions. The component includes multiple channels fluidly linked by a first turning zone. A c

A cooled fluid flow component for a combustion engine which directs cooling fluid through complementary guided-flow regions to ensure effective cooling of the component tip end, without producing overcooled regions. The component includes multiple channels fluidly linked by a first turning zone. A contoured boundary member divides the turning zone into two guided-flow regions which cooperatively ensure that the tip is cooled appropriately. According to one aspect of the invention, the first guided-flow region forms a vortex that cools a region adjacent a channel-dividing partition, while the second guided flow region ensures the region adjacent the component tip is cooled appropriately. A method of cooling a internally-cooled fluid guide component is also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An internally-cooled fluid directing component comprising:an elongated body member having a first end and a second end; an interior cavity disposed within said body member, said interior cavity having a cooling fluid inlet and a cooling fluid outlet; a partition member disposed within said interi

1. An internally-cooled fluid directing component comprising:an elongated body member having a first end and a second end; an interior cavity disposed within said body member, said interior cavity having a cooling fluid inlet and a cooling fluid outlet; a partition member disposed within said interior cavity and positioned to divide said interior cavity into a first channel and a second channel; a turning zone disposed within interior cavity and fluidly linking said first and second channels; at least one boundary member disposed within said turning zone, said at least one boundary member dividing said turning zone into a first guided-flow region and a second guided-flow region, with said boundary member being contoured to substantially surround said first guided-flow region; said boundary member including first and second ends with a head portion disposed therebetween, said first and second ends and said head portion being spaced apart from said partition member, with the distance between a free end of said partition member and an upper portion of said head portion being greater than the distance between said first end and said partition member and the distance between said second end and said partition member; wherein said first channel, said turning zone, and second channel cooperatively form a flowthrough path adapted to transmit cooling fluid between said cooling fluid inlet and said cooling fluid outlet, whereby said first and second guided-flow regions are adapted to direct a first portion of cooling fluid through said first guided-flow region and a second portion of cooling fluid through said second guided-flow regions, respectively, thereby allowing strategic cooling of said turning zone. 2. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 1, wherein said first guided-flow region is proximate a first end of said partition member and said second guided-flow region is proximate a tip wall of said interior cavity.3. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 1, wherein said first guided-flow region includes a swirl-inducing region defined by said contoured boundary member.4. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 3, wherein said swirl-inducing region is fluidly connected to said first channel by an entrance region and an exit region, said entrance region and said exit region, and said swirl-inducing region being sized and shaped to cooperatively direct said first portion of cooling fluid along a vortex-shaped flowpath.5. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 4, wherein said entrance region and exit region are spaced apart by said partition member.6. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 4, wherein said first guided-flow region is adapted to flow fluid a first flow rate and said second guided-flow region is adapted to flow fluid at a second flow rate, wherein the ratio of said first flow rate to said second flow rate is within the range of about 1 to about 4.7. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 4, wherein said entrance region is characterized by a first distance, and wherein swirl-inducing region is characterized by a second distance, and wherein the ratio of said second distance to said first distance is within the range of about 10 to about 15.8. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 1, wherein said first guided-flow region is proximate a first end of said partition member and said second guided-flow region is proximate a tip wall of said interior cavity.9. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 8, wherein second guided-flow region is disposed between said boundary member and said interior cavity.10. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 8, wherein second guided-flow region includes at least one tapered region adapted to provide accelerated flow adjacent a corner of said interior cavity.11. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 10, wherein second guided-flow region includes turbulence increasing elements.12. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 1, wherein second guided-flow region further includes at least one tapered region adapted to provide accelerated flow adjacent a corner of said cavity.13. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 1, wherein said body member is characterized by an airfoil-shaped cross section including a leading edge spaced apart from a trailing edge by a first sidewall and an opposite second sidewall.14. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 1, wherein said boundary member extends flow-wise within said turning zone.15. An internally-cooled fluid directing component, comprising:an elongated body having an interior cavity disposed therein, said interior cavity including a cooling fluid flowpath; a first guided-flow region disposed within said flowpath and a second guided-flow region disposed within said flowpath, said guided-flow regions being separated by a contoured boundary member disposed therebetween; said first guided-flow region being substantially surrounded by said boundary member, and said second guided-flow region being disposed between an end of said cavity and an outer surface of said boundary member; said first guided-flow region being adapted to produce a vortex, whereby said first guided-flow region is adapted to cool a region surrounded by said boundary member, and said second guided-flow region is adapted to cool a region disposed between an end of said cavity and an outer surface of said boundary member. 16. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 15, further including a partition member in said interior cavity to form a first channel and a second channel, said first and second channels being fluidly linked via a turning zone disposed proximate an end of said interior cavity, said channels and said turning zone being disposed within said flowpath.17. The internally-cooled fluid directing component of claim 16, wherein said boundary member in said turning zone and said first guided-flow region and a second guided-flow region comprise said turning zone.18. A method of internally cooling a guide member comprising the steps of:providing an internally-cooled fluid guide component having an elongated body with an interior cavity disposed therein, said interior cavity including a cooling fluid inlet and a cooling fluid outlet, said cooling fluid inlets and outlet being fluidly linked by a flowpath extending therebetween; disposing a partition member in said interior cavity to form a first channel and a second channel, said first and second channels being fluidly linked via a turning zone disposed proximate an end of said interior cavity, said channels and said turning zone being disposed within said flowpath; disposing a boundary member in said turning zone, said boundary member dividing said turning zone into a first guided-flow region and a second guided-flow region, said boundary member being contoured to substantially surround said first guided-flow region, said boundary member including first and second ends with a head portion disposed therebetween, said first and second ends and said head portion being spaced apart from said partition member, with the distance between a free end of said partition member and an upper portion of said head portion being greater than the distance between said first end and said partition member and the distance between said second end and said partition member; attaching a source of cooling fluid to said cooling fluid inlet; flowing cooling fluid through said cooling fluid inlet to said exit through said flowpath, whereby cooling fluid flowing through said first guided region cools a region proximate said partition member and cooling fluid flowing through said second guided flow region cools a region disposed between said boundary member and said end of said cavity. 19. A method of internally cooling a guide member comprising the steps of:providing an internally-cooled fluid guide component having an elongated body with an interior cavity disposed therein, said interior cavity including a cooling fluid inlet and a cooling fluid outlet, said cooling fluid inlets and outlet being fluidly linked by a flowpath extending therebetween; disposing a partition member in said interior cavity to form a first channel and a second channel, said first and second channels being fluidly linked via a turning zone disposed proximate an end of said interior cavity, said channels and said turning zone being disposed within said flowpath; disposing a boundary member in said turning zone, said boundary member dividing said turning zone into a first guided-flow region and a second guided-flow region, said boundary member being contoured to substantially surround said first guided-flow region, wherein said first guided flow region includes a swirl-inducing region adapted to produce a vortex of cooling fluid within said first guided-flow regions; attaching a source of cooling fluid to said cooling fluid inlet; flowing cooling fluid through said cooling fluid inlet to said exit through said flowpath, whereby cooling fluid flowing through said first guided region cools a region proximate said partition member and cooling fluid flowing through said second guided flow region cools a region disposed between said boundary member and said end of said cavity.