Rotor blade

Abstract

A rotor blade may include a tip shroud having at least one seal tooth disposed at an angle that may be relative to the engine centerline when in an assembled condition, the leading edge of the tip shroud and/or the trailing edge of the tip shroud.

1 . A rotor blade comprising:
 an airfoil; and   a tip shroud extending from said airfoil, said tip shroud having at least one seal tooth disposed at an angle relative to an engine centerline when in an assembled condition.   
   
   
       2 . The rotor blade of  claim 1  wherein said at least one seal tooth is axisymmetric. 
   
   
       3 . The rotor blade of  claim 1  wherein said at least one seal tooth is not perpendicular to said engine centerline. 
   
   
       4 . The rotor blade of  claim 1  wherein said tip shroud further comprises:
 a leading edge;   a trailing edge opposite said leading edge;   a first interlocking surface; and   a second interlocking surface.   
   
   
       5 . The rotor blade of  claim 4  wherein said tip shroud further comprises:
 a second seal tooth disposed at an angle relative to an engine centerline when in an assembled condition.   
   
   
       6 . The rotor blade of  claim 1  wherein said tip shroud further comprises:
 a second seal tooth disposed at an angle relative to an engine centerline when in an assembled condition.   
   
   
       7 . The rotor blade of  claim 1  wherein said rotor blade is formed of titanium aluminide. 
   
   
       8 . A rotor blade comprising:
 an airfoil; and   a tip shroud extending from said airfoil, said tip shroud having a leading edge, a trailing edge and at least one seal tooth, said at least one seal tooth disposed at an angle relative to the leading and/or trailing edge such that said at least one seal tooth is not parallel to said leading and/or trailing edge.   
   
   
       9 . The rotor blade of  claim 8  wherein said at least one seal tooth is axisymmetric. 
   
   
       10 . The rotor blade of  claim 8  wherein said at least one seal tooth is not perpendicular to said engine centerline. 
   
   
       11 . The rotor blade of  claim 8  wherein said tip shroud further comprises:
 a first interlocking surface; and   a second interlocking surface.   
   
   
       12 . The rotor blade of  claim 11  wherein said tip shroud further comprises:
 a second seal tooth disposed at an angle relative to said leading and/or trailing edge such that said a second seal tooth is not parallel to said leading and/or trailing edge.   
   
   
       13 . The rotor blade of  claim 8  wherein said tip shroud further comprises:
 a second seal tooth disposed at an angle relative to said leading and/or trailing edge such that said a second seal tooth is not parallel to said leading and/or trailing edge.   
   
   
       14 . The rotor blade of  claim 8  wherein said rotor blade is formed of titanium aluminide. 
   
   
       15 . A rotor assembly comprising:
 a rotor;   a first rotor blade extending radially from said rotor having a first seal tooth;   a second rotor blade extending radially from said rotor having a second seal tooth, said first and second seal teeth arranged so that said seal teeth are offset with respect to each other.   
   
   
       16 . The rotor assembly of  claim 15  wherein said first and second seal teeth are axisymmetric. 
   
   
       17 . The rotor assembly of  claim 16  wherein said first rotor blade is adjacent to said second rotor blade. 
   
   
       18 . The rotor assembly of  claim 17  wherein said first seal tooth and said second seal tooth overlap, creating a saw tooth pattern. 
   
   
       19 . The rotor assembly of  claim 18  further comprising:
 said first rotor blade having a third seal tooth that is axisymmetric and parallel to said first seal tooth; and   said second rotor blade having a fourth seal tooth that is axisymmetric and parallel to said second seal tooth.   
   
   
       20 . The rotor assembly of  claim 19  wherein said rotor blades are formed of titanium aluminide.