Replaceable blade tip shroud

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is a blade with a replaceable blade tip shroud that includes an airfoil shaped spar extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge between a root end and a tip end. It can also include a plurality of tiles coupled to an exterior of the spar; a tip shroud positioned to overlap at least a portion of the tip end of the spar; and means for anchoring the tip shroud to the tip end of the spar.

1 . A blade with a replaceable blade tip shroud, comprising:
 a spar extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge between a root end and a tip end;   a plurality of tiles coupled to an exterior of the spar;   a tip shroud positioned to overlap at least a portion of the tip end of the spar; and   means for anchoring the tip shroud to the tip end of the spar.   
   
   
       2 . The blade of  claim 1 , wherein the spar is airfoil shaped. 
   
   
       3 . The blade of  claim 2 , wherein the tip shroud overlaps the entire tip end of the spar, and wherein the tip shroud is configured to retain at least one of the tiles in place against movement from the root end toward the tip end. 
   
   
       4 . The blade of  claim 2 , wherein the tip shroud includes at least one groove to receive the means for anchoring the tip shroud to the tip end of the spar. 
   
   
       5 . The blade of  claim 4 , wherein the tip end of spar also includes at least one groove to receive the means for anchoring the tip shroud to the tip end of the spar. 
   
   
       6 . The blade of  claim 5 , wherein the spar is metal and wherein the tip shroud is metal. 
   
   
       7 . The blade of  claim 5 , wherein the spar is metal and wherein the tip shroud is ceramic. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus comprising a shroud tip held on a tip end of an airfoil shaped spar by a retaining clip positioned within a pair of grooves on the spar and a corresponding pair of grooves in the shroud tip. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the retaining clip extends from a leading edge of the airfoil shaped spar toward a trailing edge of the airfoil shaped spar. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pair of grooves extends from a leading edge of the spar toward a trailing edge of the spar, and wherein the pair of grooves do not extend all the way to the trailing edge. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the retaining clip is airfoil shaped. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of ceramic tiles coupled to the spar. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the shroud tip overlaps at least one of the plurality of ceramic tiles and retains it in place against movement toward the tip end. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the spar is metal and the shroud tip is selected from the group consisting of a metal and a ceramic. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the shroud tip is metal, and wherein the shroud tip is a different metal than the spar. 
   
   
       16 . A gas turbine engine blade with a replaceable tip shroud, comprising:
 an airfoil shaped spar extending radially between a hub end and a tip end, the spar extending substantially axially between a leading edge and a trailing edge;   a tip shroud positioned to at least partially radially overlap the tip end of the airfoil shaped spar;   a retaining member extending from the leading edge toward the trailing edge, the retaining member radially overlapping both the tip shroud and the airfoil shaped spar.   
   
   
       17 . The blade of  claim 16 , wherein the tip shroud includes a first pair of channels shaped to receive the retaining member, and wherein the tip end of the spar includes a corresponding second pair of channels shaped to receive the retaining member. 
   
   
       18 . The blade of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of tiles coupled to the spar. 
   
   
       19 . The blade of  claim 18 , wherein the tip shroud overlaps the entire tip end of the spar, and wherein the tip shroud is configured to retain at least one of the plurality of tiles in place against movement from the root end toward the tip end. 
   
   
       20 . The blade of  claim 19 , wherein the retaining member is an airfoil shaped clip with a pair of prongs, and wherein the prongs extend from the leading edge toward the trailing edge. 
   
   
       21 . The blade of  claim 20 , wherein the spar is metal and the tip shroud is selected from the group consisting of a metal and a ceramic.