Airfoil and method for manufacturing an airfoil

Abstract

An airfoil includes a pressure side, a suction side opposed to the pressure side, a cavity inside the airfoil between the pressure and suction sides, and a trailing edge downstream from the cavity between the pressure and suction sides. A first set of cooling passages through the trailing edge provide fluid communication from the cavity through the trailing edge. A first divider across each cooling passage in the first set of cooling passages extends from the pressure side to the suction side at the trailing edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An airfoil, comprising:
 a. a pressure side;   b. a suction side opposed to the pressure side;   c. a cavity inside the airfoil between the pressure and suction sides;   d. a trailing edge downstream from the cavity between the pressure and suction sides;   e. a first set of cooling passages through the trailing edge, wherein the first set of cooling passages provide fluid communication from the cavity through the trailing edge; and   f. a first divider across each cooling passage in the first set of cooling passages, wherein each first divider extends from the pressure side to the suction side at the trailing edge.   
     
     
         2 . The airfoil as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of first dividers across each cooling passage in the first set of cooling passages. 
     
     
         3 . The airfoil as in  claim 1 , further comprising a second set of cooling passages through the trailing edge, wherein the second set of cooling passages provide fluid communication from the cavity through the trailing edge, and the first set of cooling passages are wider than the second set of cooling passages. 
     
     
         4 . The airfoil as in  claim 3 , further comprising a third set of cooling passages through the trailing edge, wherein the third set of cooling passages provide fluid communication from the cavity through the trailing edge, and the second set of cooling passages are wider than the third set of cooling passages. 
     
     
         5 . The airfoil as in  claim 3 , further comprising a second set of pins that extend across each cooling passage in the second set of cooling passages upstream from the trailing edge. 
     
     
         6 . The airfoil as in  claim 5 , wherein the second set of pins are axially staggered inside each cooling passage in the second set of cooling passages. 
     
     
         7 . The airfoil as in  claim 3 , further comprising a second divider across each cooling passage in the second set of cooling passages, wherein each second divider extends from the pressure side to the suction side at the trailing edge. 
     
     
         8 . The airfoil as in  claim 7 , wherein each first divider is wider than each second divider. 
     
     
         9 . The airfoil as in  claim 1 , wherein the first set of cooling passages are axially tapered. 
     
     
         10 . An airfoil, comprising:
 a. a pressure side;   b. a suction side opposed to the pressure side;   c. a cavity inside the airfoil between the pressure and suction sides;   d. a trailing edge downstream from the cavity between the pressure and suction sides;   e. a first set of cooling passages through the trailing edge, wherein the first set of cooling passages provide fluid communication from the cavity through the trailing edge; and   f. a first set of pins that extend across each cooling passage in the first set of cooling passages upstream from the trailing edge.   
     
     
         11 . The airfoil as in  claim 10 , wherein the first set of pins are axially staggered inside each cooling passage in the first set of cooling passages. 
     
     
         12 . The airfoil as in  claim 10 , further comprising a second set of cooling passages through the trailing edge, wherein the second set of cooling passages provide fluid communication from the cavity through the trailing edge, and the first set of cooling passages are wider than the second set of cooling passages. 
     
     
         13 . The airfoil as in  claim 12 , further comprising a third set of cooling passages through the trailing edge, wherein the third set of cooling passages provide fluid communication from the cavity through the trailing edge, and the second set of cooling passages are wider than the third set of cooling passages. 
     
     
         14 . The airfoil as in  claim 12 , further comprising a second set of pins that extend across each cooling passage in the second set of cooling passages upstream from the trailing edge. 
     
     
         15 . The airfoil as in  claim 12 , further comprising a second divider across each cooling passage in the second set of cooling passages, wherein each second divider extends from the pressure side to the suction side at the trailing edge. 
     
     
         16 . The airfoil as in  claim 10 , wherein the first set of cooling passages are axially tapered. 
     
     
         17 . An airfoil, comprising:
 a. a pressure side;   b. a suction side opposed to the pressure side;   c. a cavity inside the airfoil between the pressure and suction sides;   d. a trailing edge downstream from the cavity between the pressure and suction sides;   e. a first set of cooling passages through the trailing edge, wherein the first set of cooling passages provide fluid communication from the cavity through the trailing edge;   f. a second set of cooling passages through the trailing edge, wherein the second set of cooling passages provide fluid communication from the cavity through the trailing edge, and the first set of cooling passages are wider than the second set of cooling passages; and   g. first means for reducing flow through the first set of cooling passages.   
     
     
         18 . The airfoil as in  claim 17 , further comprising second means for reducing flow through the second set of cooling passages. 
     
     
         19 . The airfoil as in  claim 17 , further comprising a third set of cooling passages through the trailing edge, wherein the third set of cooling passages provide fluid communication from the cavity through the trailing edge, and the second set of cooling passages are wider than the third set of cooling passages. 
     
     
         20 . The airfoil as in  claim 17 , wherein the first set of cooling passages are axially tapered.