Cooling hole having unique meter portion

Abstract

A gas turbine engine component has a cooling hole with a metering section. The metering section includes a convex surface and a concave surface, with a first arcuate channel connecting an end of the convex surface and an end of the concave surface. The end of the convex surface and the end of the concave surface define a dimension that is smaller than a diameter of the arcuate channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas turbine engine component providing a cooling hole, the component comprising:
 a metering section extending within said component, said metering section comprising:
 a convex first surface with a first end and a second end; 
 a concave second surface with a first end and a second end; and 
 a first arcuate channel connecting said first end of said convex first surface and said first end of said concave second surface and defining a dimension, wherein said dimension is smaller than a diameter of said first arcuate channel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein said metering section further comprises a second arcuate channel connecting said second end of said convex first surface and said second end of said concave second surface. 
     
     
         3 . The component of  claim 2 , wherein said first arcuate channel and said second arcuate channel have the same size and shape. 
     
     
         4 . The component of  claim 2 , wherein said first arcuate channel and said second arcuate channel have a different size or shape. 
     
     
         5 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein said convex first surface and said concave second surface have differing curvature. 
     
     
         6 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein said metering section has a generally constant cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling hole further comprises a diffusing section downstream of said metering section 
     
     
         8 . The component of  claim 5 , wherein said diffusing section comprises multiple lobes. 
     
     
         9 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein said first arcuate channel is laser-drilled. 
     
     
         10 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling hole is located on a component selected from the group consisting of blade airfoils, vane airfoils, blade platforms, vane platforms, combustor liners, blade outer air seals, blade shrouds, augmentors and endwalls. 
     
     
         11 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of said dimension and said diameter is greater than 1.0. 
     
     
         12 . The component of  claim 11 , wherein the ratio of said dimension and said diameter is less than or equal to 10. 
     
     
         13 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein a center of said first arcuate channel is offset from a point where convex first surface and concave second surface would intersect. 
     
     
         14 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between an apex of said convex first surface and an apex of said concave second surface defines a second dimension, and wherein said second dimension is greater than a radius of said first arcuate channel. 
     
     
         15 . The component of  claim 14 , wherein said second dimension is between 5 mils and 50 mils. 
     
     
         16 . The component of  claim 13 , wherein a distance between said center of said first arcuate channel and said point where convex first surface and concave second surface would intersect defines a third dimension, and wherein said third dimension is smaller than a radius of said first arcuate channel. 
     
     
         17 . A gas turbine engine wall comprising:
 first and second surfaces;   an inlet at the first surface   an outlet at the second surface   a metering section commencing at the inlet, the metering section comprising:
 a first arcuate surface; 
 a second arcuate surface; and 
 a side portion having an arcuate channel connecting said first arcuate surface and said second arcuate surface and defining a dimension, wherein said dimension is smaller than a diameter of said arcuate channel; and 
   a diffusing section in communication with the metering section and terminating at said outlet.   
     
     
         18 . The wall of  claim 17 , wherein said first arcuate surface and said second arcuate surface have differing curvature. 
     
     
         19 . The wall of  claim 17 , wherein said diffusing section comprises multiple lobes. 
     
     
         20 . The wall of  claim 19 , wherein said second arcuate surface is directly adjacent said lobes at a transition from said metering section to said diffusing section. 
     
     
         21 . The wall of  claim 20 , wherein said first arcuate surface is convex, and said second arcuate surface is concave. 
     
     
         22 . The wall of  claim 19 , wherein said first arcuate surface is concave, and said second arcuate surface is convex. 
     
     
         23 . The wall of  claim 22 , wherein said arcuate channel extends through one of said multiple of lobes.