Multi-piece grit blast boot assembly

Abstract

A boot assembly includes a first boot comprising a boot receiving area, a turbine component receiving area, and a notch that extends into the turbine component receiving area. A second boot is configured to be received within the boot receiving area of the first boot, the second boot comprising a boot engagement face, a turbine engagement portion, and a notch extending into the turbine engagement portion. The first and second boots are configured so that when assembled together, the notches of the first and second boots combine to form a continuous notch with an open end and a closed end. The continuous notch is configured to expose both sides of the turbine component when the turbine component is masked by the boot assembly. A cross-sectional area of the continuous notch is larger toward the open end of the continuous notch than at the closed end of the continuous notch.

1 . A boot assembly configured to mask a portion of a turbine component, the boot assembly comprising:
 a first boot comprising a boot receiving area, a turbine component receiving area, and a notch that extends into the turbine component receiving area; and   a second boot configured to be received within the boot receiving area of the first boot, the second boot comprising a boot engagement face, a turbine engagement portion, and a notch that extends into the turbine engagement portion,   wherein the first and second boots are configured so that when assembled together, the notches of the first and second boots combine to form a continuous notch with an open end and a closed end,   wherein the continuous notch is configured to expose both sides of the turbine component when the turbine component is masked by the boot assembly, and   wherein a cross-sectional area of the continuous notch is larger toward the open end of the continuous notch than at the closed end of the continuous notch.   
     
     
         2 . The boot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second boots comprise projections and recesses that engage each other when the first and second boots are assembled to each other, and wherein when the projections and recesses engage each other, they form tortuous paths to the turbine component receiving area and turbine component engagement portion. 
     
     
         3 . The boot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first boot comprises an alignment receptacle configured to receive the second boot and align the second boot with the first boot while the second boot is being received in the alignment receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The boot assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the alignment receptacle has an angled surface configured to retain the second boot to the first boot. 
     
     
         5 . The boot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second boots are configured for toolless assembly and disassembly. 
     
     
         6 . The boot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second boots are formed from silicone, hard rubber, polymers, or composite materials. 
     
     
         7 . The boot assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a grip portion configured to be grasped and pulled apart to disassemble the first boot from the second boot. 
     
     
         8 . A boot assembly configured to mask a portion of a turbine component, the boot assembly comprising:
 a first boot comprising a turbine component receiving area and a notch that extends into the turbine component receiving area; and   a second boot configured to be received within the boot receiving area of the first boot, the second boot comprising a boot engagement face, a turbine engagement portion, and a notch that extends into the turbine engagement portion; and   a securing mechanism configured to secure the first boot to the second boot by way of an interference connection, the securing mechanism comprising a projection and a receptacle configured to receive the projection,   wherein the second boot is configured to be secured to the first boot be pressing the first boot against the second boot,   wherein the first and second boots are configured so that when assembled together, the notches of the first and second boots combine to form a continuous notch with an open end and a closed end, and   wherein a cross-sectional area of the continuous notch is larger toward the open end of the continuous notch than at the closed end of the continuous notch.   
     
     
         9 . The boot assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first boot comprises an alignment receptacle configured to receive the second boot and align the second boot with the first boot while the second boot is being received in the alignment receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The boot assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the alignment receptacle has an angled surface configured to retain the second boot to the first boot. 
     
     
         11 . The boot assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second boots are configured to be assembled together and disassembled from each other without using tools. 
     
     
         12 . The boot assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second boots are formed from silicone, hard rubber, polymers, or compound materials. 
     
     
         13 . The boot assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a grip portion configured to be grasped and pulled apart to disassemble the first boot from the second boot. 
     
     
         14 . A boot assembly configured to mask a portion of a turbine component, the boot assembly comprising:
 a first boot comprising a boot receiving area, a turbine component receiving area, and a notch that extends into the turbine component receiving area; and   a second boot configured to be nested within the boot receiving area of the first boot, the second boot comprising a boot engagement face, a turbine engagement portion, and a notch that extends into the turbine engagement portion,   wherein a portion of the second boot extends beyond the first boot when the second boot is nested within the boot receiving area of the first boot and the extended portion of the second boot forms a gripping part configured to be grasped by a user to disassemble the second boot from the first boot,   wherein the first and second boots are configured so that when assembled together, the notches of the first and second boots combine to form a continuous notch with an open end and a closed end, and   wherein a cross-sectional area of the continuous notch is larger toward the open end of the continuous notch than at the closed end of the continuous notch.   
     
     
         15 . The boot assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second boots comprise projections and recesses that engage each other when the first and second boots are assembled to each other, and wherein when the projections and recesses engage each other, they form tortuous paths to the turbine component receiving area and turbine component engagement portion. 
     
     
         16 . The boot assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first boot comprises an alignment receptacle configured to receive the second boot and align the second boot with the first boot while the second boot is being received in the alignment receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The boot assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the alignment receptacle has an angled surface configured to retain the second boot to the first boot. 
     
     
         18 . The boot assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second boots are configured to be assembled together and disassembled from each other without using tools. 
     
     
         19 . The boot assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second boots are formed from silicone, hard rubber, polymers, or compound materials. 
     
     
         20 . The boot assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a grip portion configured to be grasped and pulled apart to disassemble the first boot from the second boot.