Matthew K Lehman

US Patent:

20110211972, Sep 1, 2011

Filed:

Feb 28, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/036852

Inventors:

Adam P. London - San Francisco CA, US
Lloyd J. Droppers - San Francisco CA, US
Matthew K. Lehman - Santa Cruz CA, US
Amitav Mehra - Arlington VA, US

Assignee:

VENTIONS, LLC - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

F01D 5/18
F01D 5/14
B23P 15/04
F01D 5/22

US Classification:

416 97 R, 416223 R, 298892, 416179

Abstract:

A small scale, high speed turbomachine is described, as well as a process for manufacturing the turbomachine. The turbomachine is manufactured by diffusion bonding stacked sheets of metal foil, each of which has been pre-formed to correspond to a cross section of the turbomachine structure. The turbomachines include rotating elements as well as static structures. Using this process, turbomachines may be manufactured with rotating elements that have outer diameters of less than four inches in size, and/or blading heights of less than 0.1 inches. The rotating elements of the turbomachines are capable of rotating at speeds in excess of 150 feet per second. In addition, cooling features may be added internally to blading to facilitate cooling in high temperature operations.