Tip shrouded blade

Abstract

A tip shrouded blade includes an airfoil rotatable about an axial centerline. Also included is a tip shroud connected at a radially outer tip of the airfoil, wherein the tip shroud includes at least one portion angled about a tangential axis defined by the radially outer tip of the airfoil.

1 . A tip shrouded blade comprising:
 an airfoil rotatable about an axial centerline; and   a tip shroud connected at a radially outer tip of the airfoil, wherein the tip shroud includes at least one portion angled about a tangential axis defined by the radially outer tip of the airfoil.   
     
     
         2 . The tip shrouded blade of  claim 1 , wherein the tip shroud further includes at least one portion rotated about a radial axis defined by a longitudinal direction of the airfoil. 
     
     
         3 . The tip shrouded blade of  claim 2 , wherein the tip shroud is configured to moveably adjust to an operating position upon rotation of the airfoil at a predetermined speed, wherein the tip shroud is substantially oriented in a plane tangential to the radial axis when in the operating position. 
     
     
         4 . The tip shrouded blade of  claim 1 , wherein the tip shroud is angled about an axial axis, wherein the axial axis is relatively parallel to the axial centerline, wherein the tip shroud includes a front region and a rear region, wherein the front region is closer in proximity to the axial centerline than the rear region. 
     
     
         5 . The tip shrouded blade of  claim 1 , wherein the tip shroud is angled about the tangential axis by between about 2 degrees and about 10 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The tip shrouded blade of  claim 2 , wherein the tip shroud is angled about a tangential axis, wherein the tip shroud includes an upstream region and a downstream region, wherein the upstream region is closer in proximity to the axial centerline than the downstream region. 
     
     
         7 . The tip shrouded blade of  claim 2 , wherein the tip shroud is angled about the radial axis by between about 2 degrees and about 10 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . A tip shrouded blade comprising:
 an airfoil extending away from and rotatable about an axial centerline; and   a tip shroud provided at a tip of the airfoil, wherein the tip shroud is tilted about a tangential axis and twisted about a radial axis.   
     
     
         9 . The tip shrouded blade of  claim 8 , wherein the tip shroud is configured to moveably adjust to an operating position upon rotation of the airfoil at a predetermined speed, wherein the tip shroud is substantially oriented in a plane tangential to a radial axis when in the operating position. 
     
     
         10 . The tip shrouded blade of  claim 8 , wherein the tip shroud is angled about an axial axis, wherein the axial axis is relatively parallel to the axial centerline, wherein the tip shroud includes a front region and a rear region, wherein the front region is closer in proximity to the axial centerline than the rear region. 
     
     
         11 . The tip shrouded blade of  claim 8 , wherein the tip shroud is tilted about the tangential axis by between about 2 degrees to about 10 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The tip shrouded blade of  claim 8 , wherein the tip shroud includes an upstream region and a downstream region, wherein the upstream region is closer in proximity to the axial centerline than the downstream region. 
     
     
         13 . The tip shrouded blade of  claim 8 , wherein the tip shroud is twisted about the radial axis by between about 2 degrees and about 10 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . A turbine system having at least one row of circumferentially aligned tip shrouded blades comprising:
 a first turbine bucket having a first airfoil;   a first tip shroud provided at an outer tip of the first airfoil, wherein the first tip shroud is angled about a tangential axis defined by the outer tip of the first airfoil;   a second turbine bucket having a second airfoil disposed adjacent to the first airfoil; and   a second tip shroud provided at an outer tip of the second airfoil, wherein the second tip shroud is angled to correspond to the first tip shroud during a steady-state operation of the turbine system.   
     
     
         15 . The turbine system of  claim 14 , wherein the first tip shroud is angled about a radial axis defined by the longitudinal direction of the first airfoil. 
     
     
         16 . The turbine system of  claim 14 , wherein the first tip shroud is angled about an axial axis, wherein the first tip shroud and the second tip shroud each include a front region and a rear region, wherein the front region is closer in proximity to an axial centerline than the rear region. 
     
     
         17 . The turbine system of  claim 14 , wherein the tip shroud is angled about the tangential axis by between about 2 degrees and about 10 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The turbine system of  claim 17 , wherein the first tip shroud and the second tip shroud are each angled about a tangential axis, wherein the first tip shroud and the second tip shroud each include an upstream region and a downstream region, wherein the upstream region is closer in proximity to the axial centerline than the downstream region. 
     
     
         19 . The turbine system of  claim 15 , wherein the tip shroud is angled about the radial axis by between about 2 degrees and about 10 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The turbine system of  claim 17 , wherein the front region of the second tip shroud extends into a recess of the rear portion of the first tip shroud.