Airfoil having internal elongated rib

Abstract

An airfoil includes an airfoil body including a first side wall and a second side wall that is spaced apart from the first side wall. A longitudinally elongated rib connects the first side wall and the second side wall and divides a cavity into a forward section and an aft section. The longitudinally elongated rib includes at least one opening fluidly connecting the forward section and the aft section of the cavity. The opening is located in a lateral central portion of the longitudinally elongated rib with regard to the longitudinal axis such that first and second sections of the longitudinally elongated rib bound respective lateral sides of the at least one opening. The opening defines a maximum dimension along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The maximum dimension is greater than a minimum dimension of each of the first and second sections in the same direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An airfoil comprising:
 an airfoil body defining a longitudinal axis, the airfoil body including a leading edge and a trailing edge and a first side wall and a second side wall that is spaced apart from the first side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall joining the leading edge and the trailing edge and at least partially defining a cavity in the airfoil body; and   a longitudinally elongated rib connecting the first side wall and the second side wall and dividing the cavity into a forward section and an aft section, the longitudinally elongated rib including at least one opening there through fluidly connecting the forward section and the aft section of the cavity, the at least one opening being located in a lateral central portion of the longitudinally elongated rib with regard to the longitudinal axis such that first and second sections of the longitudinally elongated rib bound respective lateral sides of the at least one opening, the opening defining a maximum dimension along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the maximum dimension being greater than a minimum dimension of each of the first and second sections in the same direction.   
     
     
         2 . The airfoil as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is longitudinally elongated. 
     
     
         3 . The airfoil as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one opening includes two of the openings, and the two openings are longitudinally spaced apart. 
     
     
         4 . The airfoil as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the cavity further comprises a forward-most section adjacent the forward section and an aft-most section aft of the aft section. 
     
     
         5 . The airfoil as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is ovular. 
     
     
         6 . The airfoil as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cavity, including the forward section and the aft section, has four cavity sections from the leading edge to the trailing edge. 
     
     
         7 . The airfoil as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one opening is longitudinally elongated. 
     
     
         8 . A turbine engine comprising:
 a compressor section;   a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section; and   a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor, the turbine section being coupled to drive the compressor section, and   at least one of the fan, the compressor section and the turbine section having an airfoil including
 an airfoil body defining a longitudinal axis, the airfoil body including a leading edge and a trailing edge and a first side wall and a second side wall that is spaced apart from the first side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall joining the leading edge and the trailing edge and at least partially defining a cavity in the airfoil body, and 
 a longitudinally elongated rib connecting the first side wall and the second side wall and dividing the cavity into a forward section and an aft section, the longitudinally elongated rib including at least one opening there through fluidly connecting the forward section and the aft section of the cavity, the at least one opening being located in a lateral central portion of the longitudinally elongated rib with regard to the longitudinal axis such that first and second sections of the longitudinally elongated rib bound respective lateral sides of the at least one opening, the opening defining a maximum dimension along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the maximum dimension being greater than a minimum dimension of each of the first and second sections in the same direction. 
   
     
     
         9 . The turbine engine as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a fan coupled to be driven by the turbine section. 
     
     
         10 . The turbine engine as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one opening is longitudinally elongated. 
     
     
         11 . The turbine engine as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one opening includes two of the openings, and the two openings are longitudinally spaced apart. 
     
     
         12 . The turbine engine as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the cavity further comprises a forward-most section adjacent the forward section and an aft-most section aft of the aft section. 
     
     
         13 . The turbine engine as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one opening is ovular. 
     
     
         14 . The turbine engine as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the cavity, including the forward section and the aft section, has four cavity sections from the leading edge to the trailing edge. 
     
     
         15 . The turbine engine as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one opening is longitudinally elongated. 
     
     
         16 . The turbine engine as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the airfoil is in the fan.