US Patent 10544682 Expansion seals for airfoils

Airfoils and methods of making the same, the airfoils having an airfoil body radially extending from a first end to a second end and axially extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge, the airfoil body defining an airfoil cavity therein, the airfoil cavity defined by a cavity wall having at least one smooth portion, at least one expansion seal installed within the airfoil cavity, the at least one expansion seal dividing the airfoil cavity into at least a first sub-cavity and a second sub-cavity, wherein the at least one expansion seal engages with the smooth portion of the cavity wall by an expansion force that biases ends of the at least one expansion seal into contact with the smooth portion of the cavity wall.