Method of bonding a blade cuff to a rotor blade

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11834200-B2
Application number	US-202016874747-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2020
Priority date	Aug 9, 2016
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

A method of bonding a blade cuff to a rotor blade includes installing the blade cuff to a root end of the rotor blade. The method includes mounting the rotor blade within a plurality of supports. The method includes coupling the blade cuff to a first fixture. The method includes installing a second fixture about the blade cuff. The method further includes applying localized and constant heat and pressure to the blade cuff via the second fixture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of bonding a blade cuff to a rotor blade, the method comprising:
installing the blade cuff to a root end of the rotor blade;
mounting the rotor blade within a plurality of supports;
coupling the blade cuff to a first fixture;
installing a second fixture about the blade cuff, the second fixture comprising a scissor clamp mechanism including a first member and a second member, the second member pivotally mounted to the first member about a pin, wherein a fastener extending between the first member and the second member at an angle to the pin controls relative rotation of the first member and the second member to define an opening there between; and
applying localized and constant heat and pressure to the blade cuff via the second fixture.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein coupling the blade cuff to the first fixture includes adjusting a position of the rotor blade to align a blade cuff lug hole with a corresponding opening in the first fixture.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein coupling the blade cuff to the first fixture includes installing at least one fastener through the corresponding opening in the first fixture and the blade cuff lug hole.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein installing the second fixture about the blade cuff includes positioning a portion of the blade cuff downstream from the first fixture within an opening defined between the first member and the second member of the second fixture.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein installing the second fixture about the blade cuff includes aligning the first member and the second member with the portion of the blade cuff such that a plurality of openings formed in the first member and the second member are concentric with a plurality of blade cuff alignment openings formed in the blade cuff.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising installing an expandable support within a hollow interior of the blade cuff.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first fixture includes a base with an upper surface and a support extending vertically from the upper surface of the base at an angle to the upper surface.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising positioning one or more fasteners within an opening formed in the support.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first member and the second member includes a plate having a heater formed therein.

Assignees

• Sikorsky Aircraft Corp

Inventors

• Smith Scott Oren
• Littlejohn David
• Lofstrom Sven Roy

Classifications

• B64F5/10 Primary

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title

• B23P15/04

  turbine or like blades from several pieces · CPC title

• B23Q3/00

  Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine (work-tables or other parts, e.g. faceplates, normally not incorporating means for securing work B23Q1/00; automatic position control B23Q15/00 {; food cutting boards A47J47/00; workpiece support for dies B21D37/02}; rotary tool heads for turning-machines B23B3/24, B23B3/26; non-driven tool holders B23B29/00; general features of turrets B23B29/24 {; drawbars in spindles B23B31/261; for electrical discharge machining B23H11/003; for welding B23K37/04; means for securing grinding wheels B24B45/00; mountings for abrasive wheels B24D5/16}; tools or bench devices for fastening, connecting, disengaging or holding B25B {; chucks for percussive tools B25D17/084; work benches for manual work B25H1/00; devices for securing circular saw blades B27B5/32; for assembling or manufacturing aircrafts B64F5/10; devices for holding circuit boards H05K13/0061; for holding semiconductors or wafers H10P72/00}) · CPC title

• B23Q3/06

  Work-clamping means · CPC title

• B23Q3/062

  adapted for holding workpieces having a special form or being made from a special material · CPC title