Blade dovetail and retention apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11834965-B2
Application number	US-202117410754-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2021
Priority date	Aug 25, 2020
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a slot to accommodate a blade of an engine. An example blade apparatus includes: a collet including a slot to receive an end of a blade; and a plurality of retainers including a first retainer positioned on a first end of the collet and a second retainer positioned on a second end of the collet to provide axial retention for the blade in the slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blade apparatus comprising:
a collet including a slot to receive an end of a blade; and
a plurality of straps including a first strap positioned across and outside a first terminal end of the slot and a second strap positioned across and outside a second terminal end of the slot to provide axial retention for the blade in the slot, the collet including a first ramp and a second ramp positioned across the first terminal end to retain and support the first strap and including a third ramp and a fourth ramp positioned across the second terminal end to retain and support the second strap, the first ramp, the second ramp, and the first strap forming a first slot stiffener and the third ramp, the fourth ramp, and the second strap forming a second slot stiffener.

2. The blade apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the collet includes pockets to receive the straps.

3. The blade apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ramps align with the end of the blade that is positioned in the slot.

4. The blade apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the collet is round with the first end and the second end flattened.

5. The blade apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of straps is secured to the collet using bolts.

6. The blade apparatus of claim 5 , wherein at least one bolt extends into the collet.

7. The blade apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one bolt is in at least one of single shear or double shear.

8. The blade apparatus of claim 1 , further including a ram positioned with respect to the end of the blade in the slot.

9. An open rotor engine apparatus comprising:
a rotatable hub;
a collet positioned on the rotatable hub, the collet including a slot to receive an end of a blade; and
a plurality of straps including a first strap positioned across and outside a first terminal end of the slot and a second strap positioned across and outside a second terminal end of the slot to provide axial retention for the blade in the slot, the collet including a first ramp and a second ramp positioned across the first terminal end to retain and support the first strap and including a third ramp and a fourth ramp positioned across the second terminal end to retain and support the second strap, the first ramp, the second ramp, and the first strap forming a first slot stiffener and the third ramp, the fourth ramp, and the second strap forming a second slot stiffener.

10. The open rotor engine apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the collet includes pockets to receive the straps.

11. The open rotor engine apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the collet is round with the first end and the second end flattened.

12. The open rotor engine apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of straps is secured to the collet using bolts.

13. The open rotor engine apparatus of claim 12 , wherein at least one bolt extends into the collet.

14. The open rotor engine apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one bolt is in at least one of single shear or double shear.

15. The open rotor engine apparatus of claim 9 , further including a ram positioned with respect to the end of the blade in the slot.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Kray Nicholas Joseph
• Prentice Ian F

Classifications

• F01D7/00 Primary

  Rotors with blades adjustable in operation; Control thereof (for reversing F01D1/30) · CPC title

• F01D5/30 Primary

  Fixing blades to rotors; Blade roots {; Blade spacers} · CPC title

• F01D5/3007

  of axial insertion type · CPC title

• F01D5/3015

  with side plates · CPC title

• F01D5/3023

  of radial insertion type, e.g. in individual recesses · CPC title