Fan blade composite segments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016252104-A1
Application number	US-201415032900-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 9, 2014
Priority date	Oct 30, 2013
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fan blade includes a blade body, a composite segment and a cover. The blade body extends from a blade root to an opposed blade tip along a longitudinal axis. The blade body defines a leading edge and a trailing edge. A first airfoil surface extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. A pocket is defined between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the blade root and the blade tip. The pocket has a bottom surface that opposes the first airfoil surface across the blade body. The composite segment is disposed in the pocket. The cover is mounted to the composite segment and to the blade body to form a second airfoil surface opposed to the first airfoil surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fan blade, comprising:
a blade body extending from a blade root to an opposed blade tip along a longitudinal axis, wherein the blade body defines a leading edge and a trailing edge, a first airfoil surface extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and a pocket defined between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the blade root and the blade tip, the pocket having a bottom surface that opposes the first airfoil surface across the blade body; a composite segment disposed in the pocket; and a cover mounted to the composite segment and to the blade body to form a second airfoil surface opposed to the first airfoil surface.

2 . A fan blade as recited in claim 1 , wherein the composite segment is adhered to the bottom surface of the pocket.

3 . A fan blade as recited in claim 1 , wherein the composite segment is adhered to the cover to resist forces acting on the cover in order to secure the cover to the blade body.

4 . A fan blade as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a clearance defined between the composite segment and each of a leading edge side of the pocket and a trailing edge side of the pocket, wherein the clearance is configured to provide flexibility to the cover.

5 . A fan blade as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a clearance defined between the composite segment and a pocket perimeter, wherein the clearance is configured to provide flexibility to the cover.

6 . A fan blade as recited in claim 1 , wherein the blade body includes a recessed lip defined around its perimeter.

7 . A fan blade as recited in claim 6 , wherein an interior surface of the cover is adhered to the blade body on the recessed lip, wherein the recessed lip is configured to allow the cover to be mounted flush with the blade body.

8 . A fan blade as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pocket of the blade body is at least partially filled with lightweight filler material.

9 . A fan blade, comprising:
a blade body extending from a blade root to a blade tip along a longitudinal axis, wherein the blade body defines a leading edge and a trailing edge, a first airfoil surface extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge; a pocket defined between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the blade root and the blade tip; a plurality of composite segments disposed in the pocket; and a cover mounted to the composite segment and to the blade body to form a second airfoil surface.

10 . A fan blade as recited in claim 9 , further comprising:
a clearance defined between the plurality of composite segments and each of a leading edge side of the pocket and a trailing edge side of the pocket, wherein the clearance is configured to provide flexibility to the cover.

11 . A fan blade as recited in claim 9 , further comprising:
a clearance defined between the plurality of composite segments and a pocket perimeter, wherein the clearance is configured to provide flexibility to the cover.

12 . A fan blade as recited in claim 9 , further comprising:
at least one clearance defined between each of the plurality of composite segments, wherein the clearance is configured to provide flexibility to the cover.

13 . A fan blade as recited in claim 9 , wherein the pocket has a bottom surface that opposes the airfoil surface across the blade body.

14 . A fan blade as recited in claim 13 , wherein the plurality of composite segments are adhered to the bottom surface of the pocket.

15 . A fan blade as recited in claim 9 , wherein the plurality of composite segments are adhered to the cover to resist forces acting on the cover in order to secure the cover to the blade body.

16 . A fan blade as recited in claim 9 , wherein the blade body includes a recessed lip defined around its perimeter.

17 . A fan blade as recited in claim 9 , wherein an interior surface of the cover is adhered to the blade body on the recessed lip, wherein the recessed lip is configured to allow the cover to be mounted flush with the blade body.

18 . A fan blade as recited in claim 9 , wherein the pocket of the blade body is at least partially filled with lightweight filler material.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Hui Kwan
• Weisse Michael A

Classifications

• F05D2300/603

  Composites; e.g. fibre-reinforced · CPC title

• F05D2300/133

  Titanium · CPC title

• F02K3/06

  with front fan · CPC title

• F04D29/023

  especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• F01D5/282

  Selecting composite materials, e.g. blades with reinforcing filaments · CPC title