Compressed chopped fiber composite fan blade platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016341071-A1
Application number	US-201415113310-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 15, 2014
Priority date	Jan 31, 2014
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of fan blade platforms for gas turbine engines. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a compressed chopped fiber fan blade platform for a gas turbine engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fan blade platform comprising:
a fan blade platform surface top side and a fan blade platform surface bottom side, the platform top and bottom sides facing opposing engine radial directions and the platform surfaces extending in engine axial and circumferential directions; wherein fan blade platform surface top side and a fan blade platform surface bottom side are composed of a compressed chopped fiber composite.

2 . The fan blade platform of claim 1 , wherein the compressed chopped fiber composite comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: carbon-fiber, glass-fiber or Boron-fiber.

3 . The fan blade platform of claim 1 , wherein the compressed chopped fiber composite comprises a fiber that is chopped into lengths of approximately 0.5″ to approximately 2″ long.

4 . The fan blade platform of claim 1 , wherein the compressed chopped fiber composite comprises a fiber that is pre-impregnated with a matrix material.

5 . The fan blade platform of claim 4 , wherein the matrix material is selected from the group consisting of epoxy and resin.

6 . The fan blade platform of claim 5 , wherein the epoxy comprises a carbon epoxy.

7 . The fan blade platform of claim 1 , wherein the compressed chopped fiber composite comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), and polyimide (PI).

8 . The fan blade platform of claim 1 , further comprising at least one attachment member disposed on the fan blade platform bottom side, wherein the at least one attachment member is composed of a compressed chopped fiber composite.

9 . A gas turbine engine comprising:
a plurality of fan blade platforms, each fan blade platform composed of a compressed chopped fiber composite.

10 . The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the compressed chopped fiber composite comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: carbon-fiber, glass-fiber or Boron-fiber.

11 . The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the compressed chopped fiber composite comprises a fiber that is chopped into lengths of approximately 0.5″ to approximately 2″ long.

12 . The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the compressed chopped fiber composite comprises a fiber that is pre-impregnated with a matrix material.

13 . The gas turbine engine of claim 12 , wherein the matrix material is selected from the group consisting of epoxy and resin.

14 . The gas turbine engine of claim 13 , wherein the epoxy comprises a carbon epoxy.

15 . The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the compressed chopped fiber composite comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), and polyimide (PI).

16 . The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein each fan blade platform comprises:
a fan blade platform surface top side and a fan blade platform surface bottom side, the platform top and bottom sides facing opposing engine radial directions and the platform surfaces extending in engine axial and circumferential directions.

17 . The gas turbine engine of claim 16 , wherein each fan blade platform further comprises an air foil operably coupled to each fan blade platform surface top side.

18 . The gas turbine engine of claim 17 , wherein each fan blade platform further comprises an attachment member disposed on the fan blade platform bottom side, wherein the at least one attachment member is composed of a compressed chopped fiber composite.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Alarcon Andrew G
• Tatton Royce E
• Ford Barry M
• Li Linda S
• Turner Matthew A

Classifications

• B29C70/12

  using fibres of short length, e.g. in the form of a mat {(non-woven fabrics per se D04H1/00)} · CPC title

• B29D99/0025

  Producing blades or the like, e.g. blades for turbines, propellers, or wings · CPC title

• F01D11/008

  by spacer elements between the blades, e.g. independent interblade platforms · CPC title

• F05D2300/434

  Polyimides, e.g. AURUM · CPC title

• F05D2220/36

  specially adapted for the fan of turbofan engines · CPC title