Erosion protection system
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Paul Nissen, John R. McCullough
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An erosion protection system (EPS) has a first erosion protection unit (EPU) having a first ligament and a first scale attached to the first ligament, the first scale having an outer hardness that is greater than a hardness of the first ligament. The EPS also has a second EPU having a second ligament and a second scale attached to the second ligament, the second scale having an outer hardness that is greater than a hardness of the second ligament. The EPS also has an interstitial space between the first ligament and the second ligament wherein at least one of (1) the first scale overlaps at least a portion of the second EPU and (2) the second scale overlaps at least a portion of the first EPU.
Claims20
An erosion protection system (EPS), comprising:
- a first erosion protection unit (EPU), comprising:
- a first ligament;
- and
- a first scale attached to the first ligament, the first scale comprising an outer hardness that is greater than a hardness of the first ligament;
- and
- a second EPU, comprising:
- a second ligament;
- and
- a second scale attached to the second ligament, the second scale comprising
- an outer hardness that is greater than a hardness of the second ligament;
- and
- an interstitial space between the first ligament and the second ligament;
- wherein at least one of (1) the first scale overlaps at least a portion of the second EPU and (2) the second scale overlaps at least a portion of the first EPU.
A rotor blade for a helicopter, comprising:
- an upper surface;
- a lower surface;
- a leading edge between the upper surface and the lower surface;
- and
- an erosion protection system (EPS) disposed on at least one of the upper surface, the lower surface, and the leading edge, the EPS comprising:
- a first erosion protection unit (EPU), comprising:
- a first ligament;
- and
- a first scale attached to the first ligament, the first scale comprising an outer hardness that is greater than a hardness of the first ligament;
- and
- a second EPU, comprising:
- a second ligament;
- and
- a second scale attached to the second ligament, the second scale comprising an outer hardness that is greater than a hardness of the second ligament;
- and
- an interstitial space between the first ligament and the second ligament;
- wherein at least one of (1) the first scale overlaps at least a portion of the second EPU and (2) the second scale overlaps at least a portion of the first EPU.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.