Methods of customizing, manufacturing, and repairing a rotor blade using additive manufacturing processes and a rotor blade incorporating the same
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Nissen, Jared M. Paulson, Thomas S. Chiang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airfoil member having a root end, a tip end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, the airfoil member including an upper skin; a lower skin; and a support network having a plurality of interconnected support members in a lattice arrangement and/or a reticulated arrangement, the support network being configured to provide tailored characteristics of the airfoil member. Also provided are methods and systems for repairing an airfoil member.
Claims14
An airfoil member having a root end, a tip end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, the airfoil member comprising:
- an upper skin;
- a lower skin;
- and
- a support network having a plurality of interconnected support members in a lattice arrangement, the support network being configured to provide tailored characteristics of the airfoil member;
- wherein the support network comprises a plurality of closely compacted portions including a first closely compacted portion, a second closely compacted portion, a third closely compacted portion, and a fourth closely compacted portion;
- wherein the plurality of closely compacted portions is adjacent to the leading edge;
- wherein the first closely compacted portion has a greater density than each of the second closely compacted portion, the third closely compacted portion, and the fourth closely compacted portion.
An airfoil member having a root end, a tip end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, the airfoil member comprising:
- an upper skin;
- a lower skin;
- and
- a support network having a plurality of interconnected support members in a lattice arrangement, the support network being configured to provide tailored characteristics of the airfoil member;
- wherein the support network comprises a plurality of open cell portions in the support network including a first open cell portion, a second open cell portion, a third open cell portion, and a fourth open cell portion;
- the first open cell portion is adjacent to the trailing edge and has a density less than each of the second open cell portion, the third open cell portion, and the fourth open cell portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.