# US 11,898,464 B2 · Airfoil for a gas turbine engine

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- Number: US 11,898,464 B2
- Document ID: US11898464B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/232,822
- Filed: 2021-04-16
- Published: 2022-10-20
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2021-04-16
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Applicants: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray; Nitesh Jain
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898464B2

## CPC

- F01D 5/282: {Selecting composite materials, e.g. blades with reinforcing filaments}
- F01D 5/147: {Construction, i.e. structural features, e.g. of weight-saving hollow blades (F01D5/148, F01D5/16 and F01D5/20 take precedence; blade shape F01D5/141; blades with cooling or heating channels or cavities F01D5/18; heating, heat-insulating or cooling means on blades F01D5/18)}
- F05D 2220/36: specially adapted for the fan of turbofan engines
- F05D 2300/603: Composites; e.g. fibre-reinforced
- Y02T 50/60: Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure an airfoil is provided. The airfoil defines a spanwise direction, a root end, and a tip end. The airfoil includes: a body defining a pressure side and a suction side and extending along the spanwise direction between the root end and the tip end, the body formed of a composite material; and a spar enclosed in the body of the airfoil extending along the spanwise direction, the spar comprising a plurality of spar segments arranged in an overlapping configuration along the spanwise direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gas turbine engine comprising:
an airfoil defining a spanwise direction, a root end, and a tip end, the airfoil comprising
a body defining a pressure side and a suction side and extending along the spanwise direction between the root end and the tip end, the body formed of a composite material; and
a spar enclosed in the body of the airfoil extending along the spanwise direction, the spar comprising a plurality of spar segments arranged in an overlapping configuration along the spanwise direction;
wherein the plurality of spar segments includes a first spar segment and a second spar segment, wherein the first spar segment overlaps with the second spar segment at a first overlap section of the first spar segment, wherein the first spar segment defines a first overall length and a first overlap length of the first overlap section, wherein the first overlap length is equal to 15% or less of the first overall length.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine engine of claim 1, further comprising a fan and a turbomachine, wherein the fan is driven by the turbomachine, and wherein the airfoil is a fan blade of the fan.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spar segments further includes a third spar segment, wherein the second spar segment overlaps with the third spar segment at a second overlap section of the second spar segment, wherein the second spar segment defines a second overlap length of the second overlap section, wherein the second overlap length is equal to 15% or less of the first overall length.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The gas turbine engine of claim 3, wherein the first spar segment is closer to the root end than the second spar segment, wherein the second spar segment is closer to the root end than the third spar segment, wherein the second spar segment further defines a second overall length, and wherein the first overall length is greater than the second overall length.

### Claim 5

An airfoil defining a spanwise direction, a root end, and a tip end, the airfoil comprising:
a body defining a pressure side and a suction side and extending along the spanwise direction between the root end and the tip end, the body formed of a composite material; and
a spar enclosed in the body of the airfoil extending along the spanwise direction, the spar comprising a plurality of spar segments arranged in an overlapping configuration along the spanwise direction;
wherein the spar is a first spar, wherein the body of the airfoil further includes a second spar, wherein the first spar is a pressure side spar and wherein the second spar is a suction side spar; and
wherein the first spar defines a plurality of overlap sections, wherein the second spar defines a plurality of overlap sections, and wherein the plurality of overlap section of the first spar are arranged in a unique configuration relative to the plurality of overlap sections of the second spar.