Airfoils and machines incorporating airfoils
AssigneeESS 2 Tech, LLC
InventorsMichael Suk, David A. Shoffler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments of an airfoil and machines with airfoils are disclosed. The airfoils include a thicker leading airfoil portion and a thinner trailing airfoil portion. In one embodiment, the leading airfoil portion is formed by bending a body of the airfoil back toward itself. In another embodiment, the leading airfoil portion has a solid geometry and includes two elliptic surfaces. To prevent detachment of airflow, the leading airfoil portion includes at least two arc portions or surfaces that act to direct the airflow down to the trailing airfoil portion in a manner that stabilizes vortexes that may form in the region of changing thickness.
Claims20
An airfoil, comprising:
- a leading edge and a trailing edge;
- a suction side and a pressure side;
- a base portion including a concave first surface associated with the pressure side and a second surface associated with the suction side;
- an overhang portion that extends over some of the base portion;
- and
- an elliptic portion connecting the base portion and the overhang portion adjacent the leading edge;
- wherein the overhang portion is curved toward the second surface of the base portion;
- wherein the overhang portion comprises a first arc portion extending from the elliptic portion and having a first radius of curvature on the suction side and a second arc portion disposed at a free end of the overhang portion and having a second radius of curvature on the suction side;
- and
- wherein the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature.
An airfoil, comprising:
- a base portion including a first surface and a second surface;
- an overhang portion that extends over at least a portion of the second surface of the base portion;
- and
- a first curved portion connecting the base portion and the overhang portion;
- wherein the overhang portion is curved toward the second surface of the base portion;
- wherein the overhang portion comprises a second curved portion extending from the first curved portion and having a first radius of curvature and a third curved portion disposed at a free end of the overhang portion and having a second radius of curvature;
- wherein the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature;
- and
- wherein the second surface is convex.
An airfoil, comprising:
- a leading airfoil portion comprising:
- a first curved surface;
- a suction side surface extending from the first curved surface;
- and
- a second curved surface extending from the suction side surface;
- and
- a trailing airfoil portion extending from the second curved surface of the leading airfoil portion,
- wherein the second curved surface curves to the trailing airfoil portion in a convex manner forming an extended portion of the leading airfoil portion and connects with the trailing airfoil portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.