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US 12,116,121 B2Granted
Airfoil system with embedded electric device
AssigneeRohr, Inc.
InventorAnthony Lacko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airfoil system is provided that includes an airfoil and an electric device. The airfoil includes a first exterior surface, a second exterior surface, a first airfoil segment and a second airfoil segment attached to the first airfoil segment. The airfoil extends widthwise between the first exterior surface and the second exterior surface. The first airfoil segment forms the first exterior surface. The second airfoil segment forms the second exterior surface. The electric device is embedded within the airfoil between the first airfoil segment and the second airfoil segment.
Claims17
An airfoil system, comprising:
- an airfoil comprising a first exterior surface, a second exterior surface, a first airfoil segment and a second airfoil segment attached to the first airfoil segment, the airfoil extending widthwise between the first exterior surface and the second exterior surface, the first airfoil segment forming the first exterior surface, and the second airfoil segment forming the second exterior surface;
- and
- an electric device embedded within the airfoil between the first airfoil segment and the second airfoil segment, the electric device abutted widthwise against and attached to the first airfoil segment;
- wherein the first airfoil segment includes
- a first segment skin forming the first exterior surface;
- a first segment leading edge support connected to the first segment skin with a first segment leading edge support channel extending widthwise between and formed by the first segment leading edge support and the first segment skin, wherein the first segment leading edge support is widthwise connected to the second airfoil segment;
- a first segment trailing edge support connected to the first segment skin with a first segment trailing edge support channel extending widthwise between and formed by the first segment trailing edge support and the first segment skin, wherein the first segment trailing edge support is widthwise connected to the second airfoil segment;
- and
- a first segment device mount extending lengthwise between and connected to the first segment leading edge support and the first segment trailing edge support with a gap widthwise between and formed by a first side of the first segment device mount and the first segment skin, wherein the electric device is abutted widthwise against and attached to a second side of the first segment device mount.
6 more elements
A manufacturing method, comprising:
- forming a first airfoil segment as a first monolithic body;
- forming a second airfoil segment as a second monolithic body;
- attaching an electric device to the first airfoil segment after the forming of the first airfoil segment;
- and
- attaching the second airfoil segment to the first airfoil segment to provide an airfoil body, wherein the electric device is embedded within the airfoil body between the first airfoil segment and the second airfoil segment, and wherein the second airfoil segment is attached to the first airfoil segment after the forming the first airfoil segment, after the forming of the second airfoil segment and after the attaching of the electric device to the first airfoil segment;
- wherein the first airfoil segment includes
- a first segment skin forming the first exterior surface;
- a first segment leading edge support connected to the first segment skin with a first segment leading edge support channel extending widthwise between and formed by the first segment leading edge support and the first segment skin, wherein the first segment leading edge support is widthwise connected to the second airfoil segment;
- a first segment trailing edge support connected to the first segment skin with a first segment trailing edge support channel extending widthwise between and formed by the first segment trailing edge support and the first segment skin, wherein the first segment trailing edge support is widthwise connected to the second airfoil segment;
- and
- a first segment device mount extending lengthwise between and connected to the first segment leading edge support and the first segment trailing edge support with a gap widthwise between and formed by a first side of the first segment device mount and the first segment skin, wherein the electric device is abutted widthwise against and attached to a second side of the first segment device mount.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.