Composite Blade and Method of Manufacture

A method of making a blade comprising the steps of:

• shaping from composite material a blade including a blade root;
• shaping a metallic member for receipt of said blade root, said metallic member comprising an exterior geometry adapted for attachment to a metal disc and comprising an interior cavity formed therein with an opening in a proximate end for receipt of said blade root and an opening at the distal end thereof larger than said opening in said proximate end;
• when said composite material of said turbine blade is still pliable and not yet fully cured, inserting said blade root into said interior cavity;
• positioning a bladder in the distal end of said blade root within said interior cavity and attaching said bladder to a source of compressed fluid;
• inflating said bladder in order to expand said composite material into intimate contact with said interior cavity of said metallic member;
• and,
• continue curing said turbine blade with said metallic member attached until fully cured, whereby said composite blade is firmly secured to said metallic member.

A method of making a blade comprising the steps of:

• shaping from composite material a blade including a blade root;
• surrounding the composite material blade root with a metallic layer, an outer surface of the composite material blade root in conformal contact with an inner surface of the metallic layer, and an outer surface of the metallic layer comprising an attachment shape corresponding to a shape of a disk to which the blade will be attached during use;
• and
• curing the composite material.