Fan Spacer Having Unitary Over Molded Feature
AssigneeGKN Aerospace Services Structures Corp.
InventorChristopher J. Feeney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fan spacer for placement between a pair of adjacent blades in a fan assembly and a related method of making. The fan spacer has a spacer body including an airflow surface shaped to direct air between the pair of adjacent blades in which the airflow surface is shaped on opposing sides to correspond to the pair of adjacent blades. An over molded feature is molded onto the airflow surface of the spacer body in which the over molded feature both includes an erosion coating on the airflow surface and, on the two opposing sides, seals configured to seal against the pair of adjacent blades on the opposing sides of the airflow surface.
Claims20
A fan spacer for placement between a pair of adjacent blades in a fan assembly, the fan spacer comprising:
- a spacer body including an airflow surface shaped to direct air between the pair of adjacent blades, the airflow surface being shaped on opposing sides to correspond to the pair of adjacent blades;
- and
- an over molded feature molded onto the airflow surface of the spacer body, the over molded feature both including an erosion coating on the airflow surface and, on the two opposing sides, seals configured to seal against the pair of adjacent blades on the opposing sides of the airflow surface.
A method of making a fan spacer for placement between a pair of adjacent blades in a fan assembly, the fan spacer including a spacer body having an airflow surface shaped to direct air between the pair of adjacent blades and shaped on opposing sides to correspond to a shape of the pair of adjacent blades, the method comprising:
- molding an over molded feature onto the spacer body, the over molded feature including an erosion coating on the airflow surface and, on the two opposing sides, including seals configured to seal against the pair of adjacent blades.
An airflow component comprising:
- a body including an airflow surface shaped to direct air and having at least one edge bounding the airflow surface;
- and
- an over molded feature molded onto the airflow surface of the body, the over molded feature both including an erosion coating on the airflow surface and a seal on the at least one edge of the airflow surface.
A method of making an air flow component, the method comprising the steps of:
- laying fabric plies into a form;
- placing the fabric plies into a mold;
- injecting resin to encapsulate the fabric ply form;
- curing the resin at least partly to create a body;
- removing at least one part of the mold;
- enclosing the body in a mold for over molding;
- injecting an over molding material on at least one surface of the body to create seals at opposed edges of the body and an airfoil erosion surface between the seals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.