Wide chord fan blade
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGuy C. Murphy, Barrett J. Fuhrmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laminated airfoil for use in a high bypass engine. The airfoil preferably has a large tip chord and is comprised of alternating layers of thin metallic foil and elastomeric layers. The exterior surfaces of the airfoil are comprised of a thin, metallic foil. The airfoil also has a metal sheath secured to the leading edge. High strength metal members extend through the dovetail root sections.
Claims31
An energy absorbing, laminated airfoil having a tip portion, a dovetail root section, a leading edge extending from the tip portion to the root section, and a trailing edge oppositely disposed to the leading edge and extending from the tip portion to the root section, comprising:
- alternating layers of a metallic foil and an elastomeric layer forming a laminated composite airfoil, the metallic foil forming the first and last layers,;
- the dovetail root section having flank surfaces with at least one aperture extending from each flank surface through a portion of the dovetail root section;
- a high strength metal member disposed through each dovetail root section aperture;
- and
- a metal sheath attached to the leading edge.
An energy absorbing, laminated airfoil having a tip portion, a dovetail root section, a leading edge extending from the tip portion to the root section, and a trailing edge oppositely disposed to the leading edge and extending from the tip portion to the root section, comprising:
- alternating layers of a metallic foil and a polymeric composite layer forming a laminated composite airfoil, the metallic foil forming the first and last layers,;
- the dovetail root section having flank surfaces with at least one aperture extending from each flank surface through a portion of the dovetail root section;
- a high strength metal member disposed through each dovetail root section aperture;
- and
- a metal sheath attached to the leading edge.
An energy absorbing, damped, laminated airfoil having a tip portion, a dovetail root section, a leading edge extending from the tip portion to the root section, and a trailing edge oppositely disposed to the leading edge and extending from the tip portion to the root section, comprising:
- alternating layers of a metallic foil, a polymeric composite layer, and an elastomeric layer, forming a laminated composite airfoil, the metallic foil forming the first and last layers, and the elastomeric layer interposed between each piece of metallic foil and polymeric composite layer;
- the dovetail root section having flank surfaces with at least one aperture extending from each flank surface through a portion of the dovetail root section;
- a high strength metal member disposed through each dovetail root section aperture;
- and
- a metal sheath attached to the leading edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.