Fan blade modifications
AssigneeDelta T, LLC
InventorRichard Michael Aynsley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A winglet is coupled with an end of a fan blade. The fan blade has an upper surface, a lower surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The fan blade defines a chord and a maximum thickness. The winglet comprises a substantially vertical member that has a perimeter defined by a lower edge, an upper edge, and a rear edge, which meet at rounded corners. The rear edge of the vertical member has a length that is greater than the maximum thickness of the end of the fan blade. The vertical member has a length that is greater than the chord of the fan blade. The rear edge of the vertical member protrudes rearwardly relative to a vertical plane tangential to the trailing edge of the end of the fan blade. A mounting member may extend from the vertical member to couple the winglet with the fan blade.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a fan blade, wherein the fan blade has a first end and a second end, wherein the fan blade further has an upper surface and a lower surface defining a maximum thickness at the first end, wherein the maximum thickness has a location relative to the lower surface, wherein the location of the maximum thickness defines a point on the lower surface, wherein at least part of the fan blade defines an airfoil shape;
- and
- (b) a winglet coupled with the first end of the fan blade, wherein the winglet comprises a substantially vertical member, wherein the substantially vertical member has a perimeter defined by a lower edge, an upper edge, and a rear edge, wherein the rear edge of the vertical member has a length that is greater than the maximum thickness of the first end of the fan blade, wherein the lower edge extends below the lower surface of the fan blade, wherein the lower edge and the upper edge meet at an intersection, wherein the intersection is located forward of a leading edge of the fan blade, and wherein the intersection is located below the point on the lower surface defined by the maximum thickness.
An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a fan blade, wherein the fan blade has a first end and a second end, wherein at least part of the fan blade defines an airfoil shape;
- and
- (b) a winglet coupled with the first end of the fan blade, wherein the winglet comprises a substantially vertical member, wherein the substantially vertical member has a perimeter defined by a lower edge, an upper edge, and a rear edge, wherein each of the edges meets generally at a respective corner, wherein each of the corners is generally rounded, wherein the lower edge extends below a lower surface of the fan blade, and wherein the corner formed by the lower edge and the upper edge is located forward of a leading edge of the fan blade.
An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a fan blade, wherein the fan blade has a first end and a second end, wherein the fan blade defines a chord at the first end, wherein the chord has a length, wherein at least part of the fan blade defines an airfoil shape, wherein the fan blade further defines a longitudinal axis;
- and
- (b) a winglet coupled with the first end of the fan blade, wherein the winglet comprises a substantially vertical member, wherein the substantially vertical member has a horizontal length measured along a horizontal dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fan blade, wherein the horizontal length of the vertical member is greater than the length of the chord of the fan blade at the first end, wherein the vertical member comprises an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the upper edge and the lower edge intersect at a point forward of a leading edge of the fan blade, and wherein a portion of the upper edge and a portion of the lower edge define an acute angle having a vertex at the point.
An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a fan blade, wherein the fan blade has a first end, a second end, an upper surface, a lower surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, wherein at least part of the fan blade defines an airfoil shape, wherein the upper surface and the lower surface define a maximum thickness;
- and
- (b) a winglet coupled with the first end of the fan blade, wherein the winglet comprises a substantially vertical member, wherein the substantially vertical member has a perimeter defined by a lower edge, an upper edge, and a rear edge, wherein at least a first portion of the rear edge of the vertical member is positioned rearwardly relative to a vertical plane tangential to the trailing edge of the fan blade at the first end, wherein the first portion of the rear edge is at a rearward distance greater than the maximum thickness, wherein the lower edge and the upper edge meet at a corner that is positioned forwardly relative to a vertical plane tangential to the leading edge of the fan blade at the first end, wherein the corner is at a forward distance less than the maximum thickness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.