Hollow fan blade channel configuration to reduce stress
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsMichael A. Weisse, Christopher S. McKaveney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fan blade has a main body extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. Channels are formed into the main body from an open side extending toward an opposed closed side. A plurality of ribs extending across the main body intermediate the channels, the fan blade has a dovetail, and an airfoil extending radially outwardly from said dovetail. A bottom surface of the channels is defined at the closed side of the channels. Sides of the channel merge into sides of the ribs, with a compound fillet at the bottom surface. A first radius of curvature is used along the bottom, and merging into at least a second radius of curvature at the sides. The first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature.
Claims2
A fan blade comprising:
- a main body extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, and having channels formed into said main body from an open side extending toward a closed side, a plurality of ribs extend across the main body intermediate the channels with said fan blade having an airfoil extending radially outwardly from a radially inner end;
- a bottom surface of the channels is defined at the closed side, and sides of the channel merging into sides of the ribs, and there being a compound fillet at the bottom surface, with a first portion having a first radius of curvature along the bottom, and merging into at least a second portion having a second radius of curvature at the rib sides, with the first radius of curvature being larger than said second radius of curvature;
- a skin closing off said channels with the first radius of curvature portion formed along a curve and the second radius of curvature portion formed along a curve and merging from said first radius of curvature portion and into the sides of the ribs;
- and
- wherein a ratio of the second radius of curvature to the first radius of curvature is between 0.03-0.25.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.