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US 8,944,773 B2Granted
Rotor blade with bonded cover
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorMichael A. Weisse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airfoil comprises an airfoil body with an internal cavity and inner and outer covers. The airfoil body defines a first major surface of the airfoil, and a rib extends along the internal cavity. The inner cover is bonded to the airfoil body over the internal cavity, and includes a coupling element extending along the internal cavity in cooperative engagement with the rib. The outer cover is bonded to the airfoil body over the inner cover, and defines a second major surface of the airfoil.
Claims20
An airfoil comprising:
- an airfoil body defining a first major surface of the airfoil;
- a first internal cavity in the airfoil body, opposite the first major surface;
- a second internal cavity in the airfoil body, opposite the first major surface;
- a rib extending along and between the first and second internal cavities;
- an inner cover bonded to the airfoil body over only a portion of the first and second internal cavities, the inner cover comprising a first coupling element extending along the first internal cavity in cooperative engagement with the rib;
- and
- an outer cover bonded to the airfoil body over the inner cover and positioned over the first and second cavities, the outer cover defining a second major surface of the airfoil.
4 more elements
A blade comprising:
- an airfoil body defining a first flow surface, the airfoil body comprising a first cavity formed opposite the first flow surface, a second cavity formed opposite the first flow surface, and a rib extending along and between the first and second cavities;
- an inner cover bonded to the airfoil body over only a portion of the first and second cavities, the inner cover having a coupling element with a side section extending transversely to the inner cover, the side section engaged with a corresponding side of the rib;
- and
- an outer cover bonded to the airfoil body over the inner cover and positioned over the first and second cavities, the outer cover defining a second flow surface opposite the first flow surface.
1 more element
A rotor blade comprising:
- a forging defined along a first major surface of the rotor blade;
- ribs formed in the forging, the ribs defining a plurality of internal cavities therebetween;
- an inner cover adhered to the forging over only a portion of the plurality of internal cavities, the inner cover having retention elements extending along the internal cavities in mechanical engagement with the ribs;
- and
- an outer cover adhered to the forging over the inner cover and positioned over the first and second cavities, the outer cover defining a second major surface of the rotor blade, opposite the first major surface of the rotor blade.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.