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US 9,284,843 B2Granted
Blade safety mechanism for open rotor engine system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorWilliam John Koch, IV
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for safely handling an undesired blade event in an open rotor engine system. In one illustrative embodiment, an occurrence of an undesired blade event in an open rotor engine system is detected. Electrical energy is allowed to flow into a conductor embedded in the blade in response to the undesired blade event. The conductor is vaporized when the electrical energy flowing through the conductor heats the conductor to a temperature above a selected threshold.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a blade connected to a hub in an open rotor engine system;
- a conductor embedded within the blade and extending a length of an airfoil section of the blade;
- and
- an activation system configured to allow electrical energy to flow into the conductor in response to an undesired blade event such that the conductor vaporizes.
1 more element
An open rotor engine system comprising:
- a hub;
- a plurality of blades in which a blade in the plurality of blades comprises a conductor embedded within the blade and extending a length of an airfoil section of the blade;
- and
- an activation system configured to allow electrical energy to flow into the conductor in response to an undesired blade event such that the conductor vaporizes and the blade at least one of delaminates or fragments.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- detecting an occurrence of an undesired blade event in an open rotor engine system;
- allowing electrical energy to flow into a conductor embedded in a blade and extending a length of an airfoil section of the blade in response to detection of the undesired blade event;
- and
- vaporizing the conductor when the electrical energy flowing through the conductor heats the conductor to a temperature above a selected threshold.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.