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US 9,657,577 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.
Claims19
An airfoil comprising:
- an airfoil body comprising:
- a first side;
- a second side opposite of the first side;
- a first internal cavity extending into the first side;
- a second internal cavity extending into the first side;
- and
- a first rib extending along and between the first internal cavity and the second internal cavity;
- an outer cover extending over the first internal cavity, the first rib, and the second internal cavity;
- and
- an inner cover bonded to the outer cover and the body, the inner cover comprising a first coupling element extending along the first internal cavity in cooperative engagement with the first rib;
- wherein the inner cover extends into the first internal cavity and away from the outer cover in a first portion;
- wherein the inner cover extends over the first rib and adjacent to the outer cover in a second portion;
- and
- wherein the inner cover extends into the second internal cavity and away from the outer cover in a third portion;
- and wherein the inner cover further comprises a corrugated stiffener spaced from the first rib along the first internal cavity.
12 more elements
A blade comprising:
- an airfoil body comprising:
- a first side;
- a second side opposite of the first side;
- a first internal cavity extending into the first side, the first internal cavity having a first internal surface;
- a second internal cavity extending into the first side, the second internal cavity having a second internal surface;
- and
- a first rib extending along and between the first internal cavity and the second internal cavity;
- an outer cover extending over the first internal cavity, the first rib, and the second internal cavity;
- an inner cover bonded to the outer cover and the body, the inner cover including a first corrugated structure in cooperative engagement with the first rib;
- a first void between the outer cover and the inner cover;
- and
- a second void between the inner cover and the first internal surface.
9 more elements
A rotor blade comprising:
- a forging defined along a first major surface of the rotor blade;
- ribs formed in the forging, the ribs defining an internal cavity therebetween;
- an inner cover adhered to the forging over the internal cavity, the inner cover being a sheet having retention elements extending along the internal cavities in mechanical engagement with the ribs wherein the inner cover enters and exits the internal cavity and occupies only a portion of the internal cavity;
- and
- an outer cover adhered to the forging over the inner cover, 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.