Airfoil with an integrally stiffened composite cover
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorLarry Foster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airfoil according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a main body extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge separated in a chordwise direction and extending between a tip and a root in a spanwise direction. The main body defines a suction side and a pressure side separated in a thickness direction and a plurality of channels extending inwardly from at least one of said suction and pressure sides. A composite cover is attached to the main body. The composite cover includes a plurality of stiffeners each received within one of the channels. A cover skin is adjacent the stiffeners, and an over-wrap surrounds the stiffeners and the cover skin.
Claims20
An airfoil comprising:
- a main body extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge in a chordwise direction and extending between a tip and a root in a spanwise direction, said main body defining a suction side and a pressure side separated in a thickness direction and a plurality of channels extending inwardly from at least one of said suction and pressure sides;
- and
- a composite cover attached to said main body, wherein said composite cover includes a plurality of stiffeners each received within one of said channels, a cover skin adjacent said stiffeners, and an over-wrap surrounding said stiffeners and said cover skin.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a turbine section;
- and
- a fan section in communication said turbine section, said fan section including a plurality of fan blades, each fan blade including an airfoil and root, said airfoil including a main body and a composite cover attached to said main body;
- wherein said main body defines a plurality of channels extending inwardly from at least one of a suction side and a pressure side defined by said main body;
- and
- wherein said composite cover includes a cover skin, a plurality of stiffeners each received within one of said channels and an over-wrap surrounding said stiffeners and said cover skin.
A method of forming a composite cover for an airfoil, comprising:
- forming a plurality of channels within at least one of a pressure side and a suction side of a main body;
- fabricating a plurality of stiffeners each by braiding a plurality of fiber yarns over a stiffener body;
- fabricating a cover skin from at least one ply of a braided fabric;
- arranging each of said stiffeners adjacent to said cover skin;
- surrounding said stiffeners and said cover skin with an over-wrap;
- curing said stiffeners, said cover skin and said over-wrap within a resin to define a composite cover;
- and
- bonding said composite cover to said channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.