Abstract:
A composite gas turbine engine structure includes a retention ring with airfoils mounted on, integral with, and extending radially away from retention ring. Retention ring includes annular composite plies (57), a circumferentially segmented airfoil ring including airfoil ring segments disposed around one of outer and inner circumferences of retention ring. Airfoil ring segments include annular bases and radially extending clockwise (60) and counter-clockwise (62) airfoil segments at clockwise (64) and counter-clockwise (66) ends of annular base. Composite airfoils include circumferentially adjacent ones of the clockwise and counter-clockwise airfoil segments. A flowpath shell (68) circumferentially disposed around segmented airfoil ring traps annular bases between flowpath shell and retention ring. Composite airfoils airfoils extend through slots (83) in flowpath shell. Plies may be wrapped in a single spiral made from a continuous composite tape. Slots may be circumferentially angled. Circumferentially adjacent ones of clockwise and counter" clockwise airfoil segments may be stitched together.
Abstract:
A composite airfoil 34 comprises a leading edge 44 and a trailing edge 46, a pressure side 48 and a suction side 50 extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a tip at a radial outer end of the airfoil, a shank 52 at a radial inner end of the airfoil, a dovetail 54 connected to the shank, and a metal patch 80 disposed between the dovetail and the shank.
Abstract:
A fan blade (18) for a gas turbine engine includes: a straight axial dovetail, an airfoil, and a transition section disposed between the dovetail and the airfoil, the fan blade having opposed pressure (40) and suction sides (42), and further including at least one shoulder (62,64) protruding from a nominal surface of a selected one of the pressure and suction sides, wherein the at least one shoulder includes a boss (66,74) defining a side face, and an upper section extending radially outward from the boss and tapering inward to join a nominal surface of the selected side.
Abstract:
A composite woven outlet guide vane and method of forming are depicted. The guide vane is formed by use of a preform structure with a core which is removed following the manufacture.
Abstract:
A composite article including composite component mounted on a spar including a shank extending heightwise from below component base up into composite component. Tab at an upper end of shank substantially or fully embedded in the composite component and at least one ply surface pattern of the composite component contacting and generally conforming to at least one spar surface pattern on the tab. Spar surface pattern may include spaced apart spar surface protrusions with spar surface spaces therebetween and spar surface protrusions extending outwardly from spar and disposed between tows in ply surface pattern. Tows may be layed up in spar surface spaces. Spar surface pattern may include continuous or segmented spaced spar surface protrusions and spar surface spaces therebetween with tows in ply surface pattern disposed in spar surface spaces. The composite article may be a composite blade or vane including a composite airfoil.
Abstract:
Described are a gas turbine engine fan blade platform, related rotor assembly and gas turbine engine, as well as a method of assembling the same. The platform has a forward portion proximal to an axis of rotation, an aft portion, and a transition portion between the forward and aft portions. The forward portion has a forward interface surface facing axially forward, the aft portion has an aft interface surface facing radially outward, and the transition portion has at least one mounting feature. For the method of assembly, an aft support is installed on a fan disk and booster spool assembly. A plurality of fan blades are installed into a fan disk, followed by installing a fan platform between adjacent blades and securing the mounting features to the disk, thereby filling the annulus of the fan disk. Finally, a forward support is installed on the fan disk.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotor blade and vane for a turbine engine constructed to be easier to bend or buckle than conventional rotor blades and vanes. SOLUTION: A rotor blade 100 for a turbine engine has a blade root portion 104 and an aerofoil portion 102 extending radially outward from the blade root portion 104 along a radial line RAS. The radial line RAS extends slantly at an angle rather than perpendicular or transverse to a plane along the upper face of a platform 106. As a result, over-turning moment occurs at the root of the aerofoil portion 102 during blading-out. The over-turning moment facilitates the bending of the aerofoil portion 102 and reduces damage to a stator.
Abstract:
An edge guard apparatus for an airfoil includes: a body having a nose with spaced-apart first and second wings extending therefrom, the body defining a cavity between the first and second wings; and an energy absorbing structure disposed in the cavity.
Abstract:
An apparatus for forming a flange on a component is presented. The apparatus includes a mold disposed for the placement of the component thereon, a forming tool, and a tubular bladder. The forming tool is assembled to hold the component with a first portion extending into a space defined between the mold and the forming tool. The tubular bladder has a non-uniform wall thickness around its cross section along a longitudinal dimension of the bladder. The bladder is disposed in a step defined in the mold, and configured to impart a forming force to the portion extending into the space to form the flange on the component when the bladder is inflated. A method for forming the flange on the component is also provided.
Abstract:
According to some embodiments, a flow surface comprises a composite material formed of a plurality of layers of said composite, and a piezoelectric actuator located within the layers or on an outer surface of the composite material. The piezoelectric actuator is actuatable to vibrate the composite material and one of inhibit ice build-up or shed ice which has formed.