HYBRID STRUCTURE FAN BLADE
First Claim
1. A hybrid fan blade for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- an airfoil having a first side and a second side orientated opposite the first side, which first and second sides extend between a tip, a base, a leading edge and a trailing edge, the airfoil including a plurality of cavities disposed in the first side of the airfoil and extending inwardly toward the second side, which cavities collectively form an opening, and at least one rib disposed between the cavities and having a mounting surface disposed at a distal end, and a shelf disposed around the opening, the shelf having a first mounting surface; and
a first composite panel attached to the first mounting surface and the rib mounting surface, and which is sized to enclose the opening, wherein the first composite panel is a load bearing structure operable to transfer loads to the airfoil and receive loads from the airfoil.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid fan blade for a gas turbine engine is provided that includes an airfoil and a composite panel. The airfoil has a first side and a second side orientated opposite the first side. The first and second sides extend between a tip, a base, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoil includes a plurality of cavities disposed in the first side of the airfoil, which cavities extend inwardly toward the second side. The cavities collectively form an opening. At least one rib is disposed between the cavities. A shelf is disposed around the opening. The composite panel is attached to the shelf first mounting surface and to the rib, and is sized to enclose the opening. The first composite panel is a load bearing structure operable to transfer loads to the airfoil and receive loads from the airfoil.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A hybrid fan blade for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
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an airfoil having a first side and a second side orientated opposite the first side, which first and second sides extend between a tip, a base, a leading edge and a trailing edge, the airfoil including a plurality of cavities disposed in the first side of the airfoil and extending inwardly toward the second side, which cavities collectively form an opening, and at least one rib disposed between the cavities and having a mounting surface disposed at a distal end, and a shelf disposed around the opening, the shelf having a first mounting surface; and a first composite panel attached to the first mounting surface and the rib mounting surface, and which is sized to enclose the opening, wherein the first composite panel is a load bearing structure operable to transfer loads to the airfoil and receive loads from the airfoil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A hybrid fan blade for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
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an airfoil having a first side and a second side orientated opposite the first side, which first and second sides extend between a tip, a base, a leading edge and a trailing edge, the airfoil including a spar extending in a direction between the base and the tip, and extending in a direction between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the spar having a first side and a second side, wherein the spar defines an first opening in the first side having a first shelf disposed around the first opening, and a second opening in the second side having a second shelf disposed around the second opening; and a first composite panel attached to the first shelf, which first composite panel is sized to enclose the first opening, wherein the first composite panel is a load bearing structure operable to transfer loads to the airfoil and receive loads from the airfoil; and a second composite panel attached to the second shelf, which second composite panel is sized to enclose the second opening, wherein the second composite panel is a load bearing structure operable to transfer loads to the airfoil and receive loads from the airfoil. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A hybrid fan blade for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
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an airfoil having a first side and a second side orientated opposite the first side, which first and second sides extend between a tip, a base, a leading edge and a trailing edge, the airfoil including a plurality of first cavities disposed in the first side of the airfoil and extending inwardly toward the second side, which first cavities collectively form an first side opening, and at least one rib disposed between the first cavities and having a mounting surface disposed at a distal end, and a first side shelf disposed around the first side opening, the first side shelf having a first mounting surface; and a first panel attached to the first mounting surface and the rib mounting surface, and which is sized to enclose the opening, wherein the first composite panel is a load bearing structure operable to transfer loads to the airfoil and receive loads from the airfoil. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification