Erosion protection sleeve
First Claim
1. An airfoil or hydrofoil erosion-resistant sleeve for protecting a foil, the foil comprising an airfoil or hydrofoil having a first foil shape, the sleeve comprising:
- a body adapted to cover at least a portion of the foil, the body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface and a sleeve thickness therebetween and having a longitudinal dimension with a first end and a second end and a dimension transverse to the longitudinal dimension, the outer surface comprising a shape memory polymer or an elastomeric polymer with a materially continuous perimeter circumscribing the body around the transverse dimension and having a second foil shape, the inner surface comprising a third foil shape that has the same shape as at least a portion of the first foil shape; and
an opening at the first end of the body adapted to receive the foil wherein a transverse segment of the body is adapted to undergo a contraction in the transverse dimension to conform the third foil shape to the portion of the first foil shape.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described are articles, materials, and methods for protecting moving parts from degradation, such as protecting an airfoil or hydrofoil from erosion forces caused by air, sand, water, or wind. Described are foil-shaped erosion-resistant sleeves for protecting a foil. The sleeves may have a body with an outer surface, an inner surface, a thickness, a longitudinal dimension with a first end and a second end, and a dimension transverse to the longitudinal dimension, and the outer surface may include a shape-memory polymer or an elastomeric polymer with a materially continuous perimeter circumscribing the body around the transverse dimension, and an opening at the first end of the body adapted to receive the foil. Some erosion-resistant sleeves may be installed on a foil by inserting the foil into the sleeve through an opening in the sleeve, contracting the sleeve around the foil, and conforming the sleeve around the foil.
227 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An airfoil or hydrofoil erosion-resistant sleeve for protecting a foil, the foil comprising an airfoil or hydrofoil having a first foil shape, the sleeve comprising:
- a body adapted to cover at least a portion of the foil, the body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface and a sleeve thickness therebetween and having a longitudinal dimension with a first end and a second end and a dimension transverse to the longitudinal dimension, the outer surface comprising a shape memory polymer or an elastomeric polymer with a materially continuous perimeter circumscribing the body around the transverse dimension and having a second foil shape, the inner surface comprising a third foil shape that has the same shape as at least a portion of the first foil shape; and
an opening at the first end of the body adapted to receive the foil wherein a transverse segment of the body is adapted to undergo a contraction in the transverse dimension to conform the third foil shape to the portion of the first foil shape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- a body adapted to cover at least a portion of the foil, the body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface and a sleeve thickness therebetween and having a longitudinal dimension with a first end and a second end and a dimension transverse to the longitudinal dimension, the outer surface comprising a shape memory polymer or an elastomeric polymer with a materially continuous perimeter circumscribing the body around the transverse dimension and having a second foil shape, the inner surface comprising a third foil shape that has the same shape as at least a portion of the first foil shape; and
Specification