IP Library Granted Patent US 11,059,566
Granted Patent B2
US 11,059,566 · App. 16/590,618 · Granted Jul 13, 2021

Additive manufacture proprotor blade

Inventors: Christopher Edward Foskey (Keller, TX); Andrew Maresh (Lewisville, TX)
Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
B64C11/26B64C29/0033B33Y80/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,059,566
App. No.
16/590,618
Granted
Jul 13, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An exemplary proprotor blade assembly includes a structural skin extending spanwise from a root to a tip and along a chord from leading edge to a trailing edge and a structural core positioned inside of the structural skin, the structural skin comprising hex-shaped structures oriented normal to the structural skin.

Claims (32)

1. A proprotor blade assembly comprising:

a structural skin extending spanwise from a root to a tip and along a chord from leading edge to a trailing edge;

a structural core positioned inside of the structural skin, the structural core comprising hex-shaped structures oriented normal to the structural skin; and

wherein the hex-shaped structures have vertical walls surrounding a central opening and upper and lower cap flanges having faying areas, the faying areas bonded to the structural skin.

2. The proprotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the structural skin does not dispose an internal tubular spar.

3. The proprotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the structural skin includes centrifugal force material extending spanwise.

4. The proprotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein some of the hex-shaped structures have different geometries from other ones of the hex-shaped structures.

5. The proprotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower cap flanges are thicker than the vertical walls.

6. The proprotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the hex-shaped structures comprises an opening extending laterally through one or more of the vertical walls.

7. The proprotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein two or more the hex-shaped structures comprise an opening extending laterally through one or more of the vertical walls, wherein the openings of the hex-shaped structures are different sizes.

8. The proprotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein some of the hex-shaped structures have different geometries from other ones of the hex-shaped structures.

9. The proprotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the structural skin includes centrifugal force material extending spanwise.

10. The proprotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower cap flanges are thicker than the vertical walls; and

one or more of the hex-shaped structures comprises an opening extending laterally through one or more the vertical walls.

11. The proprotor blade assembly of claim 10 , wherein the structural skin includes centrifugal force material extending spanwise.

12. A rotorcraft comprising:

a fuselage;

a wing extending from the fuselage;

a proprotor assembly carried by the wing, the proprotor assembly comprising a plurality of proprotor blade assemblies each comprising:

a structural skin extending spanwise from a root to a tip and along a chord from leading edge to a trailing edge;

centrifugal force material forming a centrifugal force path;

a structural core positioned inside of the structural skin, the structural core comprising hex-shaped structures oriented normal to the structural skin; and

wherein the hex-shaped structures have vertical walls surrounding a central opening and upper and lower cap flanges having faying areas, the faying areas bonded to the structural skin, wherein the upper and lower cap flanges are thicker than the vertical walls.

13. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein the structural skin does not dispose an internal tubular spar.

14. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein some of the hex-shaped structures have different geometries from one or more of other ones of the hex-shaped structures.

15. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein the hex-shaped structures of a proprotor blade assembly of the plurality of proprotor blade assemblies are configured to extend normal to the structural skin when the proprotor blade assembly twists during flight.

16. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the hex-shaped structures comprises an opening extending laterally through one or more of the vertical walls.

17. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein two or more the hex-shaped structures comprise an opening extending laterally through one or more of the vertical walls, wherein the openings of the hex-shaped structures are different sizes.

18. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein the upper and lower cap flanges are thicker than the vertical walls;

wherein one or more of the hex-shaped structures comprises an opening extending laterally through one or more the vertical walls; and

wherein the structural skin includes the centrifugal force material and the centrifugal force material extends spanwise.

19. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein the centrifugal force material extends spanwise along the structural skin.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2021
From: BELL TEXTRON INC.
To: BELL TEXTRON RHODE ISLAND INC.
Reel/Frame 055609/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2021
From: BELL TEXTRON RHODE ISLAND INC.
To: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 055609/0424 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2019
From: FOSKEY, CHRISTOPHER EDWARD; MARESH, ANDREW
To: BELL TEXTRON INC.
Reel/Frame 050611/0706 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210101672A1 · Apr 8, 2021