IP Library Granted Patent US 12,366,167
Granted Patent B2
US 12,366,167 · App. 18/452,246 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

Fan blade or vane with improved bird impact capability

Inventors: Byron R. Monzon (Muskego, WI); Bronwyn Power (New Haven, CT); Michael M. Joly (Hebron, CT); Jason H. Elliott (Huntington, IN); Xuetao Li (South Glastonbury, CT); Christopher Beaudry Miller (Brooklyn, NY)
Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
F01D5/141F05D2220/36F05D2240/301F05D2240/305F05D2240/306
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,366,167
App. No.
18/452,246
Granted
Jul 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gas turbine engine is provided and includes a first fan blade including a suction surface, a second fan blade comprising a pressure surface and neighboring the first fan blade and a throat region interposed between the suction surface of the first fan blade and the pressure surface of the second fan blade. The throat region includes a passage throat located at a minimum distance between the pressure and suction surfaces. The first and second fan blades are configured such that a pre-compression region is defined in the throat region ahead of the passage throat. Each of the first and second fan blades includes a mean camber line defining a flattened suction surface.

Claims (26)

1. A fan blade of a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a body having an airfoil shape and exhibiting:

a range of thickness-over-chord (T/B) values of 0.0761 at 20% span to 0.0465 at 50% span,

an average location of max thickness (LMT) of 0.3778 at 0-20% span, and

an average of leading edge (LE) thickness at 10% chord-over-total chord of 0.0494 at 0-20% span.

2. The fan blade according to claim 1 , wherein:

in a 0%-20% span, the airfoil shape exhibits an average T/B of 0.0887 (−8% to +8%),

in a 20%-50% span, the airfoil shape exhibits an average T/B of 0.0596 (−8% to +8%),

in a 50%-90% span, the airfoil shape exhibits an average T/B of 0.0394 (−8% to +8%), and

in a 90% to 100% span, the airfoil shape exhibits an average T/B of 0.0296 (−8% to +8%).

3. The fan blade according to claim 1 , wherein:

in a 0%-20% span, the airfoil shape exhibits an average LMT of 0.378 (−8% to +8%),

in a 20%-50% span, the airfoil shape exhibits an average LMT of 0.406 (−8% to +8%),

in a 50%-90% span, the airfoil shape exhibits an average LMT of 0.478 (−8% to +8%), and

in a 90% to 100% span, the airfoil shape exhibits an average LMT of 0.587 (−8% to +8%).

4. The fan blade according to claim 1 , wherein:

in a 0%-20% span, the airfoil shape exhibits an average LE thickness at 10% chord-over-total chord of 0.0494 (−12% to +12%),

in a 20%-50% span, the airfoil shape exhibits an average LE thickness at 10% chord-over-total chord of 0.0292 (−5% to +10%),

in a 50%-90% span, the airfoil shape exhibits an average LE thickness at 10% chord-over-total chord of 0.0198 (−5% to +10%), and

in a 90% to 100% span, the airfoil shape exhibits an average LE thickness at 10% chord-over-total chord of 0.0135 (−8% to +8%).

5. The fan blade according to claim 1 , wherein the airfoil shape exhibits an increasing radial LE angle from a 25% (−5% to +5%) span to a 75% (−5% to +5%) span.

6. The fan blade according to claim 5 , wherein the airfoil shape exhibits an inflection in the radial LE angle at the 75% (−5% to +5%) span above which the radial LE angle decreases.

7. The fan blade according to claim 1 , wherein the airfoil shape exhibits an increasing radial LE angle from a 35% (−5% to +5%) span to a 85% (−5% to +5%) span.

8. The fan blade according to claim 7 , wherein the airfoil shape exhibits an inflection in the radial LE angle at the 85% (−5% to +5%) span above which the radial LE angle decreases.

9. The fan blade according to claim 1 , wherein the airfoil shape exhibits a thickness-to-chord value at a 10% chord location at 0% LE span of 0.0688 (−15% to +15%), which tapers to 0.0442 (−12% to +12%) at 11% LE span.

10. The fan blade according to claim 1 , wherein the airfoil shape exhibits a chord distribution that has an inflection point between 50% and 70% span, the inflection point having a magnitude 1.45-1.55 times a magnitude of the chord at 0% span, and 1-1.1 times a magnitude of the chord at 100% span.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2024
From: MONZON, BYRON R.; POWER, BRONWYN; JOLY, MICHAEL M.; ELLIOTT, JASON H.; LI, XUETAO; MILLER, CHRISTOPHER BEAUDRY
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066628/0136 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 18446078 · Aug 8, 2023
Provisional Application 63396464 · Aug 9, 2022
Related Publication 20240052747A1 · Feb 15, 2024
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