IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,365,636
Granted Patent B2
US 11,365,636 · App. 16/923,911 · Granted Jun 21, 2022

Fan blade with intrinsic damping characteristics

Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger (Bengaluru, IN); Viswanadha Gupta Sakala (Bengaluru, IN); Nicholas Joseph Kray (West Chester, OH); Ambika Shivamurthy (Bengaluru, IN); Kirti Arvind Petkar (Bengaluru, IN)
Assignee: General Electric Company
F01D5/147F01D5/02G06F30/17F05D2220/32F05D2230/80F05D2240/24
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,365,636
App. No.
16/923,911
Granted
Jun 21, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture corresponding to a fan blade with intrinsic damping characteristics are disclosed. An example fan blade comprises an exterior body including a first side and a second side; a first hairpin structure coupled to the first side of the exterior body and the second side of the exterior body; and a second hairpin structure coupled to the first side and the second side, the first hairpin structure in contact with the second hairpin structure.

Claims (19)

1. A fan blade comprising:

an exterior body including a first side and a second side;

a first hairpin structure directly coupled to (a) the first side of the exterior body and (bb the second side of the exterior body; and

a second hairpin structure directly coupled to (a) the first side and (b) the second side, the first hairpin structure in contact with the second hairpin structure,

wherein the first hairpin structure and the second hairpin structure are made from different materials.

2. The fan blade of claim 1 , wherein the first hairpin structure is at least one of a “U” shape, a “V” shape, or a “C” shape.

3. The fan blade of claim 1 , wherein the first hairpin structure corresponds to a first stiffness and the second hairpin structure corresponds to a second stiffness different than the first stiffness.

4. The fan blade of claim 1 , wherein the first hairpin structure is coupled to the first side and the second side of the exterior body with fuse shears.

5. The fan blade of claim 1 , wherein the first hairpin structure is sandwiched with the second hairpin structure.

6. The fan blade of claim 1 , wherein there is at least one of an air cavity or an elastic material between the first hairpin structure and the second hairpin structure, the at least one of the air cavity of the elastic material providing shock absorption.

7. The fan blade of claim 1 , wherein the first hairpin structure and the second hairpin structure provides at least one of vibration damping or energy absorption.

8. The fan blade of claim 1 , wherein the first hairpin structure includes at least one of carbon nanotubes impregnated with graphene, functionally graded material, metal, or shape-memory alloy.

9. The fan blade of claim 1 , wherein the first hairpin structure extends radially from a first position of the fan blade to a second position of the fan blade.

10. The fan blade of claim 1 , wherein, when the first side of the exterior body and the second side of the exterior body compress together, the first hairpin structure and the second hairpin structure rub against each other.

11. A turbine engine comprising:

a compressor;

a turbine; and

a rotor including a fan blade, the fan blade including a first hairpin structure directly coupled to (a) a first side of a first interior wall of the fan blade and (b) a second side of a second interior wall of the fan blade; wherein the fan blade includes a second hairpin structure directly coupled to the first side of the first interior wall of the fan blade and the second side of the second interior wall of the fan blade, wherein the first hairpin structure and the second hairpin structure are made from different materials.

12. The turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein, when the first side of the first interior wall and the second side of the second interior wall compress together, the first hairpin structure and the second hairpin structure rub against each other.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2020
From: GANIGER, RAVINDRA SHANKAR; SAKALA, VISWANADHA GUPTA; KRAY, NICHOLAS JOSEPH; SHIVAMURTHY, AMBIKA; PETKAR, KIRTI ARVIND
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 053167/0146 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210363888A1 · Nov 25, 2021