IP Library Granted Patent US 11,156,100
Granted Patent B2
US 11,156,100 · App. 16/209,448 · Granted Oct 26, 2021

Composite fan blade

Inventor: David A. Welch (Quaker Hill, CT)
Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
F01D5/147B22F5/04B23K26/34B23P15/04B29C64/153F04D29/324B33Y10/00B33Y80/00F05D2240/303
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,156,100
App. No.
16/209,448
Granted
Oct 26, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A blade fabrication method is provided and includes additively manufacturing a core, securing the core to a mandrel, electroforming a leading edge sheath directly onto the core and the mandrel and removing the mandrel from the core and the leading edge sheath.

Claims (15)

1. A fan blade, comprising:

a leading edge sheath assembly comprising:

an additively manufactured core comprising a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second sidewalls extending from opposite sides of the leading edge to opposite sides of the trailing edge;

a leading edge sheath which is electroformed directly onto the core, the leading edge sheath comprising:

an elongate leading edge portion that extends forwardly from the leading edge of the core; and

sidewall portions that extend rearwardly from a trailing edge of the elongate leading edge portion along and beyond the first and second sidewalls of the core, wherein the fan blade further comprises:

a blade body; and

adhesive disposed to adhere interior surfaces of the sidewall portions to sidewalls of the blade body and the trailing edge of the core to a leading edge of the blade body,

wherein the additively manufactured core is perforated at outer portions thereof and latticed in interior portions thereof and at least one of the sidewall portions comprises a thickened section extending partially around the trailing edge of the core.

2. A leading edge sheath assembly for a blade having a blade body, the leading edge sheath assembly comprising:

a core, which is perforated at outer portions thereof and latticed in interior portions thereof, and which comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge that is adhered to a leading edge of the blade body and first and second sidewalls extending from opposite sides of the leading edge to opposite sides of the trailing edge;

a leading edge sheath electroformed onto the core and comprising:

an elongate leading edge portion that extends forwardly from the leading edge of the core; and

sidewall portions that extend rearwardly from a trailing edge of the elongate leading edge portion along and beyond the first and second sidewalls of the core,

wherein each sidewall portion comprises a thickened section extending partially around the trailing edge of the core.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 12, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057179/0420 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2018
From: WELCH, DAVID A.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047670/0852 →
Continuity (1)
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