IP Library Granted Patent US 12,031,452
Granted Patent B2
US 12,031,452 · App. 18/087,412 · Granted Jul 9, 2024

Airfoil with body and cover panel

Inventors: Eric W. Malmborg (Amston, CT); Larry Foster (South Glastonbury, CT)
Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
F01D5/147F05D2230/64F05D2240/301F05D2250/33F05D2260/31F05D2300/603F16B5/0657F16B2013/007F16B13/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,031,452
App. No.
18/087,412
Granted
Jul 9, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An airfoil includes a metal body that has holes, a cover panel carried on the metal body, and push fasteners that extend through the cover panel and into the holes to lock the cover panel on the metal body. Each of the push fasteners includes flexible barbs that engage sides of the holes to resist retraction of the fasteners from the holes. The heads of the push fastener are embedded in recesses in the cover panel.

Claims (20)

1. An airfoil comprising:

a metal body having holes;

a cover panel carried on the metal body; and

push fasteners extending through the cover panel and into the holes to lock the cover panel on the metal body, each of the push fasteners including flexible barbs that engage sides of the holes to resist retraction of the fasteners from the holes, and the push fasteners including heads that are embedded in recesses in the cover panel wherein sides of the recesses are obliquely sloped with respect to a length direction of the fasteners.

2. The airfoil as recited in claim 1 , wherein the heads are flush with, or below, an exterior surface of the cover panel.

3. The airfoil as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fasteners fall short of bottoming out in the holes.

4. The airfoil as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the push fasteners includes a head that is embedded in the cover panel.

5. The airfoil as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cover panel includes stitching adjacent the head of the push fasteners.

6. The airfoil as recited in claim 1 , wherein the holes are straight.

7. The airfoil as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer between the cover panel and the metal body.

8. The airfoil as recited in claim 7 , wherein the adhesive layer is disposed on a perimeter edge of the metal body.

9. The airfoil as recited in claim 1 , wherein the metal body includes a rib, the rib having a base at the metal body and, distal from the metal body, a flange that is in facial contact with the cover panel.

10. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a fan;

a compressor section;

a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section; and

a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor, the fan having airfoils that each include

a metal body having holes,

a cover panel carried on the metal body, and

push fasteners extending through the cover panel and into the holes to lock the cover panel on the metal body, each of the push fasteners including flexible barbs that engage sides of the holes to resist retraction of the fasteners from the holes, and the push fasteners including heads that are embedded in recesses in the cover panel wherein sides of the recesses are obliquely sloped with respect to a length direction of the fasteners.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064402/0837 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17529392 · Nov 18, 2021
Division 16251537 · Jan 18, 2019
Related Publication 20230304407A1 · Sep 28, 2023