Abstract: A fan blade (34) of a gas turbine engine (10) includes a pair of root rails (54) disposed on a bottom (56) of a dovetail root portion (44) thereof. The pair of root rails (54) has a wedge-shaped contour and is tapered in a decreasing cross-section from the leading edge (50) to the trailing edge (52). The root rails (54) provide a wide, stable base for the blade to minimize tangential motion during windmilling. A pair of slot rails (76) is provided on the base (70) of a dovetail-shaped slot (40) retaining the dovetail root portion (44) of the blade (34). The slot rails (76) of the dovetail slot (40) mate with the root rails (54) of the dovetail root portion (44).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 29, 1994
Date of Patent:
July 11, 1995
Assignee:
United Technologies Corporation
Inventors:
Michael Weisse, David M. Daley, Harold R. Smart, Jr.