Abstract: A test rotor blade for an aircraft engine bladed rotor includes a blade body. The blade body extends between and to a leading edge and a trailing edge. The blade body forms a first side surface and a second side surface. The blade body forms a leading-edge pocket at the leading edge, a trailing-edge pocket at the trailing edge, and a hole extending through the blade body from the leading-edge pocket to the trailing edge pocket. The blade body includes a first side wall and a second side wall. The first side wall has a first wall thickness extending between and to the first side surface and the hole. The second side wall has a second wall thickness extending between and to the second side surface and the hole. The second wall thickness is 0.4 to 0.9 times the first wall thickness.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an adaptive spring compression tool that streamlines and partially automates the joining of a vehicle suspension system with a vehicle body on an assembly line. The spring compression tool can be modified and programmed to accommodate various vehicle models, products, and design modifications without replacing the entire tooling system. Additionally, the spring compression tool of the present disclosure has a structure, a function, and an operation that facilitates the compression of a spring without exerting large forces on the vehicle body. In various embodiments, the spring compression tool comprises at least two independent drives that adjust the compression of a spring and the position of a suspension system to achieve a car line position with the vehicle body.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for joining a first tube to another such tube whereby to form a fluidic path therethrough, comprising: means for engaging the tube and moving it into one or more positions to be manipulated; means for clamping a portion of the tube whereby to form a pinched portion of the tube such that the tube is fluidly sealed upstream of the pinched portion; means for removing an end section of the tube downstream of the pinched portion such that a new end of the tube is thereby formed within the pinched portion that has not previously contacted another such tube; and means for joining the pinched portion at the new end of the tube with a corresponding pinched portion of another such tube; wherein the apparatus is configured as an end effector for a robotic device.

Abstract: A test rotor blade includes a blade body and a plug. The blade body extends between and to a leading edge and a trailing edge. The blade body forms a first side surface and a second side surface. The blade body forms a hole. The blade body includes a first side wall and a second side wall. The first side wall extends between and to the hole and the first side surface. The second side wall extends between and to the hole and the second side surface. The plug is disposed within the hole. The plug forms a perimeter surface extending about the axial centerline. The perimeter surface includes a sealing surface portion and a diverging surface portion. The diverging surface portion forms a gap between the plug and the blade body. The gap is disposed between the first side wall and the diverging surface portion.

Abstract: An integrally bladed rotor (IBR) for a gas turbine engine and method is provided. The IBR is configured for use in blade off testing and includes a hub, a plurality of rotor blades, a central passage, and first and second lateral cavities. The hub has forward and aft ends and a circumferentially extending exterior surface. The central passage is disposed in the hub radially below a test rotor blade, extending along a path between an inlet at or forward of the test blade leading edge and an outlet at or aft of the test blade trailing edge. The first and second lateral cavities are disposed in the hub, extending generally parallel to the central passage path, on opposite circumferential sides. The first lateral cavity is disposed a distance (MSD1) from the central passage and the second lateral cavity is disposed a distance (MSD2) from the central passage.

Abstract: An integrated bladed rotor of a gas turbine engine is provided. The integrated bladed rotor includes a hub having a rotation axis and a radially outer platform relative to the rotation axis, and a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from the outer platform of the hub. The blades are integrally formed with the hub to define a monolithic component with the hub. Two or more of the blades each include: an airfoil including a groove formed in an outer surface of the airfoil to mitigate crack propagation, and a root fillet providing a transition between the outer platform of the hub and the airfoil.

Abstract: A rotor of an aircraft engine has a plurality of blades extending radially from a disc. At least one of the blades has an airfoil, a root and a tip. The airfoil has a crack-mitigating rib extending chordwise along the airfoil. The crack-mitigating rib is disposed radially closer to the root than to the tip.

Abstract: A method includes: obtaining a rotor having a hub and a plurality of blades protruding from the hub, the plurality of blades including first blades and second blades disposed in alternation around a central axis of the rotor, natural vibration frequencies of the first blades different from natural vibration frequencies of the second blades; determining that a difference between a first natural vibration frequency of a first blade of the first blades and a second natural vibration frequency of a second blade of the second blades is below a threshold; and modifying a shape of the first blade until the difference between the first natural vibration frequency and the second natural vibration frequency is at or above the threshold.

Abstract: An integrated bladed rotor of a gas turbine engine is provided. The integrated bladed rotor includes a hub having a rotation axis and a radially outer platform relative to the rotation axis, and a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from the outer platform of the hub. The blades are integrally formed with the hub to define a monolithic component with the hub. Two or more of the blades each include: an airfoil including a groove formed in an outer surface of the airfoil to mitigate crack propagation, and a root fillet providing a transition between the outer platform of the hub and the airfoil.

Abstract: A fan blade anti-icing system comprises a fan hub and a fan blade extending radially outwardly from the fan hub. The fan blade has a base and an airfoil extending radially outwardly from the fan base. The airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a convex side surface between the leading and trailing edge and a concave side surface between the leading and trailing edge. The fan blade further has a radial passage extending from a blade air inlet in the blade base in communication with a source of heated air, and a rearwardly directed passage in communication with the radial passage and having a blade air outlet forward of the trailing edge and oriented tangentially to the convex side surface or concave side surface of the airfoil.

Abstract: The gas turbine compressor for an aircraft gas turbine engine includes a compressor rotor having a plurality of compressor blades circumferentially distributed around a hub. Each of the compressor blades has an airfoil extending radially outward from the hub to a blade tip. A circumferential row of the compressor blades includes two or more different blade types, at least one modified blade of the two or more different blade types having means for generating different shock patterns between adjacent ones of the two or more different blade types when the gas turbine compressor operates in supersonic flow regimes. The means for generating different shock patterns on the modified blade aerodynamically mistune the two or more different blade types.

Abstract: A method of balancing a gas turbine engine rotor comprises the step of obtaining a rotor disc with a circumferential array of balance tabs projecting from a peripheral rim of the disc. Stress shielding scallops are defined in the rotor disc between the tabs. The balancing is achieved by removing material from at least one of the tabs.

Abstract: A method of heating a fan blade of a gas turbine engine for anti-icing includes emitting jets of heated air from a radial fin disposed upstream from a radially inward portion of a fan blade airfoil, the jets of heated air being directed by outlet orifices in a downstream direction substantially parallel to a flow of incoming air over the fan blade airfoil.

Abstract: A fan blade anti-icing system comprises a fan hub and a fan blade extending radially outwardly from the fan hub. The fan blade has a base and an airfoil extending radially outwardly from the fan base. The airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a convex side surface between the leading and trailing edge and a concave side surface between the leading and trailing edge. The fan blade further has a radial passage extending from a blade air inlet in the blade base in communication with a source of heated air, and a rearwardly directed passage in communication with the radial passage and having a blade air outlet forward of the trailing edge and oriented tangentially to the convex side surface or concave side surface of the airfoil.

Abstract: A fan blade anti-icing system comprises a fan hub and a fan blade extending radially outwardly from the fan hub. The fan blade has a base and an airfoil extending radially outwardly from the fan base. The airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a convex side surface between the leading and trailing edge and a concave side surface between the leading and trailing edge. The fan blade further has a radial passage extending from a blade air inlet in the blade base in communication with a source of heated air, and a rearwardly directed passage in communication with the radial passage and having a blade air outlet forward of the trailing edge and oriented tangentially to the convex side surface or concave side surface of the airfoil.

Abstract: A compressor rotor for a gas turbine engine includes a hub disposed about an axis of rotation and an outer surface forming a radially inner gaspath boundary, the outer surface defining a nominal hub diameter. A circumferential array of blades extends radially outwardly from the hub. A first inter-blade passage is defined between a first set of adjacent blades and has a first throat area. A second inter-blade passage is defined between a second set of adjacent blades and has a second throat area that is smaller than the first throat area. At least one scoop is disposed in the second inter-blade passage, the scoop defining a cavity extending radially into the outer surface of the hub relative to the nominal hub diameter.

Abstract: A fan blade anti-icing system comprises a fan hub and a fan blade extending radially outwardly from the fan hub. The fan blade has a base and an airfoil extending radially outwardly from the fan base. The airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a convex side surface between the leading and trailing edge and a concave side surface between the leading and trailing edge. The fan blade further has a radial passage extending from a blade air inlet in the blade base in communication with a source of heated air, and a rearwardly directed passage in communication with the radial passage and having a blade air outlet forward of the trailing edge and oriented tangentially to the convex side surface or concave side surface of the airfoil.

Abstract: A method of heating a fan blade of a gas turbine engine for anti-icing includes emitting jets of heated air from a radial fin disposed upstream from a radially inward portion of a fan blade airfoil, the jets of heated air being directed by outlet orifices in a downstream direction substantially parallel to a flow of incoming air over the fan blade airfoil.

Abstract: A multi-hitch receiver assembly adapted for use on a trailer comprising a main frame that is adapted to be secured to the trailer, a means for securing the main frame to the trailer, and at least one receiver box assembly. The at least one receiver box assembly comprises a first member that is adapted to be secured to the main frame, a second member that is adapted to removably secure a first cargo carrier and is secured to the first member, and a third member that is adapted to removably secure a second cargo carrier and is secured to the second member. The at least one receiver box assembly is adapted to be secured to the main frame at more than one location on the main frame. A method comprising securing the main frame to the trailer.

Abstract: The gas turbine compressor for an aircraft gas turbine engine includes a compressor rotor having a plurality of compressor blades circumferentially distributed around a hub. Each of the compressor blades has an airfoil extending radially outward from the hub to a blade tip. A circumferential row of the compressor blades includes two or more different blade types, at least one modified blade of the two or more different blade types having means for generating different shock patterns between adjacent ones of the two or more different blade types when the gas turbine compressor operates in supersonic flow regimes. The means for generating different shock patterns on the modified blade aerodynamically mistune the two or more different blade types.