Composite Blade Patents (Class 29/889.71)
  • Publication number: 20140301855
    Abstract: A blade insert for coupling a first blade segment to a second blade segment is disclosed. The blade insert may generally include an aerodynamic body extending between a forward end configured to be coupled to the first blade segment and an aft end configured to be coupled to the second blade segment. The aerodynamic body may include a top side extending between a forward edge and an aft edge. The top side may define a top scarfed section at its forward edge. The aerodynamic body may further include a bottom side extending between a forward edge and an aft edge. The bottom side may define a bottom scarfed section at its forward edge. Additionally, at least a portion of the forward edge of the top side may be configured to be offset relative to the forward edge of the bottom side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce Clark Busbey, Darren John Danielsen
  • Publication number: 20140294592
    Abstract: A wind blade is provided that includes a primary blade body defining a leading edge and a trailing edge and further defining a pressure side and a suction side joining along the trailing edge. The wind blade also includes a secondary blade having an aerodynamic contour defining a first surface and a second surface and coupled with the primary blade body for the purpose of shielding noise. The secondary blade body is disposed proximate to at least a portion of the trailing edge on at least one of the pressure side and the suction side of the primary blade body and may also improve overall performance of the wind blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lorenz Edwin Drack, Thierry Pascal Maeder, Gowri Jaganathan Sengundermudaliar, Karthickprabu Vijayakumar
  • Publication number: 20140286777
    Abstract: The invention relates to a blank casting for producing a turbine engine rotor blade, with a vane connected by a platform (4?) to a root (2?), said root having an axial machining allowance intended to be removed by machining from each of its axial extremities, characterised in that at least one of the axial extremities of the root (2?) comprises at least one transverse channel (14?) that extends over the entire transverse width of the root and whose depth is greater than said machining allowance. The invention also relates to the process for obtaining the blade by machining this blank casting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Alexandre GIMEL, Arnaud NEGRI, Denis Gabriel TRAHOT
  • Publication number: 20140286780
    Abstract: Provided is a method of assembling an aerogenerator blade tip segment. The method includes: removing an outboard tip end part of an aerogenerator blade; removing at least a portion of a leading edge panel and at least a portion of a trailing edge panel from a remaining outboard end of the aerogenerator blade, thus forming a body and a projection extending in a substantially longitudinal direction from an outboard end of the body, the projection having a spar cap portion and a shear web portion; removing a coating from an outer surface of the projection; attaching at least one reinforcement to the shear web portion of the projection; bonding a tip segment to the projection; and covering a joint between the body of the aerogenerator blade and the tip segment with an aerodynamic profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: TECSIS TECNOLOGIA E SISTEMAS AVANCADOS S.A.
    Inventors: Phillips Antonio da Costa Lemos, Hely Ricardo Savii
  • Publication number: 20140271198
    Abstract: Wind turbine blades with layered, multi-component spars, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A wind turbine blade system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first blade segment having a first spar element that includes first planks having a first thickness and a first plank composition, and a second blade segment having a second spar element that includes second planks having a second thickness and a second plank composition different than the first plank composition. The second blade segment is joined to the first blade segment at a joint, and, in particular embodiments, an overall product of thickness and elastic modulus of the first planks is approximately equal to an overall product of thickness and elastic modulus for the second planks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Qiang Liu, Myles L. Baker
  • Publication number: 20140271171
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods of a vane design utilizing welding techniques. The present invention concerns a method for preventing cracking within a vane assembly utilizing full penetration welding. Additional embodiments concern a vane design that, when assembled with another vane, comprises an axial slot that prevents cracking within a vane assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: RICHARD ORSATTI, EDWARD LEN MILLER
  • Publication number: 20140271215
    Abstract: A method of constructing a cured composite assembly includes positioning a composite assembly within a bonding tool, wherein the composite assembly comprises an uncured composite spar and a skin and performing a curing cycle on the composite assembly to simultaneously cure the uncured composite spar and bond the skin to the cured composite spar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140271214
    Abstract: A rotor blade abrasion strip and method to manufacturing the same. The abrasion strip being composed of a molded amorphous metal contoured to match a leading edge outer surface of the rotor blade. The abrasion strip being configured to removably attach to a leading edge of the rotor blade and configured to prevent damage to the leading edge during flight. The method includes molding the abrasion strip with the amorphous metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Drew Sutton, Jeffrey P. Nissen, Andrew Haldeman
  • Publication number: 20140259669
    Abstract: A system for installing a blade insert between a root portion and a tip portion of a rotor blade of a wind turbine is disclosed. The system may include a root cradle assembly configured to support the root portion of the rotor blade and a tip cradle assembly configured to support the tip portion of the rotor blade. At least one of the tip cradle assembly or the root cradle assembly may be movable relative to the other of the tip cradle assembly or the root cradle assembly to allow the tip portion to be spaced apart from the root portion after the rotor blade has been divided between the root and tip portions. In addition, the system may include an insert cradle assembly configured to support a blade insert for the rotor blade. The insert cradle assembly may be configured to be positioned between the root cradle assembly and the tip cradle assembly so as to position the blade insert between the root portion and the tip portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruce Clark Busbey, James Alphonse Payant, Robert Roy Anderson
  • Patent number: 8834126
    Abstract: A method for protecting a fan blade with an airfoil, a tip, a root and a sheath, the root to be inserted into a hub includes peening the airfoil of the blade; inserting a scrim cloth between the fan blade and the sheath to galvanically isolate the fan blade from the sheath; bonding the sheath to the blade with an epoxy adhesive; peening the blade root; bonding wear pads to the root with epoxy adhesive to galvanically isolate the root from the hub; applying a protective cover to the tip of the blade; and applying a coating to all exposed areas of the blade to inhibit corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James O. Hansen, Joseph Parkos, Thomas J. Watson, Christopher J. Hertel, Kelly L. Hoover
  • Publication number: 20140255201
    Abstract: A rotor blade has a spanwise axis, a root comprising an anchor having an anchor surface configured to form at least one of a normal angle relative to the spanwise axis and an acute angle relative to the spanwise axis, and a selectively removable tip comprising a connector having a connector surface configured to complement the anchor surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Sutton, Tim Ledbetter
  • Patent number: 8826537
    Abstract: A method for making a rib for an aerofoil structure, the aerofoil structure including a skin component, the method including the steps of scanning the inner surface of the skin component to determine the surface profile thereof, providing a rib having a rib body and a rib foot protruding from the body, machining a foot surface profile into the rib foot, the foot surface profile being arranged to complement the skin inner surface profile where the rib foot is intended to abut the skin component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Amir Kayani, Ian L Gray
  • Publication number: 20140241891
    Abstract: A turbomachine blade having a metal coupling root, and a metal airfoil-shaped oblong member cantilevered from the coupling root; the airfoil-shaped oblong member being divided into: a lower connecting fin cantilevered from and formed in one piece with the coupling root; an upper connecting fin cantilevered from a coupling head towards the coupling root and formed in one piece with the coupling head; and a main plate-like body which is shaped and positioned between the two connecting fins to form an extension of the fins, and is butt-welded to the same connecting fins to form one piece with the fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Andrea Maurizio
  • Publication number: 20140241892
    Abstract: A turbomachine blade of the type having a metal lower coupling root, a metal upper coupling head, and a metal airfoil-shaped oblong member designed to connect the coupling root rigidly to the coupling head; the airfoil-shaped oblong member having a substantially airfoil-shaped main plate-like element connected to the coupling root and to the coupling head, and which is divided into: a lower connecting fin cantilevered from and formed in one piece with the coupling root; an upper connecting fin cantilevered from and formed in one piece with the coupling head; and a center plate-like body, which is located between the lower and upper connecting fins, is shaped/designed to form an extension of the lower and upper connecting fins, and is butt-welded to, to form one piece with, the lower and upper connecting fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Andrea Maurizio
  • Publication number: 20140237821
    Abstract: A method of producing a turbomachine blade having a coupling root, and an airfoil-shaped oblong member cantilevered from the coupling root; the airfoil-shaped oblong member having a main plate-like element connected directly to the coupling root, and a cover plate for sealing a hollow weight-reducing seat formed in one of the two major faces of the main plate-like element; the main plate-like element being divided into a lower connecting fin cantilevered from the coupling root, and a plate-like body butt welded to the lower connecting fin to form an extension of the lower connecting fin; the method being characterized by including the steps of twisting and curving a flat plate of constant thickness greater than the maximum thickness of the plate-like body of the blade, to obtain a blank plate, in which the three-dimensional shape of the centerline surface of the blank plate substantially matches the three-dimensional shape of the centerline surface of the plate-like body of the main plate-like element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Andrea Maurizio
  • Publication number: 20140234116
    Abstract: A device for connecting sections of wings such as wind turbine blades, which has, at the ends of adjacent sections, central box structures that are placed end-to-end and are clamped together by clamping rods, and a method for producing sections of wings such as wind turbine blades, which includes a step of producing devices for connecting the sections in the form of central joining box structures
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: David Cussac, Antoine Humblot
  • Publication number: 20140234119
    Abstract: It is described a blade (6) for a wind turbine (1) for converting wind energy into electric energy, comprising: -a blade structure (7) longitudinally extending along a blade axis (X1) and comprising a blade tip (11), an opposite blade root (12), a longitudinal leading edge portion (13) and a longitudinal trailing edge portion (14) which are extended between the blade root (12) and the blade tip (11); and -an outer aerodynamic shell (20) defining an airfoil (25) including an airfoil leading edge (26), an airfoil trailing edge (27) and an airfoil suction side and an airfoil pressure side (28, 29) between said airfoil leading and trailing edges (26, 27).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: ENEL GREEN POWER, S.P.A.
    Inventors: La Pegna Luigi, Renzo Piano
  • Publication number: 20140234113
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a wind turbine generator includes a cutting step of cutting a base blade at m cutting planes into (m+1) sections where m is an even number, the m cutting planes being at different positions in a blade length direction; and joining step of joining (m/2+1) sections of the (m+1) sections together to obtain a wind turbine blade which is shorter than the base blade, the (m/2+1) sections including a blade-root section which is closest to a blade root and a blade-tip section which is closest to a blade tip, the blade-root and blade-tip sections being non-adjacent to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji FUKAMI
  • Publication number: 20140227101
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a wind turbine blade, in particular a wind turbine blade having devices or structures for reducing noise generated by the wind turbine blade during use and related method. The wind turbine blade comprises at least a first longitudinal section having a cross section perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction, the cross section having a plurality of flow modulating devices including a first primary flow modulating device and a secondary flow modulating device for modulating noise spectra, wherein the first primary flow modulating device and the first secondary flow modulating device are spaced perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. Also disclosed is a method of retrofitting a wind turbine blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: LM WP PATENT HOLDING A/S
    Inventor: Qingshan Yao
  • Patent number: 8789275
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade having a spar cap disposed between layers constituting an outer skin or disposed on an inner side of the outer skin and a method of manufacturing the wind turbine blade are provided, wherein in manufacture of the wind turbine blade, generation of manufacturing defects, such as misalignment and wrinkles in fabrics, can be suppressed and the time required for repairing the defects as well as for laminating the layers can be reduced. In the method of manufacturing the wind turbine blade having the spar cap as a main structural member of the blade disposed between the layers constituting the outer skin or disposed on the inner side of the outer skin, the spar cap is formed as a separate piece from the outer skin, and the spar cap, dry fiber fabrics for the layers constituting the outer skin, and a sandwich core member are collectively impregnated with resin under a vacuum process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Esaki, Takao Kuroiwa, Nozomu Kawasetsu, Kentaro Shindo, Toru Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20140205463
    Abstract: A turbine rotor includes a plurality of blades of composite material comprising fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix. Each blade comprises a blade body extending between an inner end having a blade root and an outer end forming the tip of the blade. The rotor also includes outer platform elements of composite material comprising fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix, each outer platform element including an opening in which the outer end of a blade is engaged. The portion of the outer end of each blade that extends beyond the outer platform element includes a slot or a notch for receiving a locking element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicants: SNECMA, HERAKLES
    Inventors: Ivan Herraiz, Clement Roussille, Julien Mateo, Alain Allaria, Jean-Luc Soupizon
  • Patent number: 8782886
    Abstract: A method for making a ceiling fan blade comprises the steps of cutting, inside drying, surface wetting, surface spraying, and surface forming. The method is capable of reducing production cost and loss rate, reducing the harm to human health, preventing environmental pollution, and preventing the ceiling fan blades from perishing and deformation by dehydrating the ceiling fan blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventor: Hsien-Chin Liao
  • Patent number: 8782887
    Abstract: A method for producing a metal insert for protecting a leading or trailing edge of a compressor vane of an aeronautical machine made of a composite material, by stamping sheets and diffusion bonding between the sheets. The method includes: initially shaping the sheets by stamping to approximate the sheets to a shape of a suction side and pressure side of the insert; producing a core shaped inner cavity of the metal insert to be manufactured, one of the surfaces thereof reproducing an inner shape of the suction side of the insert and the other surface reproducing an inner shape of the pressure side of the insert; positioning the sheets around the core and securing the assembly; applying a vacuum and sealing the assembly by bonding; assembling the assembly by hot isostatic compression; cutting the assembly to extract the core and separate the insert; producing an outer profile of the insert by a final machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Patrick Maurice Franchet, Gilles Charles Casimir Klein
  • Patent number: 8784066
    Abstract: An example die casting system includes a die that defines a cavity having a first section and a second section. The first section is configured to receive a first portion of a component. The second section is configured to receive a molten material. The die holds the molten material as the molten material solidifies to form a second portion of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mario P. Bochiechio, Steven J. Bulliad, Carl R. Verner
  • Publication number: 20140199170
    Abstract: A de-icing arrangement of a wind turbine rotor blade is provided. The de-icing arrangement includes an electrically conductive mat, an electrically conductive band for distributing an electric current along a first edge of the mat, and a current supply connector for connecting the band to a current supply, wherein at least the electrically conductive mat is embedded in the body of the rotor blade. A wind turbine including a number of rotor blades including such a de-icing arrangement according, and a current supply for connecting to the de-icing arrangements of a rotor blades. A method of incorporating a de-icing arrangement in a wind turbine rotor blade is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Finn Daugaard Madsen, Martin Westergaard
  • Publication number: 20140199177
    Abstract: An airfoil includes leading and trailing edges, a first exterior wall extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge and having inner and outer surfaces, a second exterior wall extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge generally opposite the first exterior wall and having inner and outer surfaces, and cavities within the airfoil. A first cavity extends along the inner surface of the first exterior wall and a first inner wall and has an upstream end and a downstream end, and a feed cavity is located between the first inner wall and the second exterior wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20140178205
    Abstract: Joints for connecting a first blade segment to a second blade segment of a wind turbine rotor blade include a first bolt comprising a first proximal end connected to the first blade segment and a first distal end connected to the second blade segment, a second bolt comprising a second proximal end connected to the first blade segment and a second distal end connected to the second blade segment, and a third bolt comprising a third proximal end connected to the first blade segment and a third distal end connected to the third blade segment. At least two of the first bolt, the second bolt and the third bolt differ in size, and a first distance between the first bolt and the second bolt is different than a second distance between the second bolt and the third bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Biju Nanukuttan, Srikanth Samudrala, Afroz Akhtar, Santhosha Yelwal Srikanta, Vamsi Krishna Kanchumarthy, Charles Erklin Seeley, Daniel Alan Hynum, Srinath Bonala
  • Publication number: 20140165398
    Abstract: The method is used for manufacturing a turbomachine blade that comprises an airfoil portion and is divided into two parts at an intermediate region of the airfoil portion; each of the two parts of the airfoil portion is obtained by additive manufacturing; the two parts are joined by brazing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Nuovo Pignone Srl
    Inventors: Iacopo Giovannetti, Lorenzo Cosi, Mirco Innocenti, Frencesco Piraccini, Pierluigi Tozzi
  • Publication number: 20140170369
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fibre sheet material and method of laying up fibre sheet material to manufacture wind turbine blades. The invention further comprises a blade manufactured by the method as well a use of such a blade. One aspect relates to an oblong fibre sheet material (26) for wind turbine blades, where a surface layer (14) is having a width, which in the lateral direction is broader than a lateral, unidirectional layer (10), and lengthwise side faces of at least the surface layer is provided with a thinning of a thickness of the layer to obtain favourable joints. Another aspect concerns manufacturing a wind turbine blade shell comprising laying fibre sheet (26) materials in a blade mould (20), where the sheet materials lengthwise are positioned in a direction corresponding to a chordwise direction of a turbine blade direction of the mould and overlapping in a spanwise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Anton Bech
  • Patent number: 8752289
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reinforcing edge for attachment to a turbo machine aerofoil, wherein the reinforcing edge comprises a relatively thick nose portion contoured for fitting along the edge of the turbo machine aerofoil, and a pair of opposing, relatively thin, tail portions for overlapping the suction surface and pressure surface respectively of the aerofoil, the method comprising: pressure forming a predefined hollow workpiece under fluid pressure from a respective pre-form, the hollow workpiece incorporating the reinforcing edge; and cutting out said reinforcing edge from the hollow workpiece, wherein the pre-form is created by bonding a pair of relatively thin metal sheets to opposite faces of a relatively thick inner plate or bonded stack of inner plates, the inner plate or stack of inner plates having an opening which defines a closed cavity between the metal sheets for introducing said fluid pressure, each tail portion of the reinforcing edge being constituted by part of a respective one of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Richard M. Jones
  • Publication number: 20140150227
    Abstract: A lifting device 5 for connecting two rotor blade segments 4A, 4B of a wind turbine at the location of the wind turbine, said lifting device 5 being adapted for being moved in the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade, the lifting device comprising: a frame structure 6, means for supporting and guiding the frame structure in relation to the rotor blade, means for lowering and/or lifting the frame structure in relation to the rotor blade, means 7 for lifting and/or lowering a rotor blade segment 4B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: PP ENERGY APS
    Inventor: Paul Teichert
  • Publication number: 20140154090
    Abstract: A wind blade is provided. The wind blade includes a self-supporting structural framework, having multiple chord-wise members and one or more span-wise members. Each of the multiple chord-wise members and the one or more span-wise members have an aerodynamic contour. The wind blade also comprises a fabric skin located over the self-supporting structural framework. Further, the wind blade includes a tensioning mechanism configured for providing pretensioning in the fabric skin. The tensioning mechanism includes multiple mechanical force elements coupled with the fabric skin for providing a predetermined force for maintaining an aerodynamic surface of the fabric skin during operation of the wind blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vidyashankar Ramasastry BURAVALLA, Sriram KRISHNAMURTHY
  • Patent number: 8740571
    Abstract: A turbine bucket for use with a turbine engine. The turbine bucket includes an airfoil that extends between a root end and a tip end. The airfoil includes an outer wall that defines a cavity that extends from the root end to the tip end. The outer wall includes a first ceramic matrix composite (CMC) substrate that extends a first distance from the root end to the tip end. An inner wall is positioned within the cavity. The inner wall includes a second CMC substrate that extends a second distance from the root end towards the tip end that is different than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andres Garcia-Crespo
  • Publication number: 20140140855
    Abstract: Segmented wind turbine blades with truss connection regions, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A wind turbine system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a wind turbine with a first segment having a first position along the longitudinal axis and having a first internal load-bearing structure for which non-truss structure elements carry at least 90% of the shear loads in the first segment. The blade further includes a second segment having a second position along the longitudinal axis and having a second internal load-bearing structure for which non-truss structure elements carry at least 90% of the shear loads in the first segment. A connection region between the first and second segments includes an internal load-bearing truss structure connected between the first internal load-bearing structure and the second internal load-bearing structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventor: Modular Wind Energy, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8726504
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing turbine blade, which comprises, (a) forging a plurality of turbine blades in a state where the plurality of turbine blades are integrally connected in a longitudinal direction, (b) heat treating the plurality of turbine blades in the integrally connected state, (c) machining the plurality of turbine blades in the integrally connected state, and (d) separating the plurality of turbine blades into individual turbine blades. According to the method, the number of processes for the forging work can be decreased, and forging efficiency can be enhanced. Moreover, an amount of burr which occurs during the forging work can be reduced, and hence, a yield of material can be improved, as compared with a case where the turbine blade is forged as a single body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Daido Steel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kimura, Hiroshi Asano, Ikuno Kumazawa
  • Publication number: 20140133995
    Abstract: A propeller blade includes a foam core, a structural layer formed of multiple layers that surrounds at least a portion of the foam core and at least one section of fibers formed separately from the structural layer located between two of the multiple layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicants: Ratier-Figeac SAS, Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Ratier-Figeac SAS
  • Patent number: 8721290
    Abstract: Processes for producing a component containing a ceramic-based material and having detailed features formed from materials other than ceramic materials. Such a process entails producing the component to include a first subcomponent and at least a second subcomponent having at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second subcomponent having a more complex geometry than the first subcomponent. The first subcomponent is formed of a ceramic-based material, and the second subcomponent and its off-axis geometric feature are separately formed of a metallic material and attached to the first subcomponent to yield a robust mechanical attachment. The component may be, for example, a gas turbine airfoil component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Toby George Darkins, Jr., John Peter Heyward, Eric Alan Estill, Joshua Brian Jamison, James Herbert Deines, Mark Willard Marusko, James Thomas Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20140119932
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade includes a blade root, a blade tip and a body extending between the blade root and the blade tip. The body has a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The body also defines an inner surface. The rotor blade also includes a spar member extending between a portion of the inner surface defined on the pressure side of the body and a portion of the inner surface defined on the suction side of the body. In addition, the rotor blade includes a plurality of structural members extending adjacent to the inner surface. The structural members are configured to intersect one another along the inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric Lee Bell, Matthew G. Gann, Aaron Yarbrough
  • Publication number: 20140119888
    Abstract: A turbine assembly includes a basically hollow aerofoil. A wall segment may be arranged at a side of the aerofoil. An insertion aperture in the wall segment provides access to the aerofoil and an impingement tube may be inserted via the insertion aperture into the aerofoil to be located within the aerofoil and extend at least in a span wise direction of the aerofoil. A protrusion section of the impingement tube may extend in a direction basically perpendicular to the span wise direction over an edge of the insertion aperture. The protrusion section may be overlapped by at least a part of the wall segment. Adjacent to the protrusion section, an overlap section of the impingement tube is arranged to abut the edge of the insertion aperture. The protrusion section and the overlap section may be formed integrally with each other in one piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Jonathan Mugglestone
  • Publication number: 20140119928
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a system having a turbomachine blade segment including a blade and a mounting segment coupled to the blade, wherein the mounting segment has a plurality of reinforcement pins laterally extending at least partially through a neck of the mounting segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andres Jose Garcia Crespo
  • Publication number: 20140109365
    Abstract: A method of constructing a composite component includes at least one of laterally and longitudinally aligning a material strip relative to a concavity of a layup tool, at least one of laterally and longitudinally extending the material strip to a predetermined location relative to the layup tool, wherein the material strip is substantially rectangular, and vertically abutting the material strip to the concavity of the layup tool, wherein the longitudinally extending the material strip includes at least one of (1) measuring a longitudinal distance of the material strip and (2) aligning a longitudinal end of the material strip with a longitudinal distance indicium and wherein the laterally extending the material strip includes at least one of (1) measuring a lateral distance of the material strip and (4) aligning a lateral end of the material strip with a lateral distance indicium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Drew Sutton, Loan Thanh Vo, Frank Bradley Stamps, Nolan Phillips
  • Publication number: 20140112797
    Abstract: A blade for a thermal turbomachine is provided. The blade has a blade airfoil having a first extent in a substantially radial orientation in relation to a rotational axis of the turbomachine and a second extent which is configured transversely with respect to the first extent, and comprising a blade root which adjoins the rotor blade and rounds off the rotor blade in the first extent. The blade has graphene at least in regions. A method for producing a blade of this type is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Detlef Haje
  • Patent number: 8701287
    Abstract: For shaping the leading edge (1) of blisk blades (2), the shape, amount and disposition of the material to be removed in a subsequent grinding and polishing process is determined beforehand over the entire blade length. The blade leading edge is milled such that an elliptical profile (3) has a material allowance (7) which over the length of the leading edge exactly corresponds to an expected material removal during the grinding and polishing process, so that a blisk blade is produced whose leading edge features an aerodynamically advantageous shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Liane Holze, Gregor Riedel
  • Publication number: 20140086748
    Abstract: A blade for a rotor of a wind turbine, said blade comprising a blade body element provided with a carrier surface to accommodate a heating element, an electrically conductive, elongated and substantially planar heating element disposed upon the carrier surface to extend longitudinally substantially along at least the leading edge of the blade preferably at least about 50% of the length of the blade, more preferably at least about 60% and most preferably at least about 70% respectively, an electrical power supplying conductor element located at one end of the heating element, the conductor element substantially extending over the width of the heating element on both sides thereof and electrically coupling thereto, and a joint structure comprising at least one electrically conductive joint element and substantially covering, on both sides of the heating element, the portions of the electrical conductor element that extend over the width of the heating element, wherein said blade preferably contains an instance
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Esa Peltola, Pauli Vuomajoki, Tomas Wallenius, Raimo Huuhtanen
  • Publication number: 20140086750
    Abstract: An enclosure for carrying an adjustable payload. The enclosure is beneficially used on a rotorcraft blade or other similar structure. The enclosure has a first element having a first flange and an upper element. The first element has an upper surface which has a first angle with respect to a lower surface of the first flange in a direction extending from an inboard direction to an outboard direction. The upper element has a lower surface which has a second angle with respect to an upper surface of said upper element in a direction extending from an inboard direction to an outboard direction, the lower surface being in contact with the upper surface of said first element, the second angle being in a direction which is opposite to the direction of said first angle. The first element and the upper element define a cavity for holding a payload.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Howard Cawthorne, Christopher James Cline, Dinesh Panneerselvam, Frank Joseph Gill, III, Russell Eddy Fay
  • Publication number: 20140086753
    Abstract: A method of reinforcing a mechanical part, for example a turbine engine part, the part being made by assembling together two portions, the method including: inserting reinforcing mechanisms of elongate shape at least in part in at least one recess formed in one of the portions and opening out into a junction surface between the portions; and assembling the two portions together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Gilles Charles Casimir Klein, Jean-Michel Patrick Maurice Franchet, Gilbert Michel Marin Leconte, Dominique Magnaudeix
  • Publication number: 20140079539
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a turbine blade of a gas turbine with an airfoil arranged on a blade root and having at least one cooling air duct running in the longitudinal direction of the turbine blade, arranged inside the turbine blade and extending through the blade root, characterized in that at least one swirl-generating element is arranged in the transitional area between blade root and airfoil in the cooling air duct, with the swirl-generating element including an outer ring and several swirl-generating stator vanes arranged thereon, which are connected to a centric area, as well as to a method for its manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Knut LEHMANN, Tijana FILIPOVA
  • Publication number: 20140072443
    Abstract: A turbine engine blade of composite material comprising fiber reinforcement obtained by multilayer weaving of yarns and densified by a matrix. The blade has a first portion constituting an airfoil forming a single piece with at least one second portion constituting a blade root. The fiber reinforcement portions corresponding to the first and second portions of the blade are mutually interleaved, at least in part, with yarns of the second fiber reinforcement portion penetrating into the first fiber reinforcement portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: HERAKLES
    Inventors: Julien Mateo, Clement Roussille, David Marsal, Gilles Ansorena, Ivan Herraiz
  • Publication number: 20140072448
    Abstract: A system includes at least one gas turbine blade that includes at least one recess disposed in a surface of the at least one gas turbine blade. The system also includes a porous insert that includes multiple pores that enable a cooling fluid to flow through the porous insert. The system further includes a cover plate, wherein the porous insert is disposed within the at least one recess, and the cover plate is disposed over the porous insert to enclose the porous insert within the at least one recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Prue, Jesse Blair Butler
  • Patent number: 8661669
    Abstract: A ducted fan gas turbine engine aerofoil is made by electron beam welding together at least two metal sheets (10) and (12) and electron beam welding that sub assembly via an end to a root that has been manufactured in a separate operation, and then heating the whole to a temperature that will convert the electron beam welds to diffusion bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Ian J. Andrews, David Rugg, Michael J. Wallis