US4589176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber-composite turbine blade and method for its construction
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1983-11-25
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Granted: 1986-05-20
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Expires: 2003-11-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method for constructing from fiber-composite material complex structures having two or more transversely disposed members. By way of example, a composite turbine blade 10 having an aerofoil 12 and an integrally formed footing 14 can be constructed using this new method, which method comprises the steps of forming from fiber-composite monotape a blank 40 in the general shape of aerofoil 12 with the fibers 18' of the monotape being oriented in a generally spanwise direction, exposing the fibers 18' at the root 42 of the aerofoil blank 40, inserting transversely between the exposed fibers 18' a plurality of foot-forming monotapes 17 to form a transversely meshed, tape and fiber structure 68, filling the voids in the transversely meshed structure with powdered matrix material and hot-pressing the filled-in structure 70 substantially according to the desired final shape of the fiber-composite turbine blade.
Inventors
- 👤 Irwin E. Rosman
- 👤 Jerhong Lin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:48
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D5/00; F01D5/12; F01D5/28; F01D5/282; B; B22; B22F; B22F5/00; B22F5/04; B23; B23P; B23P15/00; B23P15/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S29/00; Y10S29/029; Y10S29/031; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49316; Y10T29/49336; Y10T29/49337; Y10T29/49801; Y10T29/4998; Y10T29/49993
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of manufacturing a fiber-composite turbine blade comprising an aerofoil and an integrally formed footing, said method comprising the steps of: forming a blank in the general shape of said aerofoil with fiber-composite material, the fibers of said fiber-composite material being oriented in a substantially spanwise direction along said aerofoil blank, said aerofoil blank having a root; exposing said fibers at said root; forming a footing comprising a transversely meshed tape and fiber structure by transversely inserting a plurality of foot-forming fiber-composite tapes between said exposed fibers at said root; filling voids in said transversely meshed tape and fiber structure with filler matrix material; and compacting and bonding said filled structure to form said fiber-composite turbine blade.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of manufacturing a fiber-composite turbine blade comprising an aerofoil and an integrally formed footing, said method comprising the steps of: forming a blank in the general shape of said aerofoil with fiber-composite material, the fibers of said fiber-composite material being oriented in a substantially spanwise direction along said aerofoil blank, said aerofoil blank having a root; exposing said fibers at said root; forming a footing comprising a transversely meshed tape and fiber structure by transversely inserting a plurality of foot-forming fiber-composite tapes between said exposed fibers at said root; filling voids in said transversely meshed tape and fiber structure with filler matrix material; and compacting and bonding said filled structure to form said fiber-composite turbine blade.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of machining the exterior of said footing to a final shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inserting step is accomplished with a comb for parting said exposed fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said exposing step is accomplished by exposing fibers of said fiber-composite material prior to the step of forming said blank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fiber-composite turbine blade as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fiber-composite material comprises tungsten fiber-reinforced superalloy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A turbine blade manufactured according to the method as claimed in claim 4.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A fiber-composite turbine blade manufactured according to the method as claimed in claim 1.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of manufacturing a complex fiber-composite structure comprising a first member and an integrally formed transverse member, said transverse member being transverse to an axis of said first member, said method comprising the steps of: forming a blank in the general shape of said first member with fiber-composite material, the fibers of said blank-forming fiber-composite material being oriented in the general direction of said axis; exposing said fibers of said blank along a portion of said blank whereat said secondary member is to be integrally formed; forming a transversely meshed tape and fiber structure by transversely inserting a plurality of transverse-member-forming fiber-composite tapes between said exposed fibers; filling voids in said transversely meshed tape and fiber structure with filler matrix material; and compacting and bonding said filled structure substantially to the desired shape of said complex fiber-composite structure.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of manufacturing a complex fiber-composite structure comprising a first member and an integrally formed transverse member, said transverse member being transverse to an axis of said first member, said method comprising the steps of: forming a blank in the general shape of said first member with fiber-composite material, the fibers of said blank-forming fiber-composite material being oriented in the general direction of said axis; exposing said fibers of said blank along a portion of said blank whereat said secondary member is to be integrally formed; forming a transversely meshed tape and fiber structure by transversely inserting a plurality of transverse-member-forming fiber-composite tapes between said exposed fibers; filling voids in said transversely meshed tape and fiber structure with filler matrix material; and compacting and bonding said filled structure substantially to the desired shape of said complex fiber-composite structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said exposing step is accomplished by exposing fibers of said blank-forming fiber-composite material prior to the step of forming said blank.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-19 | 1989-11-18 | 1990-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-19 | 1993-11-18 | 1994-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-19 | 1997-11-18 | 1998-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |