Multi-part modular airfoil section and method of attachment between parts

26 Pages·2013·2.04 MB·English

US008529212B2
(12) United States Patent (10) Patent N0.2 US 8,529,212 B2
Smith et a]. (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 10, 2013
(54) MULTI-PART MODULAR AIRFOIL SECTION 6,237,873 B1 5/2001 Amakoa et a1.
AND METHOD OF ATTACHMENT BETWEEN 6,244,821 B1 * 6/2001 Boyd e? a1~
PARTS 6,790,004 B2 9/2004 Stelnhelser ................... .. 416/65
6,939,108 B2 9/2005 Boyd
_ _ 7,182,293 B2 2/2007 Sarh
(75) Inventors: J. Carey Smlth, Lexlngton, KY (US); 7,252,473 B2 3/2007 Aynsley
Richard W. Fizer, Lexington, KY (U S); 7,284,960 B2 * 10/2007 Aynsley .................. .. 416/223 R
Richard M_ Aynsley Doonan (AU)~ 7,399,159 B2 7/2008 Matheny et a1.
- ’ - ’ D587,799 s 3/2009 Oleson
R‘chard A‘ Oleson’ Lexmgton’ KY (Us) 2007/0140859 A1 * 6/2007 Schreiber et a1. ....... .. 416/223 R
(73) Assignee: Delta T Corporation, Lexington, KY (Continued)
(Us) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this W0 WO 2009/100052 8/2009
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 OTHER PUBLICATIQNS
U.S.C. 154(b) by 884 days.
US. Appl. No. 61/175,210, ?led May 4, 2009, Oleson et a1.
NO . U.S. Appl. NO. 61/248,158, ?led Oct. 2, 2009, Aynsley et a1.
. .. ,
(22) F1_ led: Oct. 28, 2009 (Continued)
_ _ _ Primary Examiner * Nathaniel Wiehe
(65) Pnor Pubhcatlon Data Assistant Examiner * Adam W BroWn
US 2010/0104461 A1 Apr. 29, 2010 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm i King & Schickli, PLLC
Related US. Application Data (57) ABSTRACT
(60) Provisional application NO_ 61/109,220, ?led On Oct A fan system includes a motor, a rotatable hub, and a plurality
29s 2008_ of fan blades. Each of the fan blades includes a substantially
rigid spine member, a resilient leading edge member, and a
51 I nt. C] . res1' l'1 enttra1' 1ln' ged g e memb er. The1 ea d1'n ged g e mem b er an d
F 033 3/12 (2006.01) trailing edge members are removably coupled With the spine
(52) US, Cl, member, such that different leading edge members and dif
USPC ........................................................ .. 416/226 ferem trailing edge members may be chosen to customize the
(58) Field of Classi?cation Search leading and trailing edges of the fan blades. Each fan blade
USPC ...... .. 416/226, 228, 229 R, 224, 62; 415/912 may have more than Onetype Of leading edge member Ormere
See application ?le for complete search history. than one type of trailing edge memben The leading edge
member and trailing edge member may each be coupled With
(56) References Cited the spine member by urging the leading edge member and
trailing edge member in a direction that is substantially per
US. PATENT DOCUMENTS pendicular to the longitudinal axis de?ned by the spine mem
ber.
4,275,993 A 6/1981 Sprengling
4,295,790 A * 10/1981 Eggert, Jr. ................... .. 416/226
6,183,201 B1* 2/2001 Maby ...................... .. 416/170R 21 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
US 8,529,212 B2
Page 2
(56) References Cited 2009/0162197 A1 6/2009 Klemo et al.
2009/0208333 A1 8/2009 Smith et al.
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS OTHER PUBLICATIONS
2008/0008596 A1 1/2008 Aynsley International Search Report dated Feb. 3, 2010 for Application No.
2008/0014090 A1 1/2008 Aynsley et al. PCT/US2009/062326.
2008/0213097 A1 9/2008 Oleson et al. Written Opinion dated May 4, 2011 for Application No. PCT/
2009/0072108 A1 3/2009 Oleson US2009/062326.
2009/0081045 A1 3/2009 Scherer et al.
2009/0097975 A1 4/2009 Aynsley et al. * cited by examiner
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