Patent ID: 11858615
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  F  Y | IPC B  F

Claim 14:
15. A rotating airfoil assembly comprising:
a rotation axis;
a plurality of rotating airfoils connected to each other to rotate about the rotation axis, each rotating airfoil of the plurality of rotating airfoils including:
(i) a leading edge;
(ii) a trailing edge;
(iii) a suction surface between the leading edge and the trailing edge;
(iv) a pressure surface between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the pressure surface being positioned on an opposite side of the rotating airfoil from the suction surface such that, when air flows over the suction surface and the pressure surface of the rotating airfoil as the rotating airfoil rotates about the rotation axis, the rotating airfoil generates lift;
(v) at least one opening on one of the suction surface or the pressure surface, the at least one opening being configured to eject air; and
(vi) a conduit formed in the rotating airfoil and fluidly connected to the at least one opening; and

a manifold, the conduit of each of the rotating airfoils being fluidly connected to the manifold;
an air source fluidly coupled to the manifold and configured to supply the manifold with air; and
a flow control assembly positioned to control the flow of air from the manifold into the conduit of each rotating airfoil and selectively eject air from the at least one opening as each airfoil rotates about the rotation axis,
wherein the flow control assembly includes a plurality of flow control valves, a flow control valve of the plurality of the flow control valves being located in the conduit of each of the rotating airfoils to control the flow of air from the manifold to the at least one opening.