Patent ID: 9669570
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: B29C

Claim:
1. A method of injection molding a blade comprising a composite material, the method comprising: placing a blade fiber preform in a mold, the blade fiber preform being formed by weaving yarns and including a root portion having a first planar sloping face, a second planar sloping face, and a bottom planar face between the first and second sloping faces in a cross-sectional view, and an airfoil portion having a leading edge and a trailing edge; injecting a resin into the mold so as to impregnate the blade fiber preform; unmolding the blade after curing the resin; and subjecting the resin and the blade fiber preform to pressure inside the mold while the resin is curing, wherein the blade is free of pores, wherein the mold includes a resin injection hole facing the bottom planar face of the root portion and a vent hole facing a tip of the airfoil portion, a first gas injection hole facing the leading edge of the airfoil portion, and a second gas injection hole facing the trailing edge of the airfoil portion, and wherein the pressure is applied to the blade fiber preform by injecting a fluid under pressure into the mold via the first gas injection hole and the second injection hole.