Patent ID: 9157327
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: C25D,F01D,F04D,F05D,Y02T,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A blade comprising: an airfoil portion formed from a monolithic first metallic material, the airfoil portion having a forward airfoil edge, a first airfoil surface, and a second airfoil surface, each airfoil surface extending from proximate a platform to proximate a blade tip edge; a sheath portion formed from a second metallic material, the sheath portion having a solid sheath head section, a first sheath flank and a second sheath flank, the solid sheath head section extending chordwise forwardly from the forward airfoil edge, and both flanks extending chordwise rearwardly from a junction of the sheath head section and the forward airfoil edge such that the sheath head section defines a thickness of the blade forward of the forward airfoil edge up to and including a blade leading edge continuously from proximate the platform and terminating proximate the blade tip edge; and a dielectrically protective nylon-based scrim sheet disposed between the sheath portion and the airfoil portion; wherein the first metallic material is an aluminum alloy; wherein the sheath portion is a single piece bonded to the airfoil portion such that the sheath head section covers the forward airfoil edge; the first sheath flank covers a portion of the first airfoil surface proximate the airfoil forward edge, jointly defining a blade suction surface; and the second sheath flank covers a portion of the second airfoil surface proximate the airfoil forward edge, jointly defining a blade pressure surface opposite the blade suction surface; and wherein a chordwise dimension of the sheath head section is at least 3% of a chordwise blade dimension in an inner span region, and at least 8% of a chordwise blade dimension in a distal span region.