DEVICE FOR MOULDING A BLADED PART OF A  TURBOMACHINE

A device for moulding at least one bladed part of a turbomachine, including a base, a mould formed from several parts that are interlocked with each other, this mould being applied to the base and first sealing means being mounted between the mould and the base, a bell-shaped dome mounted on the mould and around the mould, this bell-shaped dome being applied to the base and second sealing means being mounted between the bell-shaped dome and the base, this bell-shaped dome being configured to be held clamped against the base and including inner surfaces cooperating by corner effect with complementary outer surfaces of the mould in order to apply a clamping force on the parts of this mould.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for moulding a bladed part of a turbomachine, as well as to a method using this device.

BACKGROUND

The use of composite materials is advantageous in the aeronautical industry in particular because these materials have interesting mechanical performances for relatively low masses.

One process for manufacturing a composite part for the aeronautical industry, which is well known to the person skilled in the art, is the RTM process, the initials of which refer to the acronym of Resin Transfer Molding.

This is a process for producing a part from a composite material based on resin-impregnated fibres. Such a process is used, for example, to manufacture a turbomachine bladed part such as a fan blade or a rectifier blade.

An RTM process comprises several successive steps.

Firstly, fibres are woven together to obtain a three-dimensional preform blank, then the blank is cut to obtain a preform that has substantially the shape of the bladed part to be obtained. This preform is then placed in a mould, which is closed.

In the current technique, this mould has two successive functions or uses. Firstly, the mould is used to shape the preform by hot pressing. It is thus put under a press and in an oven in order to compress the preform and make it rigid.

The mould is then used to inject the resin into the preform for impregnation. The resin is injected through a supplying port of the mould, which is then placed in an oven to polymerise the resin and harden it.

The bladed part is then removed from the mould and can undergo various successive operations, including finishing.

It is advantageous to use a single mould to carry out the two stages of shaping and injecting the resin. However, the disadvantage of this technology is that the mould cannot be specifically adapted and optimised for one of these steps since it must also be suitable for carrying out the other step.

Furthermore, this mould is not suitable for carrying out other functions such as the co-injection of a metal shield on a leading edge of the bladed part.

The composite material of the bladed part is relatively fragile, and in particular sensitive to impact, and it is known to protected it by means of a metal shield which is fitted and secured to the leading edge of the bladed part.

The shield can be secured to the blade in several ways. A first way is to bond the shield to the bladed part after polymerization of the resin.

A second way of securing a shield to a bladed part consists of attaching the shield by co-moulding with the fibrous preform. The preform is placed in the mould and the shield is positioned on the edge of the preform intended to form the leading edge of the blade. The injected resin impregnates the preform and comes into contact with the shield to ensure its securing to the blade after polymerisation and hardening.

The above-mentioned mould in the current technique is not suitable for the co-injection and the co-moulding of the shield.

In addition, this mould comprises a large number of parts that are movable relative to each other to perform the compression moulding. This assembly of the parts creates resin leakage during the injection, which results in a resin waste and requires a complete cleaning of the mould after use.

The present invention proposes a solution to these problems which consists in proposing a moulding device specifically adapted to the implementation of only one of the above-mentioned functions, namely here the resin injection into the preform, and which is suitable to concomitantly carry out the securing of a metal shield to this preform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for moulding at least one bladed part of a turbomachine, this device comprising at least one internal cavity configured to receive a fibrous preform, one edge of which is covered with a metal shield, and this device being configured to allow a resin to be injected into the cavity in order to impregnate said preform and to ensure that the shield is fixed to said edge, characterized in that it comprises:

a base,

a mould formed from several parts that are interlocked with each other, this mould defining said cavity and being configured to enclose said preform integrally, this mould being applied to the base and first sealing means being mounted between the mould and the base,

a bell-shaped dome mounted on the mould and around the mould, this bell-shaped dome being applied to the base and second sealing means being mounted between the bell-shaped dome and the base, this bell-shaped dome being configured to be held clamped against the base and comprising inner surfaces cooperating by corner effect with complementary outer surfaces of the mould in order to apply a clamping force on the parts of said mould.

The moulding device is specifically designed and optimised to carry out the resin injection into the preform but also the co-injection of the edge of the preform which is covered by the metal shield, i.e. the securing of this shield on the preform.

The different parts of the mould allow to facilitate the assembly of the mould around the preform and the disassembly of the mould after injection and hardening of the resin. The bell-shaped dome covers the mould and is configured to hold the mould parts tightly together in order to limit, or even prevent, resin leakage between these parts. The base is sealingly connected to the mould and the bell-shaped dome, which prevents resin leakage between these parts, limits the resin waste, and allows the pressure to be maintained at the time of the injection, which is important for obtaining a good quality of the finished part (porosity).

The invention thus allows to optimise the method for moulding a bladed part by injecting resin into a preform equipped with a metal shield, in particular by reducing the resin waste and therefore the cost of manufacturing of the bladed part.

The fact of co-injecting the shield and the preform also allows to avoid an additional costly bonding step (autoclave cycle, more difficult pairing with a composite part than with a preform). This also allows a better final quality of the bonding because the part is injected “conformed” on the metal shield. It is also possible to carry out the co-moulding with polymerisation of an adhesive previously applied on the inner face of the shield to polymerise with the impregnating resin of the preform.

The use of the device for injecting the preform without its prior shaping also allows to considerably reduce the number of parts to make up the mould, thus facilitating the sealing and allowing resin savings.

The moulding device according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation from each other, or in combination with each other:

the base is generally parallelepipedal in shape and comprises a planar lower surface and an upper surface comprising a central recess for mounting and engaging a lower end of said mould; the base is for example configured to be extended horizontally in use;

the base comprises around said recess a first peripheral groove for housing said first sealing means and a second peripheral groove for housing said second sealing means;

the mould has a general truncated pyramid shape and comprises four inclined outer side surfaces connected to the four corners of a planar outer upper surface;

the bell-shaped dome comprises an internal space for housing the mould, this space comprising four inner side surfaces which are inclined in a complementary manner to the outer surfaces of the mould, and which are also connected to the four corners of a planar inner bottom surface of the bell-shaped dome, the side surfaces and the bottom surface of the space of the bell-shaped dome being intended to be supported on the side surfaces and the upper surface of the mould respectively; the sliding of the surfaces of the bell-shaped dome on the surfaces of the mould ensures the clamping of the parts of the mould by corner effect;

the mould comprises a lower shell which forms a lower end of the mould and a first side of the mould, this lower shell defining a lower portion of said cavity, and this first side being intended to be located at a leading edge of the bladed part and defining with the lower shell a groove configured to receive said shield; the mould is thus optimised to receive the metal shield and to ensure its fixing to the preform via the resin, or even with an additional adhesive;

the mould comprises a side shell which forms a second side of the mould, this second side being opposite the first side and intended to be located at a trailing edge of the bladed part;

the mould comprises an upper shell which forms an upper end of the mould and which defines an upper portion of said cavity;

the upper shell comprises a first inclined surface intended to cooperate with a first surface complementary to the lower shell, and a second inclined surface intended to cooperate with a second surface complementary to the side shell, said first and second surfaces of the upper shell being located on two opposite sides of the shell and being inclined in a manner opposite to the inclination of at least some of said inner surfaces of the bell-shaped dome; the inner surfaces of the bell-shaped dome may be inclined in four different directions; the surfaces of the upper shell may themselves be inclined in two directions opposite each other and opposite one of the inner surfaces of the bell-shaped dome; the sliding of the surfaces of the upper shell on the surfaces of the lower shell and the side shell ensures the clamping of the mould parts by corner effect;

said first surface extends to the level of said groove.

said cavity comprises a blade area and two platform areas, the blade area extending between the two platform areas;

the mould further comprises a first end shell intended to be located at one of the platform areas of the cavity, and to define at least a portion of this area;

the mould comprises a second end shell intended to be located at the other of the platform areas of the cavity, and define at least a portion of this area ;

the first and second end shells each comprise at least two parts between which is defined at least a portion of the corresponding platform area;

the parts of each of the first and second end shells are mounted on the lower shell or even on the side shell and interposed between uprights of the lower shell and the side shell;

the lower shell defines a lower portion of one of the platform areas of the cavity, and a spacer is fitted on the lower shell to define a lower portion of the other of the platform areas of the cavity; this allows or facilitates the demoulding;

the base and/or the bell-shaped dome comprises at least one resin injection port;

the bell-shaped dome is made in one part, or in two parts namely a belt and a cover;

The present invention also relates to a method of moulding at least one turbomachine bladed part by means of a moulding device as described above, characterised in that it comprises the steps of:

a) mounting a preform in the cavity of the mould as well as a metal shield disposed on an edge of this preform,

b) closing the moulding device by enclosing the mould between the base and the bell-shaped dome,

c) pressing the moulding device so as to clamp the mould between the bell-shaped dome and the base, and possibly also to heat the device, and

d) injecting resin into the moulding device to impregnate the preform and secure the shield to this preform.

The bladed part can then be demoulded.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is first made toFIG. 1which illustrates a composite material bladed part10for a turbomachine, this bladed part10being for example a fan vane or a rectifier blading for example of a secondary flow in the case of a turbofan engine.

The bladed part10comprises a blade12. In the illustrated case where the part10is a fan blade, this blade12is connected by a stilt14to a root16which has, for example, a dovetail shape and is shaped so as to be engaged in a recess with a shape complementary to a rotor disc, in order to retain the vane on this disc.

In the alternative case where the part10is a rectifier blade, the blade12extends between two platforms16a,16bwhich extend substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to an axis of elongation of the blade12.

The blade12comprises a leading edge12aand a trailing edge12bof the gases flowing into the turbomachine. The blade12has a curved or twisted aerodynamic profile and comprises a pressure side18and a suction side20extending between the leading edge12aand trailing edge12b.

The blade12is made from a fibrous preform obtained by three-dimensional weaving of fibres, for example carbon.

The leading edge12aof the blade is reinforced and protected by a metal shield22which is secured to this leading edge12a. The shield22is for example made of a nickel and cobalt based alloy.

In the present invention, this securing is achieved by co-moulding the preform with the shield22by means of a moulding device30, a first embodiment of which is shown inFIGS. 2 to 15.

The moulding device30is shown in its entirety inFIG. 2. In the example shown, it has a generally parallelepipedal shape.

FIGS. 3 and 4represent cross-sectional views of the device30and show that it comprises at least one internal cavity32configured to receive the fibrous preform and the shield22of the bladed part10to be made.

In the example shown, this bladed part10is a rectifier blading. It can thus be seen that the cavity32essentially comprises three portions or areas, a blade area Z1intended to receive the part of the preform forming the blade12of the bladed part10, and two platform areas Z2, Z3intended to receive the parts of the preform forming the platforms16a,16bof the bladed part10.

The cavity32is further configured to receive the metal shield22which is previously disposed on the edge of the preform intended to form the leading edge12aof the blade12.

The moulding device30is configured to allow the injection of a thermosetting resin into the cavity32in order to impregnate the preform and to ensure the securing of the shield22on this resin-impregnated preform. The securing can be achieved either directly by the resin acting as an adhesive or by an added adhesive film.FIG. 4shows a resin injection port34which is located on one side of the device, and this device30preferably also comprises a port36which allows the evacuation of excess resin and also to draw the vacuum and to avoid the air trapping in the cavity (porosity). This port36is for example located at an upper end of the device.

The moulding device30comprises essentially three components, namely a base38, a mould40and a bell-shaped dome42.

The base38forms a support and has a generally parallelepipedal shape in the example shown. The base38is shown alone inFIG. 5.

The base38comprises a planar lower surface38awhich may be applied directly to a planar and horizontal support surface or may be supported on a plate of a press.

The base38further comprises an upper surface38bcomprising a central recess44for mounting and engaging a lower end40aaof the mould40. This recess44has a generally rectangular or parallelepipedal shape.

The base38comprises around the recess44a first peripheral groove46afor housing first sealing means, and a second peripheral groove46bfor housing second sealing means. These sealing means are, for example, elastomer seals which each form a closed loop. It can be seen that the groove46aextends around and adjacent to the recess44and that the groove46bextends between the groove and the outer peripheral edge of the base38.

The bell-shaped dome42is particularly visible inFIGS. 2 to 4. As its name suggests, this element is bell-shaped dome-shaped and can be considered as comprising a peripheral belt42aand a cover42bcovering this belt.

In the embodiment ofFIGS. 2 to 15, the bell-shaped dome42is formed in one part, whereas in the alternative embodiment ofFIG. 16, the bell-shaped dome42is formed in two parts by assembling a belt42aand a cover42b.

The bell-shaped dome42is configured to be mounted on the mould40and around the mould40. It is further configured to bear in a sealed manner on the base38and to bear on the mould40by exerting a pressure force on the latter by a corner effect.

In the example shown, the bell-shaped dome42is externally shaped like a parallelepiped with dimensions in width and length comparable to those of the base38, so that when the bell-shaped dome42is placed on the base38, their side faces are substantially aligned in pairs (seeFIG. 2). The bell-shaped dome42has a thickness greater than that of the base38. The bell-shaped dome42has a planar upper surface42cwhich can bear on a jaw or other plate of a press.

The sealing between the bell-shaped dome42and the base38is ensured by the sealing means located in the groove46b. For this purpose, the lower end of the bell-shaped dome42bears on these sealing means which are thus clamped during the assembly between the bell-shaped dome42and the base38.

The bell-shaped dome42comprises an internal space48for housing the mould40. This space48opens onto a lower surface at the lower end of the bell-shaped dome42.

The space48defines a truncated pyramid-shaped volume. The space48thus comprises four inner side surfaces48a,48b,48c,48dwhich are inclined and which are also connected to the four corners of a planar inner bottom surface48eof the bell-shaped dome48. The surface48eis here rectangular. The side surfaces48a,48b,48c,48deach have a generally trapezoidal shape.

The side surfaces48a,48bare located on two opposite sides of the bell-shaped dome42and at the platform areas Z2, Z3of the cavity32(seeFIG. 4). The side surfaces48c,48dare located on two opposite sides of the bell-shaped dome42and at the leading edge12aand trailing edge12bof the blade12(seeFIG. 3).FIG. 4shows that the aforementioned injection port34opens onto the surface48a, in the vicinity of the lower end of the bell-shaped dome42.

The inner surfaces48a,48b,48c,48dand48eof the bell-shaped dome42are intended to bear on complementary surfaces of the mould40in order to apply by corner effect a clamping and holding force to the mould40which is carried out by the assembly of several parts.

The mould40has a general shape of a truncated pyramid and comprises four outer side surfaces40a,40b,40c,40dinclined and connected to the four corners of a planar outer upper surface40e. The surface40eis rectangular here. The side surfaces40a,40b,40c,40deach have a generally trapezoidal shape.

The side surfaces40a,40bare located on two opposite sides of the mould40and at the platform areas Z2, Z3of the cavity32(seeFIG. 4). The side surfaces40c,40dare located on two opposite sides of the mould40and at the leading edge12aand trailing edge12bof the blade12(seeFIG. 3).

As can be seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, the surfaces48a,48bof the bell-shaped dome42are substantially complementary to the surfaces40a,40band intended to cooperate by sliding and abutting with these surfaces40a,40bwhen the bell-shaped dome42is mounted on the mould40. The surfaces48c,48dof the bell-shaped dome42are substantially complementary to the surfaces40c,40dand intended to cooperate by sliding and abutting with these surfaces40c,40dwhen the bell-shaped dome42is mounted on the mould40. The surface48eof the bell-shaped dome42is intended to bear on the surface40ewhen the bell-shaped dome42is mounted on the mould40.

The lower end40aaof the mould40is engaged in the recess44of the base38and comprises a complementary shape to be engaged by male-female interlocking and in this recess. The lower end40aaof the mould40thus comprises a lower boss50(seeFIGS. 3, 4 and 6) which has a complementary shape to the recess44. The lower end40aaof the mould40comprises a peripheral surface52which extends around the boss50and is intended to bear on the sealing means located in the groove46aof the base38.

The mould40is obtained by assembling several parts to facilitate its assembly around the preform and the shield22and to facilitate, in particular, the demoulding of the bladed part10after the resin injected into the mould40has hardened.

The parts of the mould40are here formed by shells or shell elements which are interlocked with each other to define the cavity32. As can be seen in the drawings, the cavity32is entirely delimited by the mould40, meaning that the mould40is configured to fully enclose the preform and the shield22.

In the non-limiting example shown, the mould40comprises essentially five shells, namely:

a lower shell54,

a side shell56,

two end shells58,60, and

an upper shell62.

The lower shell54is shown alone inFIG. 6and mounted on the base38inFIG. 7. This shell54forms the lower end40aaof the mould40, which comprises the boss50, as well as a first side57of the mould, namely that which comprises the surface40clocated on the side of the leading edge12aof the blade12and thus of the shield22.

The lower shell54defines a lower part of the cavity32as well as a groove64of this cavity which is shaped to receive the metal shield22. This groove64is located at the junction of the lower end40aaand the first side57of the mould40. To this end, the lower end40aaof the mould comprises an upper surface66having a convex curved shape in cross-section (seeFIG. 3) intended to be located on the side of the pressure side18of the blade12. The first side57of the mould comprises an inclined surface68extending from down upwards from an edge of the surface66. The intersection of the surfaces66,68forms the aforementioned groove64.

It can be seen fromFIG. 3that the surface68is located on the side of the surface40cof the mould and the surface48cof the bell-shaped dome42and that this surface68is inclined in a manner opposite to the inclination of the surfaces40c,48c. In the example shown, the surfaces40c,48c, on the one hand, and the surface68, on the other hand, converge towards the upper end of the moulding device30.

It can be seen fromFIGS. 4 and 7that the surface66is connected at the platform areas Z2, Z3of the cavity32to the end surfaces70which are substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the surface66.

The lower shell54defines at least a lower portion of each of the platform areas Z2, Z3of the cavity32. One of the surfaces70may be formed directly on the shell54(on the left hand side inFIG. 4) and the other of the surfaces70(on the right hand side inFIG. 3) may be formed by a spacer72fitted to the lower shell54to facilitate the removal of the bladed part10from the mould, particularly when it has a complex shape or conformation.

The side shell56is visible inFIGS. 3, 10 and 11in particular and forms a second side74of the mould40, namely that which comprises the surface40dlocated on the side of the trailing edge12bof the blade12.

The side shell56is mounted on and interlocked to the lower shell54and comprises at its lower end a complementary shape (with steps76-seeFIG. 3) of a part of the mould.

The side shell56comprises an inclined surface78which extends from down upwards from the steps76. The intersection of the steps76and the surface78forms a sharp ridge79which is configured to be positioned along an edge of the surface66and at the trailing edge12bof the blade12. The surface78thus extends upwardly from the surface66.

It can be seen fromFIG. 3that the surface78is located on the side of the surface40dof the mould and the surface48dof the bell-shaped dome42and that this surface78is inclined opposite to the inclination of the surfaces40d,48d. In the example shown, the surfaces40d,48don the one hand and the surface78on the other hand converge towards the upper end of the moulding device30.FIG. 3further shows that the surfaces68and78have reversed inclinations.

The upper shell62forms the upper end of the mould40, which comprises the surface40e. The shell62defines an upper part of the cavity32. For this purpose, the lower end of the shell62comprises a lower surface80having a concave curved shape in cross-section (seeFIG. 3) intended to be located on the suction side20of the blade12, and to extend from the trailing edge12bof the blade12to the leading edge12aand the metal shield. This surface80extends between two inclined side surfaces82,84which are complementary to the surfaces68,78and intended to cooperate by sliding and abutting with these surfaces during the assembly of the mould40. In the assembled position, the upper shell62bears on upper ends of the lower shell54and the side shell56(FIG. 3).

The surfaces82,84of the upper shell62are located at the sides of the mould40comprising the surfaces40cand40d. At the other two sides of the mould comprising the surfaces40aand40b, the upper shell comprises end surfaces86substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the upper surface40eof the mould. As can be seen inFIG. 4, the surfaces86are aligned with the surfaces70when the mould40is assembled.

The end shells58,60are intended to delimit the platform areas Z2, Z3of the cavity32with a part of the lower shell54and of the spacer72(FIG. 4).

A first end shell58located on the left inFIG. 4comprises the surface40aand is formed by the assembly of two parts58a,58bdelimiting between them a portion of the platform area Z2.

A first of the parts58ais mounted between the upper shell62and a portion of the platform16a. This first part58acomprises a surface58a1complementary to the surface86and intended to cooperate by sliding with the latter during the assembly of the mould. This first part58aalso comprises a surface58a2delimiting a portion of the platform area Z1(seeFIG. 14).

The second part58bis mounted between the part58aand the bell-shaped dome42and comprises the aforementioned surface40a. The second part58bfurther comprises a surface58b1delimiting a side of the platform area Z1, opposite the blade12. It can be seen fromFIG. 14that the platform area Z1is delimited by the surface58b1, on one side, and by the surfaces70and58a2, on the other side.

The parts58a,58bare interlocked with each other by complementary shapes and are furthermore interposed between the first side57of the lower shell54and the side shell56. More specifically, as can be seen inFIGS. 11 to 13, the parts58a,58bare engaged between uprights88,90of the lower shell54and the side shell56. The parts58a,58bmay be mounted by sliding between these uprights by rail-slide systems92.

The second end shell60located to the right hand side inFIG. 4comprises the surface40band is formed by the assembly of two parts60a,60bdelimiting between them a portion of the platform area Z3.

A first of the parts60ais mounted between the upper shell62and a portion of the platform16b. This first part60acomprises a surface60a1complementary to the surface86and intended to cooperate by sliding with the latter during the assembly of the mould. This first part60aalso comprises a surface60a2delimiting a portion of the platform area Z3.

The second part60bis mounted between the part60aand the bell-shaped dome42and comprises the aforementioned surface40b. The second part60bfurther comprises a surface60b1delimiting a side of the platform area, opposite the blade12. It can be seen fromFIG. 15that the platform area Z3is delimited by the surface60b1, on one side, and by the surface60a2and the surface70of the spacer72, on the other side.

The parts60a,60bare interlocked with each other by complementary shapes and are further interposed between the first side57of the lower shell54and the side shell56. More specifically, as can be seen inFIGS. 11 to 13, the parts60a,60bare engaged between uprights88,90of the lower shell54and the side shell56. The parts60a,60bmay also be mounted by sliding between these uprights by rail-slide systems92.

FIG. 16shows an alternative embodiment of the bell-shaped dome42already referred to in the foregoing, which is to produce it in two parts, a belt42awhich comprises the inner surfaces48a,48b,48cand48dand a cover42bwhich comprises the bottom surface48e. The dividing line between the cover42aand the belt42bcould advantageously be located so as to encapsulate the upper shell62, so as to keep it secured to the lower shell54of the mould and so that it does not remain blocked in the bell-shaped dome42during the demoulding.

FIG. 17illustrates another alternative embodiment, this time of the mould40, in which the lower shell54may also comprise an additional side (in addition to the side57). In other words, one of the end shells58,60of the mould, or even just a part such as the part60bor the part58b, could be integrated into the lower shell54.

In yet another alternative not shown, the cavity32could be shaped to accommodate several preforms for simultaneous production of several bladed parts, or several separate cavities for production of these bladed parts.

The present invention also relates to a method for moulding at least one bladed part of a turbomachine by means of the moulding device30.

This method comprises in particular the steps of:

a) mounting the preform in the cavity32of the mould40as well as the metal shield22disposed on an edge of this preform,

b) closing the moulding device30by enclosing the mould40between the base38and the bell-shaped dome40,

c) pressing the moulding device30so as to clamp the mould40between the bell-shaped dome42and the base38, and

d) injecting resin into the moulding device30to impregnate the preform and secure the shield22to this preform.

The step a) is illustrated inFIGS. 8 to 13.

InFIG. 8, the preform is disposed on the lower shell54of the mould40so that its pressure side18bears on the surface66and its edge equipped with the metal shield22is located in the groove64. Parts of the platforms16a,16bthen bear on the surfaces70.

InFIG. 9, positioning members91are disposed on the base38at the level of the platforms16a,16bso as to hold in place blocks or layers94or woven preform, which are added on the surfaces of the platforms opposite the blade12. These blocks or layers94are particularly visible inFIGS. 14 and 15. These blocks or layers may be made of three-dimensionally interwoven fibre laps like the rest of the preform. InFIG. 14, the block or the layer94is disposed between, sacrificial (machined) or non-sacrificial glass folds, located on the left hand side of the drawing, for the resistance to galvanic corrosion or friction for example, and 3D woven carbon which composes the blade of the preform, with continuity of the fibres in the radius, located on the right hand side of the drawing.

InFIG. 10, the side shell56is mounted on the lower shell54and allows to wedge the trailing edge12bof the preform.

The parts58a,60aof the end shells58,60are mounted between the uprights88,90inFIG. 11, then the upper shell62is mounted between these parts58a,58band on the preform inFIG. 12. Its lower surface80then bears on the suction side20of the blade12.

The parts58b,60bof the end shells58,60are then mounted between the uprights88,90inFIG. 13.

The step b) is illustrated inFIG. 2and consists of capping the mould40with the bell-shaped dome42which bears on the mould40and the base38. The closure of the device by the bell-shaped dome42allows the parts of the mould to be positioned in relation to each other, to be pressed against each other, and to ensure that the preform is compacted to a predetermined thickness.

The device30is pressed in the step d) to clamp the shells54,56,58,60,62of the mould40against each other, and the resin is injected into the cavity32in the step d). The resin injection may be carried out by pre-heating the device30to a predetermined temperature in order to fluidise the resin. Once the resin is fully injected, it is heated again to a curing temperature and to activate the polymerisation of the resin and its hardening.

The device according to the invention is advantageous in that it is adapted and optimised for the resin injection into the preform and the simultaneous co-moulding of the shield. Furthermore, the dissociation of the mould from the base and the bell-shaped dome allows the use of several mould configurations for the same bell-shaped dome and the same base, the different mould configurations differing from one another in the shape and the dimensions of the internal cavities32for example. A device according to the invention can thus be used for the manufacture of several different bladed parts using the appropriate moulds for these parts.