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US5156786A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for manufacuring fan blades

Assignee: Hudson Products Corp
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Filing: 1990-07-02
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Granted: 1992-10-20
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Expires: 2010-07-02
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Abstract

Abstract A method of molding a hollow fan blade in which a preform (preferably constructed of glass fibers) is used to support the upper multiple layers of to-be-impregnated cloth within a mold. As resin is injected into the mold, the cloth and the preform become impregnated thereby bonding the two together to form a single unit during the molding operation.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert C. Monroe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 17:23
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D99/00; B29D99/0025; B29D99/0028; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/40; B29C70/42; B29C70/44; B29C70/443; B29C70/446; B29C70/54; B29C70/541; B29C43/00; B29C43/32; B29C43/36; B29C43/3642; B29C2043/3649; B29C43/02; B29C43/10; B29C43/12; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 144 words
A method of manufacturing a hollow fan blade comprising the steps of: a. laying glass fiber cloths within a lower portion of a mold; b. placing a flexible inflatable bag on said cloths within said mold; c. inserting a semi rigid preform conforming to the shape of one side of the blade on top of said flexible bag, said preform being temporarily held together by a suitable resin binder; d. covering said preform with said cloths or additional cloths; e. closing said mold and inflating said flexible bag; f. injecting resin into said mold around said flexible bag thereby both impregnating said cloths and said preform and replacing said resin binder in said preform thereby bonding said cloths and said preform together into a single unit; and, g. curing the fan blade, deflating said flexible bag, and removing the fan blade from said mold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 144 words
A method of manufacturing a hollow fan blade comprising the steps of: a. laying glass fiber cloths within a lower portion of a mold; b. placing a flexible inflatable bag on said cloths within said mold; c. inserting a semi rigid preform conforming to the shape of one side of the blade on top of said flexible bag, said preform being temporarily held together by a suitable resin binder; d. covering said preform with said cloths or additional cloths; e. closing said mold and inflating said flexible bag; f. injecting resin into said mold around said flexible bag thereby both impregnating said cloths and said preform and replacing said resin binder in said preform thereby bonding said cloths and said preform together into a single unit; and, g. curing the fan blade, deflating said flexible bag, and removing the fan blade from said mold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of assembling said preform of glass fibers that are held together by said temporary resin binder which dissolves upon the bonding of said cloths and said preform.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said preform is constructed of chopped or continuous strand glass fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said preform is constructed of a glass fiber mat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fan blade is of hollow one-piece construction comprising both a neck portion and an air foil portion.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 55 words
A method of constructing hollow fan blades comprising the steps of: a. supporting glass fiber material within a mold upon a temporary preform; and, b. injecting said preform and said material with resin, said resin replacing the binder resin of said preform, thereby bonding said preform and said material together to form said fan blade.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 55 words
A method of constructing hollow fan blades comprising the steps of: a. supporting glass fiber material within a mold upon a temporary preform; and, b. injecting said preform and said material with resin, said resin replacing the binder resin of said preform, thereby bonding said preform and said material together to form said fan blade.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method as set forth in claim 6 further comprising the steps of assembling said preform of glass fibers that are held together by a temporary resin binder which dissolves during construction of said blade.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said preform is constructed of chopped or continuous strand glass fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said preform is constructed of a glass fiber mat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fan blade is of hollow one piece construction comprising both a neck portion and an air foil portion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-10-20 1996-04-20 1996-10-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-10-20 2000-04-20 2000-10-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-10-20 2004-04-20 2004-10-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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