General Electric Company

James Kenton Pullins

Mary Kathryn Thompson

Christopher David Barnhill

Travis Gene Sands

Mitchell Harold Boyer

Mark Dean Pezzutti

Stephanie Glynn Cotten

Kevin Daniel Gordin

A method for producing a component from two or more sub-components includes the steps of: producing each of the sub-components using an additive manufacturing process in which a resin, which is radiant-energy-curable, is partially cured using a selective application of radiant energy, wherein each sub-component includes a joint surface in which the resin is partially cured which is cured to a lesser degree than the remainder of the respective sub-component, so as to leave the joint surfaces in a condition suitable for bonding; assembling the sub-components with their respective joint surfaces in mutual contact; and performing a secondary cure of the partially-cured resin at the joint surfaces using an application of radiant energy, so as to further cure the partially-cured resin and bond the sub-components to each other, thereby forming the component.

Method of joining additively manufactured components

Composite fan blade platform includes forward and aft portions and transition portion therebetween. Platform mounting holes extend through increased section thickness in transition portion and conical countersinks centered about centerlines of mounting holes extend into transition portion. Bolts include bolt shanks extending away from boltheads through center bolt holes in conical load spreaders in conical countersink. Boltheads engage conical load spreader. Bolthead is disposed entirely within cylindrical counterbore into top of load spreader and engages shoulder at bottom of cylindrical counterbore. Radial gap between bolthead and cylindrical counterbore surface of cylindrical counterbore may be filled by filler or filler ring. Bolts may join platform supports to disk hooks attached, fixed or joined to, or integral with disk posts of disk. Nuts threaded on threaded inner end of bolt shank may secure bases attached to platform supports to fan blade platform.

Conical load spreader for composite bolted joint

Growing community of inventors

Madeira, OH, United States of America

James Kenton Pullins