Ratier-figeac Sas

Kévin Le Meur

Ludovic Prunet

Patrice Brion

Patrick Moles

Fabien Ramirez

A blade pitch actuation mechanism comprising a rotating race member in which is formed a race configured to receive a trunnion pin attached to a blade, whereby the race defines a cam profile such that rotation of the race member causes the trunnion pin received in the race to rotate as it slides over the cam profile.

Blade pitch actuation mechanism

A method of making an aircraft blade is provided. The method comprises the steps of: assembling two or more fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composite parts into a blade assembly; and welding the fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composite parts together utilising an additional thermoplastic located at least at locations where the parts will abut when assembled. The additional thermoplastic has a melting or softening temperature lower than a melting temperature of each of the fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composite parts being assembled. The step of welding comprises heating the blade assembly to a temperature above the melting/softening temperature of the additional thermoplastic and below the melting temperature of each of the fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composite parts so as to melt/soften the additional thermoplastic and thereby weld the fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composite parts together to form the aircraft blade.

Aircraft blade and methods of forming and repairing an aircraft blade

A method of manufacturing a fabric structure for use in manufacturing a composite aircraft blade. The method comprises: combining yarns including both reinforcing material filaments and a matrix material with yarns of reinforcing material filaments and/or yarns including at least one filament of matrix material; or by combining yarns of reinforcing material filaments with yarns including at least one filament of matrix material; or by combining yarns each comprising both reinforcing material filaments and matrix material. Combining may comprise weaving, knitting or braiding. The matrix material may be a thermoplastic.

Method of manufacturing a composite aircraft blade

A method is disclosed for manufacture of a composite blade with an airfoil and a root, wherein the blade comprises a core of chopped fibre composite material and a textile composite material encasing the chopped fibre core. The method comprises: forming a blade insert using chopped fibre composite; surrounding the blade insert with a plurality of layers of a textile in a textile composite material; and thermoforming the blade insert and the surrounding textile composite material in a thermoforming mould in order to consolidate the part.

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Figeac, France

Kévin Le Meur