General Electric Company

Phillip W Rambo

Richard Alan Wesling

Terry T Eckert

Nicholas Joseph Kray

Douglas Duane Ward

Gregory Carl Gemeinhardt

A method of manufacturing a rotor blade is provided. The method includes forming a preform from a plurality of composite plies, the preform including an airfoil portion and a dovetail portion, removing a cutout portion from the dovetail portion of the preform to define a cutout in the preform, wherein the removing the cutout portion facilitates reducing residual stresses in the preform, and inserting an insert into the cutout formed by the removal of the cutout portion.

Blade and method for manufacturing blade

A balancing assembly for a gas turbine hollow drive shaft is disclosed. The balance assembly includes an expandable balance weight carrier and a device for expanding the carrier inside the hollow drive shaft. In a preferred embodiment the carrier comprises a split ring with a plurality of apertures at which balance weights can be received. Combinations of balance weights can be located around the carrier ring to establish an imbalance correction on the carrier. The carrier can then be positioned inside the shaft and expanded against the shaft with the imbalance correction directed opposite the shaft imbalance.

Engine shaft balance assembly

A balancing assembly for a gas turbine hollow drive shaft is disclosed. The balance assembly includes an expandable balance weight carrier and means for expanding the carrier inside the hollow drive shaft. In a preferred embodiment the carrier comprises a split ring with a plurality of apertures at which balance weights can be received. Combinations of balance weights can be located around the carrier ring to establish an imbalance correction on the carrier. The carrier can then be positioned inside the shaft and expanded against the shaft with the imbalance correction directed opposite the shaft imbalance.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Phillip W Rambo