The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 21, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 11, 1996
Blair A Smith, South Windsor, CT (US);
James Cook, Agawam, MA (US);
Joseph L Mattavi, Granby, CT (US);
Harry E Eaton, Woodstock, CT (US);
United Technologies Corporation, Hartford, CT (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for protecting the leading edge of an aerodynamic blade such as a propeller blade and more particularly to an apparatus for improving the maintainability of the leading edge protective sheath. In the preferred embodiment, a protective sheath made of a ductile material of sufficient hardness material such as titanium, stainless steel, nickel or a nickel alloy is attached to the leading edge of a propeller blade. The protective sheath has an interior surface that complements the leading edge of the underlying propeller blade material, while the exterior surface of the sheath is optimized to achieve an efficient dynamic profile for the propeller blade. The protective sheath is further modified so that a harder material such as ceramic can be secured to the surface of the protective sheath along its leading edge at the tip end of the propeller blade wherein erosion rates are highest.