公开(公告)号：US20190032491A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-31

申请号：US15658928

申请日：2017-07-25

Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Inventor： Jeffrey Nissen ,  Jared M. Paulson ,  Thomas S. Chiang

IPC: F01D5/14 ,  F01D5/00 ,  B64C11/26 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B22F3/00 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B29C73/04 ,  B22F5/04 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B23P6/00 ,  B23K15/00 ,  B23K26/342

Abstract: In a first aspect, there is a method of making a rotor blade, including designing at least one of an upper skin, a lower skin, a support network, and components therefor; and forming at least one of the upper skin, the lower skin, a support network, and components therefor using an additive manufacturing process. In a second aspect, there is an airfoil member having a root end, a tip end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, the airfoil member including an upper skin; a lower skin; and a support network having a plurality of interconnected support members in a lattice arrangement and/or a reticulated arrangement, the support network being configured to provide tailored characteristics of the airfoil member. Also provided are methods and systems for repairing an airfoil member.