Rotor Blade Retainer for Open Fan Engine Pitch Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing open fan engine systems face challenges in retaining rotor blades effectively, particularly as they rotate and adjust pitch, leading to potential disengagement and loss of control.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a retainer mechanism within the cowling that engages a flange on the rotor blade, ensuring retention by hooking into rings or apertures, allowing for pitch adjustment while maintaining engagement with the engine system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If rotor blades are allowed to rotate and adjust pitch freely, then operational flexibility and control are improved, but the risk of blade disengagement and loss of retention increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepitch adjustment capabilityVSAvoidblade retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A retainer mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotor blade and the engine system. The retainer includes a flange that engages with the rotor blade and a retention feature that hooks onto a corresponding feature on the blade, creating a reliable connection that allows pitch adjustment while preventing disengagement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The retainer mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than rigidly fixed. The retention feature allows for controlled movement and pitch adjustment while maintaining engagement, enabling the system to adapt to operational requirements while ensuring blade retention throughout the range of motion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a retainer mechanism is added to ensure blade retention, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade retentionVSAvoidretainer mechanism structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a flange portion for mounting to the engine system, a retention feature for engaging the blade, and a structural body connecting these elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall design and manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9751616B1Methods and apparatus to retain a rotor blade

Publication Date: 2017.09.05 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

Methods and apparatus to retain a rotor blade are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a rotor blade coupled to a rotatable hub of an engine system. The rotor blade includes a root, a flange and a blade. The root and the flange are disposed inside a cowling, and the blade is disposed outside of the cowling. The example apparatus also includes a retainer disposed inside the cowling adjacent the flange. The flange is to engage the retainer to retain the rotor blade with the engine system.