Detachable leading edge for airfoils

Abstract

A replaceable leading edge insert for an: integrally bladed rotor disk in which the insert includes an enlarged base portion that can be inserted into a dovetail shaped slot formed in the rotor disk to secure the insert to the rotor disk against centrifugal loads during the operation of the blade. The blade on the rotor disk is formed without a leading edge and the leading edge insert includes an aft edge of similar shape to the fore edge n the blade such that the insert can be bonded or fastened to the blade along the entire length of the insert from the blade root to the tip. The rotor disk and the insert include a an annular groove formed on the front side in which a retaining ring is inserted to lock the inserts to the rotor disk. The inserts can be made of a different material from the rotor disk and can be formed with a sweep to form a more :aerodynamic and efficient blade.

1 . An integrally bladed rotor disk comprising:
 a rotor disk;   a blade extending from the rotor disk, the blade being without a leading edge;   a dovetail slot formed in the rotor disk; and,   a detachable leading edge insert forming the leading edge missing from the blade, the detachable leading edge including an attachment portion and the leading edge portion, the attachment portion having an enlarged base portion to fit within the dovetail slot and hold the detachable leading edge insert against centrifugal loads when the blade is in operation.   
   
   
       2 . The integrally bladed rotor disk of  claim 1 , and farther comprising:
 the detachable leading edge insert forms the leading edge for the blade from the blade root to the blade tip.   
   
   
       3 . The integrally bladed rotor disk of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 the blade includes a fore edge and the leading edge insert includes an aft edge; and,   the fore edge and the aft edge are secured together by a removable securing means so that the leading edge insert can he removed mid replaced.   
   
   
       4 . The integrally bladed rotor disk of  claim 3 , and further comprising;
 the fore edge and the aft edge form a lap type fit that extends substantially all along the leading edge portion from root to tip.   
   
   
       5 . The integrally bladed rotor disk of  claim 3 , and further comprising:
 the removable securing means is an adhesive applied along the interface between the leading edge insert and the blade.   
   
   
       6 . The integrally bladed rotor disk of  claim 3 , and further comprising:
 the removable securing means is at least one mechanical fastener.   
   
   
       7 . The integrally bladed rotor disk of  claim 1 , and farther comprising:
 the rotor disk and the attachment portion both include an annular groove on the forward side of the rotor disk; and,   a retaining ring inserted into the annular groove to lock the leading edge insert to the rotor disk.   
   
   
       8 . The integrally bladed rotor disk of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 the leading edge insert is made from a different material than the rotor disk.   
   
   
       9 . The integrally bladed rotor disk of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 the leading edge insert includes sweep for the blade.   
   
   
       10 . The integrally bladed rotor disk of  claim 4 , and further comprising:
 the lap type fit is longer on the pressure side of the blade than on the suction side.   
   
   
       11 . The integrally bladed rotor disk of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 the dovetail slot and the enlarged base portion are of such shape and size to allow for the leading edge insert to be inserted into position on the rotor disk form the front side of the rotor disk.   
   
   
       12 . The integrally bladed rotor disk of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 the rotor disk includes a plurality of integrally formed blades each without a leading edge portion;   the rotor disk includes a dovetail slot formed therein for each of the blades; and   a detachable leading edge insert with an enlarged base portion to fit within the dovetail slot for each of the blades.   
   
   
       13 . The integrally bladed rotor disk of  claim 12 , and further comprising:
 the rotor disk and the attachment portion of each insert both includes an annular groove on the forward side of the rotor disk; and,   a retaining ring inserted into the annular groove to lock the leading edge inserts into the rotor disk.   
   
   
       14 . A replaceable leading edge insert for an integrally bladed rotor disk, the integrally bladed rotor disk including a plurality of blades extending from the rotor disk, at least some of the blades being formed without a leading edge the replaceable leading edge insert comprising:
 a leading edge portion to form the leading edge for the blade;   an attachment portion with an enlarged base portion to secure the leading edge insert to the rotor disk against centrifugal loading during operation of the blade;   an the leading edge insert having an aft edge of similar shape to a fore edge on the blade such that the leading edge insert can be secured to the fore edge of the blade   
   
   
       15 . The replaceable leading edge insert of  claim 14 , and further comprising:
 the enlarged base portion is dovetail shaped.   
   
   
       16 . The replaceable leading edge insert of  claim 14 , and further comprising:
 the attachment portion of the insert including an annular groove for the insertion of a retaining ring to lock the insert to the rotor disk.   
   
   
       17 . The replaceable leading edge insert of  claim 14 , and further comprising:
 the leading edge insert includes a blade sweep shape.   
   
   
       18 . The replaceable leading edge insert of  claim 14  and further comprising:
 the aft edge of the leading edge insert is a lap type shape.   
   
   
       19 . The replaceable leading edge insert of  claim 18 , and further comprising:
 the lap type shape has a longer pressure side edge than the suction side edge in the chord wise direction of the blade.   
   
   
       20 . The replaceable leading edge insert of  claim 14 , and further comprising:
 the aft edge of the leading edge insert extends substantially along the entire insert from the root to the tip of the blade.