Propeller blade assembly

Abstract

A propeller blade assembly having a propeller blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a tip edge extending between the leading and trailing edge, a replaceable guard selectively mountable to the propeller blade to cover at least the leading edge, and multiple fasteners selectively coupling the replaceable guard to the propeller blade.

1 . A propeller blade assembly, comprising:
 a propeller blade having front and rear surfaces bounded by a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a tip edge extending between the leading and the trailing edge;   a replaceable guard selectively mountable to the propeller blade to cover at least the leading edge; and   multiple fasteners selectively coupling the replaceable guard to at least one of the front and rear surfaces wherein at least one of the multiple fasteners does not extend beyond an exterior of the replaceable guard.   
     
     
         2 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 1  wherein the multiple fasteners operably couple the replaceable guard to the front and rear surfaces of the propeller blade. 
     
     
         3 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 2  wherein the multiple fasteners alternate between the front and rear surfaces along a length of the propeller blade. 
     
     
         4 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an insert bonded into a portion of the propeller blade and sized to receive one of the multiple fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the propeller blade further comprises a glass fiber block molded therein and wherein the insert is bonded into the block. 
     
     
         6 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 4  wherein at least one of the multiple fasteners comprises a rivet selectively receivable in the insert. 
     
     
         7 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a washer and wherein the replaceable guard is clamped between the washer and the insert when the rivet is received within the insert. 
     
     
         8 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 4  wherein at least one of the multiple fasteners comprises a screw that is at least partially threaded and sized to be threaded into the insert. 
     
     
         9 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a washer and wherein the replaceable guard is clamped between the washer and the insert when the screw is threaded into the insert. 
     
     
         10 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 1  wherein the propeller blade comprises a composite body. 
     
     
         11 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 1  wherein the replaceable guard comprises a backer layer and an erosion protection rubber layer. 
     
     
         12 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 1  wherein the replaceable guard covers at least the leading edge and the tip edge. 
     
     
         13 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 1  wherein the replaceable guard is multi-segmented. 
     
     
         14 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 13  wherein a first segment covers the leading edge and a second segment covers the tip edge. 
     
     
         15 . The propeller blade assembly of  claim 1  wherein all of the multiple fasteners do not extend beyond an exterior of the replaceable guard.