Fan case for turbofan engine having a fan decoupler
US6364603B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/60
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A fan case for a turbofan engine having a fan including plurality of fan blades mounted to a rotor disk and a decoupler that fails in response to a predetermined load includes a substantially annular shell. The shell has a forward section, an intermediate section, and an aft section. The fan case further includes an aft facing step formed at the forward end of the intermediate section to prevent blade fragments from being ejected forward. The intermediate section is axially aligned with the fan and has a large inside diameter. The intermediate section thus defines an annular space around the fan blades that is sufficiently large to allow the fan to orbit when the decoupler fails. The intermediate section and the aft section are aligned radially to allow blade fragments to be ejected aft, avoiding additional secondary blade damage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.