John M Didomenico

US Patent:

8419362, Apr 16, 2013

Filed:

Aug 31, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/930201

Inventors:

Fabio Paolo Bertolotti - South Windsor CT, US
John DiDomenico - Southwick MA, US

Assignee:

Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Windsor Locks CT

International Classification:

F03D 7/04

US Classification:

416 1, 416 23, 416142

Abstract:

A turbine blade assembly includes an outboard blade section that folds onto an inboard blade section at a hinge located between the sections. When the outboard blade section is rotating to a folded position a longitudinal axis of the outboard blade section is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the inboard blade section. When the outboard blade section is in a fully folded position, the axes are parallel. The method of folding the outboard blade section includes adjusting the pitch of the turbine blade while it is rotating. Adjusting the pitch changes the pressure on a non-hinge side of the turbine blade and results in the outboard blade section folding with respect to the inboard blade section.