US 12,285,919 B2
Method of joining segments of a composite component
Peter Anthony Broome, Park Ridge, IL (US); Allen Russel Hall, New Orleans, LA (US); and Chad Allen Boudoin, New Orleans, LA (US)
Assigned to LM Wind Power US Technology ApS, Kolding (DK)
Appl. No. 18/259,784
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 23, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/062272
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 29, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/144731, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 7, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2020710 (GB), filed on Dec. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0066810 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. B29L 31/08 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/26 (2006.01); B29C 65/48 (2006.01); F03D 1/06 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 66/81455 (2013.01) [B29C 65/26 (2013.01); B29C 65/4835 (2013.01); B29C 66/634 (2013.01); B29C 66/636 (2013.01); B29C 66/721 (2013.01); B29C 66/9221 (2013.01); B29C 66/92441 (2013.01); F03D 1/0675 (2013.01); B29L 2031/085 (2013.01); F05B 2240/302 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for joining rotor blade segments of a rotor blade, the method comprising:
providing a first blade segment;
positioning a bladder assembly on the first blade segment;
positioning an adhesive element in a first position on the first blade segment;
positioning a second blade segment with the first blade segment so as to define an inner cavity therebetween, the adhesive element and the bladder assembly being within the inner cavity, the second blade segment defining a clearance relative to the adhesive element in the first position;
inflating the bladder assembly to apply a force to the adhesive element, thereby causing the adhesive element to move from the first position to a second position that contacts the first blade segment and the second blade segment; and
allowing the adhesive element to cure so as to secure the first blade segment to the second blade segment.