US 12,145,723 B2
Securing assembly for a rotor blade
Kenneth F. Deyo, Thomaston, CT (US); Andrew Paul Scott, Bethany, CT (US); Frank M. Caputo, Cheshire, CT (US); and William P. Fallon, Jr., Wallingford, CT (US)
Assigned to LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed by Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/087,544.
Application 18/087,544 is a division of application No. 16/425,460, filed on May 29, 2019, granted, now 11,572,162.
Prior Publication US 2023/0312088 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 70/02 (2006.01); B29C 70/68 (2006.01); B29D 99/00 (2010.01); B64C 27/473 (2006.01); B29L 31/08 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 27/473 (2013.01) [B29C 70/023 (2013.01); B29C 70/025 (2013.01); B29C 70/682 (2013.01); B29C 70/685 (2013.01); B29D 99/0025 (2013.01); B29L 2031/082 (2013.01); B64C 2027/4736 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of securing a skin to a composite rotor blade, comprising:
installing an elongated member of a securing assembly in a passage of the composite rotor blade, the composite rotor blade including a core, a first skin adhered to a first side of the core and a second skin adhered to a second side of the core;
attaching a first end of the elongated member to an outer surface of the first skin; and
attaching a second end of the elongated member to an outer surface of the second skin;
wherein the elongated member comprises a bundle of fibers; and wherein installing the elongated member comprises:
splaying each fiber of the bundle of fibers radially outward from a central axis of the bundle of fibers; and
adhering the first skin and the second skin at the respective first and second ends of the elongated member via at least one adhesive, the first and second ends of the elongated member being splayed radially outward during adhesion.