초록

A method of refurbishing a rotor blade utilizing a waterjet and an apparatus therefore.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of refurbishing a rotor blade comprising: directing a waterjet to cut a leading edge section from a rotor blade along a leading edge cut line generally parallel to a longitudinal feathering axis; anddirecting the waterjet at an angle relative to a rotor blade contour to separate a leadin

1. A method of refurbishing a rotor blade comprising: directing a waterjet to cut a leading edge section from a rotor blade along a leading edge cut line generally parallel to a longitudinal feathering axis; anddirecting the waterjet at an angle relative to a rotor blade contour to separate a leading edge sheath portion from the rotor blade, wherein the rotor blade includes a spar separate from the leading edge and the leading edge sheath portion. 2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein directing the waterjet to cut the leading edge section includes cutting a leading edge strip off of the rotor blade. 3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising mixing an abrasive with the waterjet. 4. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising directing the waterjet at a pressure of 30 KSI and a travel speed from 1-15 ft/minute along the leading edge cut line. 5. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising directing the waterjet at a 5 ft/ minute average travel speed. 6. A method of refurbishing a rotor blade comprising: directing a waterjet to cut a leading edge section from a rotor blade along a leading edge cut line generally parallel to a longitudinal feathering axis;directing the waterjet at an angle relative to a rotor blade contour to separate a leading edge sheath portion from the rotor blade, wherein the rotor blade includes a spar separate from the leading edge and the leading edge sheath portion; anddirecting the waterjet to cut a trailing edge section off of the rotor blade along a trailing edge cut line generally parallel to the longitudinal feathering axis. 7. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising directing the waterjet at a pressure of 20-50 KSI and a 3 ft/ minute average travel speed. 8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising directing the waterjet at a skimming angle relative to a rotor blade contour. 9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising separating the leading edge sheath portion from an upper surface of the rotor blade. 10. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising separating the leading edge sheath portion from a lower surface of the rotor blade. 11. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising directing the water jet at a pressure of 20-35 KSI and a 2-6 ft/ minute average travel speed. 12. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising directing a spinning waterjet at a pressure of 20-30 KSI and a 1-2 ft/ minute travel speed to mill a remnant from the spar of the rotor blade. 13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising directing the spinning waterjet at a pressure below approximately 30 KSI to clean the spar. 14. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: directing the waterjet along a trailing edge cut line generally parallel to the longitudinal feathering axis to cut off a trailing edge section of the rotor blade; anddirecting a spinning waterjet to mill a remnant from the spar of the rotor blade. 15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the rotor blade is a rotary wing aircraft main rotor blade. 16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the rotor blade includes an upper skin, a lower skin, and a core. 17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the core includes a honeycomb material. 18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the leading edge sheath portion includes at least one wear resistant material strip. 19. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the rotor blade rotates about a substantially vertical axis during normal operation.