Shaping of aerofoil edges

Abstract

A portable device for shaping an edge of an aerofoil comprises a housing, a cutting tool mounted in the housing (the cutting tool having a cutting edge to remove material from the edge) and a plurality of guides mounted in the housing, so that in use the aerofoil engages with the guides to locate the edge of the aerofoil relative to the cutting edge and to permit movement of the housing in a cutting direction so as to remove material from the edge of the aerofoil. The device is characterised in that the cutting tool is mounted so that in use the cutting edge can move relative to the edge of the aerofoil in a direction generally perpendicular to the cutting direction.

1 . A portable device for shaping an edge of an aerofoil, the device comprising:
 a housing;   a cutting tool mounted in the housing, the cutting tool having a cutting edge to remove material from the edge of the aerofoil; and   a plurality of guides mounted in the housing, so that in use the aerofoil engages with the guides to locate the edge of the aerofoil relative to the cutting edge and to permit movement of the housing in a cutting direction so as to remove material from the edge of the aerofoil;   the device characterised in that the cutting tool is mounted so that in use the cutting edge can move relative to the edge of the aerofoil in a direction generally perpendicular to the cutting direction.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , in which the cutting tool is pivotably mounted. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , in which the cutting edge can move through an angle of about 5 degrees to each side of its central position. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one spring which in use can apply a restoring force tending to centre the cutting tool. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , in which a titanium sheet spring is mounted at each side of the cutting tool. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , in which the cutting tool has a plurality of cutting edges. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , in which in use the cutting tool is angled at between about 55 degrees and about 85 degrees to the cutting direction. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , in which in use the cutting tool is angled at about 60 degrees to the cutting direction. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of cutting tools mounted so as to engage simultaneously with the edge of the aerofoil, so that the plurality of cutting tools operates sequentially in use to remove material from the leading edge of the aerofoil. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , in which the guides comprise rollers. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , in which a leading roller engages in use with the edge of the aerofoil. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , in which a pair of side rollers engage in use with opposing surfaces of the aerofoil. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , in which the side rollers are resiliently mounted. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , in which the side rollers are mounted on titanium sheet springs. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , in which the cutting edge comprises a first cutting edge part that in use removes material from part of the edge of the aerofoil and a second cutting edge part that engages with the part of the edge of the aerofoil but does not remove material from it. 
     
     
         16 . A method of shaping an edge of an aerofoil, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a portable shaping device comprising a housing, a cutting tool having a cutting edge, and a plurality of guides;   mounting the cutting tool in the housing so that the cutting edge can move relative to the edge of the aerofoil in a direction generally perpendicular to a cutting direction;   locating the housing over the edge of the aerofoil so that the aerofoil engages with the guides and the edge of the aerofoil engages with the cutting edge;   moving the device along the aerofoil in the cutting direction so as to remove material from the edge of the aerofoil and thereby to shape it.