Patent attributes
A fan blade capable of dissipating a buildup of electrostatic charge configured for operation within the fan assembly of a gas turbine engine. The fan blade has a fan blade body covered in a static dissipative coating. A conductive ground tab is attached to the front face of an airfoil root of the fan blade. Connected to the ground tab, a conductive flow path travels up the neck portion of the airfoil and along a lower portion of the fan blade. As static charge builds up on the fan blade, the electrostatic charge migrates down the fan blade and into the conductive flow path. Traveling along the conductive flow path the buildup of electrostatic charge accumulates on the conductive ground tab and exits the fan blade through contact with a disc rotor covering touching the conductive ground tab.