# US 12,215,592 B1 · Preform for making a casing structure for turbine engines > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,215,592 B1 - Document ID: US12215592B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/435,191 - Filed: 2024-02-07 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2024-02-07 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Ming Xie; Mingchao Wang; Douglas Lorrimer Armstrong; Mitchell Boyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215592B1 ## CPC - B29B 11/16: comprising fillers or reinforcement {(non-woven fabrics per se D04H1/00, D04H3/00)} - F01D 25/243: {Flange connections; Bolting arrangements (F01D25/265 takes precedence)} - F01D 21/045: {special arrangements in stators or in rotors dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor} - F01D 25/005: {Selecting particular materials} - F01D 25/24: Casings (modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14); Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings (casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M {; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045}) - F05D 2240/14: Casings or housings protecting or supporting assemblies within - F05D 2300/603: Composites; e.g. fibre-reinforced - B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A preform for making a casing structure for turbine engines. The preform includes a plurality of reinforcing fiber tows arranged in a two-dimensional weave structure, a three-dimensional weave structure, or a braided structure. The plurality of reinforcing fiber tows include integrally woven or braided fiber tows having a diameter or a density greater than a respective diameter or density of other woven or braided fiber tows in the two-dimensional weave structure, the three-dimensional weave structure, or the braided structure. The integrally woven or braided fiber tows are located in an area of the preform that is bent to form an angled corner to thereby provide strength to a casing structure comprising the angled corner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A preform for making a casing structure, the preform comprising: a plurality of reinforcing fiber tows arranged in a two-dimensional weave structure, a three-dimensional weave structure, or a braided structure, wherein the plurality of reinforcing fiber tows comprise integrally woven or braided fiber tows having a diameter or a density greater than a respective diameter or density of other woven or braided fiber tows in the two-dimensional weave structure, the three-dimensional weave structure, or the braided structure so as to provide strength and rigidity to the two-dimensional weave structure, the three-dimensional weave structure, or the braided structure in an area of the preform that is bent to form an angled corner of a casing structure, and wherein the integrally woven or braided fiber tows are located in the area of the preform that is bent to form the angled corner of the casing structure to thereby provide strength and rigidity to the angled corner of the casing structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The preform of claim 1, wherein the angled corner is from thirty degrees to one hundred fifty degrees. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The preform of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of reinforcing fiber tows comprises a plurality of carbon fibers, a plurality of glass fibers, a plurality of steel fibers, a plurality of para-aramid fibers, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The preform of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reinforcing fiber tows comprise a first plurality of reinforcing fiber tows, a second plurality of reinforcing fiber tows, and a third plurality of reinforcing fiber tows, and the third plurality of reinforcing fiber tows comprise the integrally woven or braided fiber tows. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The preform of claim 4, wherein a diameter of each of the third plurality of reinforcing fiber tows is greater than a diameter of each of the first plurality of reinforcing fiber tows and a diameter of each of the second plurality of reinforcing fiber tows. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The preform of claim 4, wherein a density of the third plurality of reinforcing fiber tows is greater than a density of the first plurality of reinforcing fiber tows and a density of the second plurality of reinforcing fiber tows. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The preform of claim 4, wherein the two-dimensional weave structure, the three-dimensional weave structure, or the braided structure defines an outer radius surface and an inner radius surface of the preform, and the integrally woven or braided fiber tows are located near the inner radius surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The preform of claim 7, wherein a number of the third plurality of reinforcing fiber tows increases with an increasing distance from the inner radius surface so as to form a triangular shape having an apex located near the inner radius surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The preform of claim 7, wherein a diameter of the second plurality of reinforcing fiber tows located near the outer radius surface of the preform is less than a diameter of the third plurality of reinforcing fiber tows located near the inner radius surface of the preform so as to form a lesser curvature radius when forming the angled corner of the preform. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A casing structure having an integral flange comprising: the preform of claim 1, the angled corner forming a portion of the integral flange; and a polymer matrix material, wherein the plurality of reinforcing fiber tows of the preform are embedded within the polymer matrix material. ### Claim 11 A turbine engine comprising: a casing structure having an integral flange, the casing structure including a preform and a polymer matrix material, the preform comprising: a plurality of reinforcing fiber tows arranged in a two-dimensional weave structure, a three-dimensional weave structure, or a braided structure, wherein the plurality of reinforcing fiber tows comprise integrally woven or braided fiber tows having a diameter or a density greater than a respective diameter or density of other woven or braided fiber tows in the two-dimensional weave structure, the three-dimensional weave structure, or the braided structure so as to provide strength and rigidity to the two-dimensional weave structure, the three-dimensional weave structure, or the braided structure in an area of the preform that is bent to form an angled corner of the casing structure, and wherein the integrally woven or braided fiber tows are located in the area of the preform that is bent to form the angled corner of the casing structure to thereby provide strength and rigidity to the angled corner of the casing structure, the angled corner forming a portion of the integral flange, and wherein the plurality of reinforcing fiber tows of the preform are embedded within the polymer matrix material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The turbine engine of claim 11, wherein the angled corner of the preform is from thirty degrees to one hundred fifty degrees. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The turbine engine of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of reinforcing fiber tows comprises a plurality of carbon fibers, a plurality of glass fibers, a plurality of steel fibers, a plurality of para-aramid fibers, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The turbine engine of claim 11, wherein the polymer matrix material comprises a thermoset resin, a thermoplastic resin, bismaleimide (BMI) materials, or polyimide materials, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The turbine engine of claim 11, wherein the plurality of reinforcing fiber tows comprise a first plurality of reinforcing fiber tows, a second plurality of reinforcing fiber tows, and a third plurality of reinforcing fiber tows, and the third plurality of reinforcing fiber tows comprise the integrally woven or braided fiber tows. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The turbine engine of claim 15, wherein a diameter of each of the third plurality of reinforcing fiber tows is greater than a diameter of each of the first plurality of reinforcing fiber tows and a diameter of the second plurality of reinforcing fiber tows. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The turbine engine of claim 15, wherein a density of the third plurality of reinforcing fiber tows is greater than a density of the first plurality of reinforcing fiber tows and a density of the second plurality of reinforcing fiber tows. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The turbine engine of claim 15, wherein the two-dimensional weave structure, the three-dimensional weave structure, or the braided structure defines an outer radius surface and an inner radius surface of the preform, and the integrally woven or braided fiber tows are located near the inner radius surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The turbine engine of claim 18, wherein a number of the third plurality of reinforcing fiber tows increases with an increasing distance from the inner radius surface so as to form a triangular shape having an apex located near the inner radius surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The turbine engine of claim 18, wherein a diameter of the second plurality of reinforcing fiber tows located near the outer radius surface of the preform is less than a diameter of the third plurality of reinforcing fiber tows located near the inner radius surface of the preform so as to form a lesser curvature radius when forming the angled corner of the preform.