Gas turbine engine and method including composite structures with embedded integral elecrically conductive paths
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorEDWARD CLAUDE RICE
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Abstract
A gas turbine engine and method of fabrication includes a gas turbine engine with a structure having movable portions and static portions. At least a portion of the structure includes a composite material having an electrically conductive path formed from carbon nanotubes configured for conducting electrical signals therealong.
Claims18
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- structure having movable portions and static portions;
- and
- at least a portion of the structure including a composite material having an electrically conductive path formed from carbon nanotubes configured for conducting electrical signals therealong.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a plurality of turbine blades;
- and
- a static structure supporting and housing the blades, at least a portion of the static structure including a composite material having an electrically conductive path formed from carbon nanotubes configured for conducting electrical signals therealong.
A composite structure comprising a composite material, a portion of the composite material including fibers and a resin impregnated with a predetermined volume percentage of carbon nanotubes substantially surrounding the fibers to form electrically conductive paths therealong, and another portion of the composite material including fibers and a resin unfilled with carbon nanotubes substantially surrounding the fibers to form electrically non-conductive paths therealong.
A method of fabricating a gas turbine engine comprising the steps of:
- providing a structure having movable portions and static portions, at least a portion of the structure including a composite material;
- embedding carbon nanotubes in at least a portion of the structure to form an electrically conductive path configured for conducting electrical signals therealong.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.