# US 2009/0289232 A1 · Gas turbine engine and method including composite structures with embedded integral elecrically conductive paths > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0289232 A1 - Document ID: US20090289232A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/125,393 - Filed: 2008-05-22 - Published: 2009-11-26 - Earliest claimed: 2008-05-22 - Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc - Inventors: EDWARD CLAUDE RICE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090289232A1 ## CPC - H01B 1/24: the conductive material comprising carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon - F01D 17/20: Devices dealing with sensing elements or final actuators or transmitting means between them, e.g. power-assisted (sensing elements alone F01D17/02; final actuators alone F01D17/10) - B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites - F05D 2300/224: Carbon, e.g. graphite - H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K}) - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 1, wherein the static structure includes an engine casing including a composite material having an electrically conductive path formed from carbon nanotubes for conducting electrical signals along the casing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 1, wherein the static structure includes a plurality of struts supporting engine components, at least one of the plurality of struts including a composite material having an electrically conductive path formed from carbon nanotubes for conducting electrical signals therealong. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 1, wherein the static structure includes a composite airframe, at least a portion of the composite airframe including a composite material having an electrically conductive path formed from carbon nanotubes for conducting electrical signals along the composite airframe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 1, wherein the composite material includes a plurality of electrically conductive paths, and further comprising a nano switch coupled to the plurality of electrically conductive paths and configured for selectively electrically coupling the plurality of electrically conductive paths to an external component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 1, further comprising a connector located on a surface of the composite material and coupled to an end of the electrically conductive path for electrically coupling the electrically conductive path to an external component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 1, wherein a portion of the composite material includes fibers and a resin impregnated with a predetermined volume percentage of carbon nanotubes substantially surrounding the fibers, and another portion of the composite material includes fibers and a resin unfilled with carbon nanotubes substantially surrounding the fibers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 8, wherein the fibers include one of glass fibers, carbon fibers and boron fibers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 8, wherein the composite material is in the form of a sheet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 8, wherein the composite material is in the form of a plurality of sheets in layed-up configuration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A gas turbine engine as defined in claim 7, wherein the connector is a pin having one end extending into the composite material and coupled to the end of the electrically conductive path, and another end extending outwardly from the composite material for electrically coupling the electrically conductive path to an external component. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A composite structure as defined in claim 13, wherein the fibers include one of glass fibers, carbon fibers and boron fibers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A composite structure as defined in claim 13, wherein the composite material is in the form of a sheet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A composite structure as defined in claim 13, wherein the composite material is in the form of a plurality of sheets in layed-up configuration. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method as defined in claim 17, wherein: the step of providing includes providing a composite material having fibers and a resin; and wherein the step of embedding includes impregnating the resin with a predetermined volume percentage of carbon nanotubes to substantially surround the fibers to form electrically conductive paths therealong.