Composite flange from braided preform
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsLarry Foster, Darin S. Lussier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A preform sheet for a composite component comprises a body section and a flange section. The preform body section includes a plurality of axial tows braided with at least a plurality of first bias tows and a plurality of second bias tows. The preform flange section includes a first braided flange layer and a second braided flange layer. The first braided flange layer is defined by the first and second braided bias tows of the preform body section extending into the flange section. Neither the first nor second braided flange layers have axial tows.
Claims9
1-9. (canceled)
A gas turbine engine component comprising:
- a tubular body section including a plurality of fiber wraps encompassed within a matrix composition, the plurality of body section fiber wraps each including a plurality of axial tows braided with at least a plurality of first bias tows and a plurality of second bias tows, the axial tows generally aligned along a component circumferential direction;
- a flange section including a plurality of fiber wraps encompassed within the matrix composition, the plurality of flange section fiber wraps each including a first braided flange layer and a second braided flange layer, the first braided flange layer defined by at least the first and second bias tows of the body section, neither the first nor second braided flange layers having axial tows.
15-20. (canceled)
A method for making a composite case comprising:
- forming a fabric preform according to the method of claim 15;
- securing the fabric preform over a mandrel, the mandrel including a portion for upturning the flange section relative to the body section;
- impregnating the preform with an uncured matrix composition;
- curing the impregnated preform to form a composite case precursor;
- and
- processing the composite case precursor into a final composite case.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.