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US 2023/0150251 A1Published application
Composite structures with embedded electrical grids
AssigneeWabash National, L.P.
InventorAndrzej Wylezinski
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Abstract
A composite structure of a cargo body and a method of making the same are disclosed. The composite structure includes at least one electrical grid embedded within fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) layers. The embedded electrical grid includes a plurality of conductive fibers and a plurality of insulating fibers integrated into a polymer matrix of the FRP layers. The embedded electrical grid may be used for power distribution, structural strengthening and stiffness, and/or puncture detection.
Claims20
A laminated composite structure of a cargo body, the composite structure comprising:
- a core layer;
- an outer fiber-reinforced polymer layer coupled to the core layer;
- an inner fiber-reinforced polymer layer coupled to the core layer;
- and
- at least one electrical grid embedded within one or more of the outer and inner fiber-reinforced polymer layers, wherein the at least one electrical grid includes:
- a first plurality of conductive fibers;
- a second plurality of conductive fibers perpendicular to the first plurality of conductive fibers;
- wherein the at least one electrical grid is embedded within one of the outer and inner fiber-reinforced polymer layers on one side of the core layer, the electrical grid further including a plurality of intermediate insulating fibers sandwiched between the first plurality of conductive fibers and the second plurality of conductive fibers.
5 more elements
A cargo body comprising:
- a composite panel including at least one electrical grid embedded in a fiber-reinforced polymer, the electrical grid defining an electrical circuit;
- a control system operatively coupled to the electrical grid, wherein the control system is configured to detect a break in the electrical circuit of the electrical grid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.