Lightweight piston architecture
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsAllan H. Taylor, Philip O. Ransome
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Abstract
The invention is an improvement in a lightweight carbon-carbon composite piston, the improvement comprehending the use of near-net shape knitted or warp-interlock pre-forms to improve the structural qualitites of the piston. In its preferred embodiment, a one piece, tubular, closed-ended, knitted pre-form (a sock) of carbon fibers (11) embedded within the matrix of the piston structure forms the crown (12), side wall (15), skirt (16) and inner surface (18) of the piston, and wrap-interlock pre-forms strengthen the piston crown and wrist pin bosses.
Claims4
In combination with a lightweight piston having a crown, side wall, skirt, inner surface and a reinforced wrist pin boss area, said lightweight piston being composed of carbon-carbon composite, the improvement which comprises a one-piece, closed-end, single knitted fiber structural shape forming an exterior surface of the carbon-carbon composite, said knitted structural shape forming the crown, side wall, skirt and inner surfaces of the piston.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.