Brittle composite structure for resiliently accomodating thermal expansion
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsMark E. Palusis, Carlos G. Figueroa, Daniel C. Friedberg, Gary D. Jones, Gunther Eichhorn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Two composite parts, such as sheet and a hollow gas turbine liner tile, are fastened together using a fastening system that includes a journal bearing that fits in a bore in the sheet and springs to support a bolt fastener that is tightened to hold the parts together. Resilient spacers are placed between the sheet and the liner. The springs may comprise a stack of rings, each ring being a tightly wound helical spring, giving the ring a hollow cross section and resilient qualities.
Claims8
A composite structure having two composite sheets held together by a fastener inserted through an aligned straight through bore in each sheet, characterized by:
- a bolt having a shank portion and a head;
- a journal bearing for insertion into the bore and extending there through for receiving the bolt;
- a plurality of circumferentially disposed hollow, resilient springs supporting the bolt mounted between said journal and said shank portion and extending axially and parallel between the ends of the journal bearing;
- and
- a nut on the bolt remote from said head for compressing the sheets between said nut and said head against the journal bearing.
A composite structure having two composite sheets held together by a fastener inserted through an aligned straight through bore in each sheet, characterized by:
- a bolt having a shank portion and a head;
- a journal bearing for insertion into the bore of one sheet and extending there through for receiving the bolt;
- a plurality of, resilient annular springs in a stack that extend between the ends of the journal, the bolt passing through the center of said stack and extending through said aligned bores, said stack supporting the bolt in the journal bearing,
- a nut on the bolt for compressing the sheets between said head and said nut against the journal bearing.
A composite structure having two composite sheets held together by a fastener inserted through a bore in each sheet, characterized by:
- a bolt having a shank portion and a head;
- a journal bearing for insertion into the bore and for receiving the bolt;
- a wave spring the height of the journal bearing and attached to the journal bearing for supporting the bolt;
- and
- a nut on the bolt for compressing the sheets between said head and said nut against the journal bearing.
A composite structure have two composite sheets held together by a fastener inserted through a bore in each set, characterized by:
- a bolt having a shank portion and a head;
- a journal bearing inserted into the bore for receiving the bolt;
- means mounted between said shank portion and said journal bearing, constructed of metal, for resiliently transversely supporting the bolt transversely in the journal bearing;
- and
- a nut on the bolt for compressing the sheets between said nut and said head against the journal bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.