Composite flange from braided preform
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsLarry Foster, Darin S. Lussier
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims15
A fabric preform for a composite component, the fabric preform comprising:
- a preform body section including a plurality of axial tows aligned along an axial direction of the preform, the axial tows braided with at least a plurality of first bias tows and a plurality of second bias tows;
- and
- a preform flange section including a first braided flange layer and a second braided flange layer, the first braided flange layer defined by the first and second bias tows of the preform body section extending into the preform flange section, neither the first nor second braided flange layers having axial tows;
- wherein the second braided flange layer comprises biaxially braided fabric with a plurality of third bias tows and a plurality of fourth bias tows;
- and
- wherein the plurality of third bias tows are oriented at an angle measuring about 30° relative to an axial direction of the preform, and the plurality of fourth bias tows are oriented at an angle measuring about −30° relative to the axial direction of the preform sheet.
A method for making a fabric preform for a composite component, the method comprising:
- laying out a first article of fabric having a plurality of axial tows braided with a plurality of first bias tows and a plurality of second bias tows such that the plurality of axial tows are aligned to define an axial direction of the preform;
- removing axial tows from a first portion of the first article of fabric, leaving the first fabric portion braided absent an axial tow, and a second fabric portion braided with axial tows, the second fabric portion defining at least part of a preform body section;
- and
- disposing a second article of fabric along the first fabric portion to form a reinforced first fabric portion, the second article of fabric absent an axial tow, such that the reinforced first fabric portion includes a first braided layer and a second braided layer each absent an axial tow, the reinforced first fabric portion defining at least a part of a preform flange section including at least a first braided flange layer and a second braided flange layer;
- wherein the first braided flange layer is defined by the first and second bias tows of the preform body section extending into the preform flange section, neither the first nor second braided flange layers having axial tows;
- wherein the second braided flange layer comprises biaxially braided fabric with a plurality of third bias tows and a plurality of fourth bias tows;
- and
- wherein the plurality of third bias tows are oriented at an angle measuring about 30° relative to an axial direction of the preform, and the plurality of fourth bias tows are oriented at an angle measuring about −30° relative to the axial direction of the preform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.