Composite laminate having a flexible circuit bridge and method of manufacture thereof
AssigneeGKN Aerospace Services Structures Corp.
InventorChristopher John Feeney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a composite component having a laminate body, a conductive layer and a connector can be joined to one another using an intermediate flexible circuit. Among other things, this flexible circuit places the conductive layer and the connector in electrical communication with one another. Furthermore, during the forming process and because of its thinness, the flexible circuit integrates well with the layers of the laminate body and can accommodates some spatial displacement of the connector and conductive material relative to one another.
Claims20
A composite component comprising:
- a laminate body including a plurality of layers held together by a resin;
- an opening formed in the composite component;
- a connector received in the opening, the connector having a plug end that is accessible from an exterior of the composite component;
- a conductive layer disposed between the layers of the laminate body such that the conductive layer is embedded in the laminate body;
- and
- a flexible circuit that bridges the connector and the conductive layer, the flexible circuit placing the connector in electrical communication with the conductive layer;
- wherein at least a portion of an electrical circuit is established between the connector, the flexible circuit, and the conductive layer;
- and
- wherein the composite component is an engine vane.
A method of making a composite component having a laminate body including a plurality of layers having a conductive layer disposed there between and including a resin that holds the plurality of layers together, the method comprising:
- laying at least some of the plurality of layers to form a portion of the laminate body;
- placing a conductive layer and a flexible circuit in the laminate body and a connector in the composite component, in which the connector has a plug end that is accessible from an exterior of the composite component, the flexible circuit bridging the conductive layer and the connector and further placing the connector in electrical communication with the conductive layer;
- laying a remainder of the plurality of layers to embed the conductive layer and the flexible circuit bridge within the laminate body;
- and
- curing the resin that holds the plurality of layers together to form the composite component;
- wherein the plurality of layers of the laminate body are a carbon fiber fabric and are held together, at least in part, by a cured resin material.
A composite component comprising:
- a laminate body including a plurality of layers held together by a resin;
- an opening formed in the composite component;
- a connector received in the opening, the connector having a plug end that is accessible from an exterior of the composite component;
- a conductive layer disposed between the layers of the laminate body such that the conductive layer is embedded in the laminate body;
- and
- a flexible circuit that bridges the connector and the conductive layer, the flexible circuit placing the connector in electrical communication with the conductive layer;
- wherein at least a portion of an electrical circuit is established between the connector, the flexible circuit, and the conductive layer;
- wherein the plurality of layers of the laminate body are a carbon fiber fabric and are held together, at least in part, by a cured resin material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.