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5651930 Composite fiber rotor vane
PatentsALERT
prepreg used as radius filler plies become progressively narrower as they are interleaved from within the gap outward towards the outer edge of the flanges. In another embodiment, the layers of prepreg used as radius filler plies become progressively narrower as they are interleaved between the cap plies.
5640825 METHOD OF STRENGTHENING MASONRY AND CONCRETE WALLS WITH COMPOSITE STRAP AND HIGH STRENGTH RANDOM FIBERS Ehsani Mohammad R; Saadatmanesh Hamid Tucson, AZ, UNITED STATES A method of strengthening a wall includes the steps of preparing a portion of a surface of a wall to be strengthened by cleaning the surface, providing a plurality of straps of flexible nonmetallic fiber composite material, and fixedly attaching the straps of nonmetallic fiber composite material to the wall portion along at least lengthwise portions of the straps and opposite end portions thereof by epoxy bonding the straps onto the surface. Also, the straps are impregnated with the epoxy in preparation for bonding the strap to the wall surface. Also, edge portions of the straps are fastened to an adjacent structure which supports the wall being strengthened so as to facilitate transfer of loads from the wall to the adjacent structure. Another method of strengthening a wall includes the steps of providing a mixture of randomly-oriented short fibers and liquid resin or adhesive matrix and applying the mixture to the surface of the wall. The mixture can be applied either by spraying or troweling the mixture onto the surface of the wall. The liquid resin or adhesive matrix is a material that cures fast so as to prevent the fibers from running with the liquid down the height of the wall surface.
support member has a bifurcated end with outer sides configured to interlock with the sides of the internal channel of the 1-beam. Access into the channel is provided by periodic windows milled into the beam at the precise entry points of the insertion member. The bifurcated end of the insertion member compresses adequately to be inserted into the channel of the cross-beam, where it expands such that the external teeth engage the scalloped walls of the I-beam and lock securely into place. A block is then positioned between the tines to prevent their closure so that a positive lock of extreme strength is provided between the two members.
5650220 FORMABLE REINFORCING BAR AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME Greenwood Mark Granville, OH, UNITED STATES assigned to Owens-Coming Fiberglas Technology Inc A formable reinforcement bar, a process for producing a formable reinforcing bar and a supported structure including a formable reinforcement bar are provided. The reinforcement bar includes a body portion of a fiber reinforced thermoplastic material. The process involves laminating multiple layers of thin strips or bundles of fiber reinforced thermoplastic to produce the formable rebar. The formable rebar may be produced at remote locations such as a construction site. The supported structure includes a composite material having a formable rebar embedded therein.
5651930 COMPOSITE FIBER ROTOR VANE Murching Nagendra N Decatur, IL, UNITED STATES assigned to Zexel USA Corporation
5644888 HEAVY CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM USING COMPOSITE MEMBERS Johnson David San Diego, CA, UNITED STATES assigned to Ebert Composites Corporation Pultruded composite members which interfit to form a rigid post and beam,or beam and brace, are adapted for use in heavy construction in such applications as bridges, buildings including high rise structures, ship deck and the like. Two pultruded shapes are used for the entire framework. A first member ordinarily serving as a beam is pultruded as a completely enclosed thick-walled 1-beam with an internal channel which is formed with a continuous scalloped or toothed cross-section on both sides. The mating
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A rotor vane and a method for fabricating the rotor vane are provided in which the vane is formed of a thermoplastic matrix material having chopped fibers uniformly dispersed throughout the thermoplastic material,with the fibers aligned to extend in directions which are approximately parallel to a radial dimension in which the vane extends. A billet formed of the thermoplastic matrix material with the chopped fibers randomly oriented and uniformly dispersed within the thermoplastic matrix material is placed in vane forming dies. The dies have an interior surface which is in the shape of the vane. The billet is placed within the dies with the longitudinal length of the billet extending perpendicular to the radial dimension of the vane being formed and completely across the axial dimension of the vane being formed. The billet is heated to a softening temperature and compressed within the dies to deform the billet into the shape of the interior surface of the dies,
PatentsA L ER T
causing the thermoplastic matrix material to flow in flow directions which are approximately parallel to radial dimension of the vane being formed. Flowing of the thermoplastic matrix material in the flow directions aligns a substantial portion of the fibers with the flow directions, approximately parallel to the radial dimension of the vane. Then the thermoplastic matrix material is cooled to temperature below the softening temperature and the vane is removed from the dies.
5657568 COMPOSI~TALLIC GUN BARREL HAVING A DIFFERING, RESTRICTIVE COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION Christensen Roland J Fayette, UT, UNITED STATES assigned to Christensen Roland J A composite/metallic gun barrel is disclosed having a metallic liner and alternating first and second groups of fibers wrapped about the liner, the first groups being disposed in a first orientation generally perpendicular to the long axis of the liner, and the second groups including one or more layers disposed generally parallel with the long axis of the metallic liner. By controlling the amount of fibers in each group relative to the other group, the coefficients of thermal expansion in the radial direction can be regulated to provide a gun barrel having desired firing characteristics.
PROCESSING 5570631 APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING A HELICOPTER MAIN ROTOR BLADE Leahy Kevin P; Jones Corey D Naugatuck, CT, UNITED STATES Apparatus and methods for fabricating a helicopter main rotor blade include a compaction fixture for assembling and compacting blade subassembly components and a sheath spreading/insertion apparatus for spreading and inserting a leading-edge sheath onto the blade subassembly during the compaction process. The compaction fixture includes a lower assembly having a contoured upper airfoil nest mounted in combination with a support structure and an upper assembly having a pressure bag affixed in sealed combination to a contoured backplate affixed in combination to a structural support truss. The contoured upper airfoil nest includes a plurality of tooling pins for locating an upper composite skin in aligned combination on the contoured upper airfoil nest and a plurality of pusher pins for chordwise alignment of a spar assembly in the
contoured upper airfoil nest. Spar stanchions affixed to the support structure provide spanwise alignment of the spar assembly in the contoured upper airfoil nest. With the upper and lower assemblies in locked combination, the pressure bag is pressurized to compact the assembled blade subassembly components. The sheath spreading/insertion apparatus includes a movable stanchion, upper and lower elongate carriage members mounted in synchronized movable combination with the stanchion, and a row of suction cups mounted in combination with each carriage member. Pneumatic cylinders are mounted in combination with the stanchion and the respective carriage members.
5578158 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FORMING A COMPOSITE PRODUCT FROM A THERMOFORMABLE MATERIAL Gutowski Timothy G; Dillon Gregory; Li Haorong; Chey Sukyoun Newton, MA, UNITED STATES assigned to Massachusetts Institute of Technology A system and method for reducing the occurrence of undesirable deformations (e.g., wrinkling) in a reinforced thermoformable workpiece. The reduction in undesirable deformations is achieved by increasing the buckling resistance of the workpiece by employing a supplemental reinforcing structure. The reinforcement, in combination with a pair of shaping diaphragms, increase the effective buckling resistance applied to the workpiece during the fabrication of a composite product. The method includes forming a workpiece from a plurality of layers of a thermoformable material, and applying to at least one side of the material an external reinforcing structure to form a reinforced workpiece having a top side and a bottom side. At least one of the top or bottom sides of the reinforced workpiece is placed in contact vith a diaphragm, thus forming a shaping assembly. The shaping assembly is then urged into contact with a shaping surface of a work tool to form a composite product, having a shape complementary to the shape of the tool. The composite product is then removed from the tool.
5580512 METHOD FOR MAKING LOW COST ORIENTED COMPOSITE MOLDING COMPOUND Koon Robert W; Sheu Chi H; Meredith Brent R Palos Verdes, CA, UNITED STATES assigned to Northrop Grumman Corporation
A method for the manufacture of low cost oriented composite molding compounds using discontinuous fibers
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prepreg used as radius filler plies become progressively narrower as they are interleaved from within the gap outward towards the outer edge of the flanges. In another embodiment, the layers of prepreg used as radius filler plies become progressively narrower as they are interleaved between the cap plies.
5640825 METHOD OF STRENGTHENING MASONRY AND CONCRETE WALLS WITH COMPOSITE STRAP AND HIGH STRENGTH RANDOM FIBERS Ehsani Mohammad R; Saadatmanesh Hamid Tucson, AZ, UNITED STATES A method of strengthening a wall includes the steps of preparing a portion of a surface of a wall to be strengthened by cleaning the surface, providing a plurality of straps of flexible nonmetallic fiber composite material, and fixedly attaching the straps of nonmetallic fiber composite material to the wall portion along at least lengthwise portions of the straps and opposite end portions thereof by epoxy bonding the straps onto the surface. Also, the straps are impregnated with the epoxy in preparation for bonding the strap to the wall surface. Also, edge portions of the straps are fastened to an adjacent structure which supports the wall being strengthened so as to facilitate transfer of loads from the wall to the adjacent structure. Another method of strengthening a wall includes the steps of providing a mixture of randomly-oriented short fibers and liquid resin or adhesive matrix and applying the mixture to the surface of the wall. The mixture can be applied either by spraying or troweling the mixture onto the surface of the wall. The liquid resin or adhesive matrix is a material that cures fast so as to prevent the fibers from running with the liquid down the height of the wall surface.
support member has a bifurcated end with outer sides configured to interlock with the sides of the internal channel of the 1-beam. Access into the channel is provided by periodic windows milled into the beam at the precise entry points of the insertion member. The bifurcated end of the insertion member compresses adequately to be inserted into the channel of the cross-beam, where it expands such that the external teeth engage the scalloped walls of the I-beam and lock securely into place. A block is then positioned between the tines to prevent their closure so that a positive lock of extreme strength is provided between the two members.
5650220 FORMABLE REINFORCING BAR AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME Greenwood Mark Granville, OH, UNITED STATES assigned to Owens-Coming Fiberglas Technology Inc A formable reinforcement bar, a process for producing a formable reinforcing bar and a supported structure including a formable reinforcement bar are provided. The reinforcement bar includes a body portion of a fiber reinforced thermoplastic material. The process involves laminating multiple layers of thin strips or bundles of fiber reinforced thermoplastic to produce the formable rebar. The formable rebar may be produced at remote locations such as a construction site. The supported structure includes a composite material having a formable rebar embedded therein.
5651930 COMPOSITE FIBER ROTOR VANE Murching Nagendra N Decatur, IL, UNITED STATES assigned to Zexel USA Corporation
5644888 HEAVY CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM USING COMPOSITE MEMBERS Johnson David San Diego, CA, UNITED STATES assigned to Ebert Composites Corporation Pultruded composite members which interfit to form a rigid post and beam,or beam and brace, are adapted for use in heavy construction in such applications as bridges, buildings including high rise structures, ship deck and the like. Two pultruded shapes are used for the entire framework. A first member ordinarily serving as a beam is pultruded as a completely enclosed thick-walled 1-beam with an internal channel which is formed with a continuous scalloped or toothed cross-section on both sides. The mating
342
A rotor vane and a method for fabricating the rotor vane are provided in which the vane is formed of a thermoplastic matrix material having chopped fibers uniformly dispersed throughout the thermoplastic material,with the fibers aligned to extend in directions which are approximately parallel to a radial dimension in which the vane extends. A billet formed of the thermoplastic matrix material with the chopped fibers randomly oriented and uniformly dispersed within the thermoplastic matrix material is placed in vane forming dies. The dies have an interior surface which is in the shape of the vane. The billet is placed within the dies with the longitudinal length of the billet extending perpendicular to the radial dimension of the vane being formed and completely across the axial dimension of the vane being formed. The billet is heated to a softening temperature and compressed within the dies to deform the billet into the shape of the interior surface of the dies,
PatentsA L ER T
causing the thermoplastic matrix material to flow in flow directions which are approximately parallel to radial dimension of the vane being formed. Flowing of the thermoplastic matrix material in the flow directions aligns a substantial portion of the fibers with the flow directions, approximately parallel to the radial dimension of the vane. Then the thermoplastic matrix material is cooled to temperature below the softening temperature and the vane is removed from the dies.
5657568 COMPOSI~TALLIC GUN BARREL HAVING A DIFFERING, RESTRICTIVE COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION Christensen Roland J Fayette, UT, UNITED STATES assigned to Christensen Roland J A composite/metallic gun barrel is disclosed having a metallic liner and alternating first and second groups of fibers wrapped about the liner, the first groups being disposed in a first orientation generally perpendicular to the long axis of the liner, and the second groups including one or more layers disposed generally parallel with the long axis of the metallic liner. By controlling the amount of fibers in each group relative to the other group, the coefficients of thermal expansion in the radial direction can be regulated to provide a gun barrel having desired firing characteristics.
PROCESSING 5570631 APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING A HELICOPTER MAIN ROTOR BLADE Leahy Kevin P; Jones Corey D Naugatuck, CT, UNITED STATES Apparatus and methods for fabricating a helicopter main rotor blade include a compaction fixture for assembling and compacting blade subassembly components and a sheath spreading/insertion apparatus for spreading and inserting a leading-edge sheath onto the blade subassembly during the compaction process. The compaction fixture includes a lower assembly having a contoured upper airfoil nest mounted in combination with a support structure and an upper assembly having a pressure bag affixed in sealed combination to a contoured backplate affixed in combination to a structural support truss. The contoured upper airfoil nest includes a plurality of tooling pins for locating an upper composite skin in aligned combination on the contoured upper airfoil nest and a plurality of pusher pins for chordwise alignment of a spar assembly in the
contoured upper airfoil nest. Spar stanchions affixed to the support structure provide spanwise alignment of the spar assembly in the contoured upper airfoil nest. With the upper and lower assemblies in locked combination, the pressure bag is pressurized to compact the assembled blade subassembly components. The sheath spreading/insertion apparatus includes a movable stanchion, upper and lower elongate carriage members mounted in synchronized movable combination with the stanchion, and a row of suction cups mounted in combination with each carriage member. Pneumatic cylinders are mounted in combination with the stanchion and the respective carriage members.
5578158 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FORMING A COMPOSITE PRODUCT FROM A THERMOFORMABLE MATERIAL Gutowski Timothy G; Dillon Gregory; Li Haorong; Chey Sukyoun Newton, MA, UNITED STATES assigned to Massachusetts Institute of Technology A system and method for reducing the occurrence of undesirable deformations (e.g., wrinkling) in a reinforced thermoformable workpiece. The reduction in undesirable deformations is achieved by increasing the buckling resistance of the workpiece by employing a supplemental reinforcing structure. The reinforcement, in combination with a pair of shaping diaphragms, increase the effective buckling resistance applied to the workpiece during the fabrication of a composite product. The method includes forming a workpiece from a plurality of layers of a thermoformable material, and applying to at least one side of the material an external reinforcing structure to form a reinforced workpiece having a top side and a bottom side. At least one of the top or bottom sides of the reinforced workpiece is placed in contact vith a diaphragm, thus forming a shaping assembly. The shaping assembly is then urged into contact with a shaping surface of a work tool to form a composite product, having a shape complementary to the shape of the tool. The composite product is then removed from the tool.
5580512 METHOD FOR MAKING LOW COST ORIENTED COMPOSITE MOLDING COMPOUND Koon Robert W; Sheu Chi H; Meredith Brent R Palos Verdes, CA, UNITED STATES assigned to Northrop Grumman Corporation
A method for the manufacture of low cost oriented composite molding compounds using discontinuous fibers
343