United Technologies Corporation

Grant Eckfeldt

Robert F Kasprow

Kurt M Dembeck

Michael A Weisse

Herbert J Lillibridge

Woven fiber ballistic fabric (22) of multiple layers surrounds an isogrid support structure (20). A cuff portion (38) has shorter warp threads than the major portion (3) and also is impregnated with epoxy resin. A diameter restrains the fabric from aft movement during a blade ejection event.

Aircraft fan containment structure restraint

An axial flow turbomachine's engine core (16) and radially outwardly disposed fan case (18) are joined together with a radially extending segmented fan case strut (10). The strut (10) is segmented into a radially inner portion (20) and a radially outer portion (20) at a midspanly disposed strut joint (14). The strut joint (14) has an axially extending tapered tongue (26) which slidably engages with a mating axially extending groove (46). A radially extending flange (36) disposed proximate to the trailing edge (35) of the inner portion (20) is bolted to the radially extending flange (56) disposed proximate to the trailing edge (55) of the outward portion (40) when the tongue (26) is fully engaged with the groove (46) to releasably secure the strut joint (14). Another embodiment shows a pair of interlocked axially extending channels (60) each having a U-shaped cross-section replacing the interlocked tongue and groove (26,46) of the first embodiment. Radially extending flanges (36,56) disposed proximate to the portions' (20,40) trailing edges 935,55) are likewise bolted together to releasably secure the strut joint (14) when the channels' three corresponding pairs of contact surfaces (62) are fully slidably engaged.

Growing community of inventors

Colchester, CT, United States of America

Grant Eckfeldt