Goodrich Corporation

Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

Jean-Francois Le Costaouec

Paul Perea

John S Linck

Christopher T Kirkpatrick

Daniel Register

Lance McWilson

Lauren Rosler

Gregory J Loughry

Christopher L Everhart

A positive transport of carbon fiber bundles, in ribbon form, with in-line manipulation of the fiber bundles (spreading or spreading and volumization with manipulators) during fiber bundle transport to points of fiber bundle deliveries into the circular loom bed plate turntable is described herein. The automated placements of these deliveries of the fiber bundle/tow at selected orientations in the area correspond to the feeding zone of an improved circular loom bed plate turntable.

Method to transport and lay down dry fiber bundles

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for forming a composite structure comprising rotating a base layer of an apparatus for forming the composite structure about an axis of rotation, transferring carbon short fibers from a first vibratory feed ramp onto the base layer in order to form a plurality of fibrous layers in the composite structure, and vibrating the first vibratory feed ramp during the transferring the carbon short fibers. The base layer may comprise an annular shape.

Systems and methods for forming a composite structure

A method of treating a carbon structure is provided. The method may include the step of infiltrating the carbon structure with a ceramic preparation comprising yttrium oxides and zirconium oxides. The carbon structure may be densified by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) and heat treated to form yttrium oxycarbides and/or carbides and zirconium oxycarbides and/or carbides. Heat treating the carbon structure may comprise a temperature ranging from 1000&#xb0; C. to 1600&#xb0; C.

Systems and methods for carbon-carbon materials incorporating yttrium and zirconium compounds

A method of making a carbon-carbon composite part may comprise fabricating a fibrous preform comprising a fiber volume ratio of 25% or greater, heat treating the fibrous preform at a first temperature, infiltrating the fibrous preform with a first ceramic suspension, densifying the fibrous preform by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) to form a densified fibrous preform, and heat treating the densified fibrous preform at a second temperature of 1600&#xb0; C. or greater.

Carbon/carbon composites and methods of making carbon/carbon composites having increased fiber volume and ceramic compounds

A preform manufacturing apparatus comprising a supply of fiber strip, a moveable positive fiber strip delivery mechanism coupled between a desired lay down location and the supply of fiber strip to positively deliver and orient the supply of fiber strip to the desired lay down location, and an electronic unwinder coupled to the supply of fiber strip is described herein. The electronic unwinder is configured to interact with the moveable positive fiber strip delivery mechanism.

System and method for manufacturing net shape preform from textile strips

A method and apparatus for fabricating a short length carbon fiber preform with a through thickness reinforcement is disclosed herein. The starting media for fabricating a net shape (e.g., annular disc) may meet specific requirements including a sufficient fiber volume and a binding mechanism compatible with the needle-punching process.

Methods to fabricate needled preforms with randomly oriented short length carbon fibers

A loom system for making a fibrous preform may comprise a base, a bedplate coupled to the base, wherein the bedplate is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, and an air entangling module coupled to the base. The air entangling module may comprise an air entangling head coupled to an outer support and an inner support, wherein the air entangling head is configured to apply a jet of air toward the bedplate at an entangling zone. The air entangling head may have freedom of motion along the outer support and the inner support, and may be configured to rest on top of a fibrous layer.

Systems and methods for air entanglement

A method of treating a carbon structure is provided. The method may include infiltrating the carbon structure with a silicon compound preparation, heat treating the carbon structure to form a plurality of silicon carbide whiskers in the carbon structure, and/or densifying the carbon structure.

Systems and methods for carbon structures incorporating silicon carbide whiskers

A circular needle loom comprises a bed plate for receiving a transport layer. Engagement members may be disposed proximate to the bed plate, such that the engagement members interface with a positional structure of the transport layer that is used to position and rotate the transport layer around the bed plate. The engagement members may be configured to rotate the transport layer around the bed plate until a predetermined number of fibers and/or layers are deposited on the transport layer and/or bed plate in order to create a needled preform.

System and method for transport of fibers to/from a circular needle-punching loom

A circular air entangling system may comprise a bed plate for receiving fiber layers. An air entangling module may entangle the fiber layers with one another and a fiber packaging apparatus may transport the fiber layers for further processing. In this manner, a fiber preform may be constructed.

System and method for air entanglement

A transport of carbon fiber bundles, in as fabricated carbon fiber tow form, with in-line manipulation of the fiber bundles (spreading or spreading and volumization with manipulators) during fiber bundle transport is described herein. A method including positively transporting and placing a fiber bundle via a moveable fiber bundle delivery mechanism interposed between a fiber bundle supply and a fiber bundle delivery location, manipulating at least one of a fiber volume and an areal weight of the fiber bundle via an air jet device coupled between the fiber bundle delivery location and the fiber bundle supply, and controlling delivery of the fiber bundle tension from the fiber supply through an electronic unwinder is also described.

Growing community of inventors

Pueblo West, CO, United States of America

Jean-Francois Le Costaouec