Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

United Technologies Corporation

Robert A Lacko

Jeffrey George Sauer

Jonathan Bremmer

William E Hovan, Iii

Christian A Rogg

Paul H Denavit

Darryl Mark Toni

Edward Joseph Fabian

Neil W Cawthra

Allan R Macallister, Jr

David M Lent

Andrew Varga

Frank M Caputo

Thomas P Donovan, Sr

Joseph B Ozelski

John H Meeson, Jr

Shihong G Song

Joseph A Valerio

David P Baranowski

Juan J Prieto, Jr

Christopher John Foti

Jeffrey G Sauer

A heater mat assembly for a rotor blade spar is provided including a plurality of electrically conductive heater wires extending in a spaced parallel configuration along a path of the rotor blade spar. An electrical current is flowed through the plurality of heater wires to inhibit ice accumulation on a portion of the rotor blade spar. At least one layer of a first insulating material is arranged adjacent a first side of each of the plurality of heater wires such that the at least one layer of the first insulating material is disposed between the plurality of heater wires and an adjacent surface of the rotor blade spar. The first insulating material comprises a thermally and electrically insulating material.

Blade heater mat insulation

A composite wrap is provided for damping vibration in an elongated quill shaft having a cylindrical body. The composite wrap includes interior layering for disposition about a cylindrical body, exterior layering configured to define an exterior composite wrap shape and sequential cured-in-place, vibration damping, fibrous epoxy layers. The sequential cured-in-place, vibration damping, fibrous epoxy layers are radially interposed between the interior and exterior layering to dampen vibrations of and/or to adjust a resonance frequency of the cylindrical body.

Composite over wrap

A tool for forming a panel including a core area, at which plies sandwich a core, and a trim area surrounding the core, at which the plies are bonded together, is provided and includes a body having a surface on which the panel is formable, an assembly to apply bonding pressure to the plies at least at the core and trim areas and a clamping device external to the assembly to apply a clamping force to the vacuum bag and the plies.

External to bagging mechanical clamp

A composite panel includes a support layer including a first plurality of prepreg plies wrapped around at least one mandrel; a mid-plane impact layer including a second plurality of prepreg plies, the mid-plane impact layer adjacent to the support layer; a upper skin layer including a third plurality of prepreg plies, the upper skin layer adjacent to the mid-place impact layer; and a lower skin layer including a fourth plurality of prepreg plies, the lower skin layer adjacent to the support layer; whereby each of the first, second, third, and fourth plurality of prepreg plies are co-cured to form the composite panel.

Impact resistant composite panel and method of forming a composite panel

A laminate design is provided and includes a substrate formed to define through-holes, an initially uncured pre-preg laminate disposed proximate to the substrate and an initially uncured pre-preg staple. The staple includes a main member and legs extending from the main member and being disposable with the legs extending through the through-holes to pierce the laminate. The staple is co-curable with the laminate.

Composite staple

A caul plate system for a laminate structure includes a plurality of layers of curable caul plies disposed over a laminate structure and substantially conforming to a surface of the laminate structure. A resin is applied to the plurality of layers of caul plies. Co-curing of the plurality of layers of caul plies with the laminate structure hardens the plurality of layers of caul plies such that a normal pressure is applied to the laminate structure during cure of the laminate structure.

Co-curing reusable elastomeric caul plate

A method of fabricating a conformal deltoid noodle includes providing a composite prepreg material having a predetermined length and a width, the predetermined length being aligned along a longitudinal axis; subjecting the composite prepreg material to a cutting process to form a notched section coextensive along the predetermined length; and rolling the composite prepreg material along its width to create the conformal deltoid noodle.

Conformal deltoid noodle for a composite structure

A resin injection port has a tapered outer cylindrical surface, an inner resin passage which is also tapered, and one or more grooves in the outward end thereof to provide a keyway for locking the plastic in the end after cure. The port also has a flange, with a recess matable with a head of a retaining bolt through rotation such that the port is twisted into position for injection. This simultaneously compresses an O-ring which provides a tight seal between the port and the mold. The flange has cut-away portions which align with the bolt head prior to twisting into position. Additionally, the mold has at least one pin which engages a corresponding inner cam surface on the port. The inner cam surface travels over the pins as the flange is twisted to force the port to break the plastic, release and move away from the mold with a 1/4 turn. Utilizing such an injection port provides a means for quickly releasing an injection port from a mold without requiring slide hammers or other such devices.

Quick ports for molding

Growing community of inventors

Oxford, CT, United States of America

Robert A Lacko