Alliedsignal Inc.

Avco Corporation

Theodore Westerman

George T Milo

Avi Ben-Porat

Walter Smith

Bruce David Reynolds

Pei-Ching Li

The present invention provides a self-sealing segmented deswirl molded from an organic matrix composite. Each deswirl segment is comprised of a length of outer shroud, an integral mounting flange extending radially outward from the shroud, and several integral deswirl vanes extending radially inward from the shroud. A means for sealing between segments is provided at the circumferential ends of the mounting flange. The sealing means includes an integral flexible sealing member extending from one end of the mounting flange, and a mating slot for sealingly receiving the sealing member at the other end of the mounting flange.

Segmented composite compressor deswirl

An integral structure comprised of inner and outer coaxial shells mutually supported so as to define an annular passageway between the shells. The integral structure may be an air inlet housing for a gas turbine engine and the inner shell may be a hub member having a generally cylindrical passage extending therethrough for rotatably receiving a drive shaft. The inner shell has an outer surface of revolution. A plurality of duct preforms each include an inner duct surface shaped to congruently mate with said outer surface of said inner member, an outer duct surface spaced from said inner duct surface, and first and second lateral walls having opposed lateral surfaces. The duct member preforms are mounted onto the outer surface of the inner member in side-by-side relationship such that the first and second lateral walls on adjacent pairs of duct member preforms are coextensive and engaged. A coaxial outer shell preform is spaced from the inner member. Resin on the duct member preforms and the outer shell preform is cured to form an integral structure comprised of the inner member and outer shell member and a plurality of circumferentially spaced strut members defined by the first and second lateral walls.

Ducted support housing assembly

A method is disclosed of making an integral structure comprised of inner and outer coaxial shells mutually supported so as to define an annular passageway between the shells. The integral structure may be an air inlet housing for a gas turbine engine and the inner shell may be a hub member having a generally cylindrical passage extending therethrough for rotatably receiving a drive shaft. The inner shell is formed by braiding on a shaped mandrel a plurality of fibers such as fiberglass, boron, carbon, or the like, to form an inner shell preform having an outer surface of revolution. A plurality of duct preforms are similarly formed on a conical mandrel, then removed, and administered onto an outer peripheral surface of a duct mold so as to define a modified shape. The modified duct preforms are then positioned onto the outer surface of the inner shell preform in side-by-side relationship such that the first and second lateral surfaces on adjacent modified duct preforms are coextensive and engaged, the plurality of modified duct preforms completely circumscribing the inner shell preform. Then, a plurality of fibers are braided across the plurality of outer modified duct surfaces of the duct preforms to form an outer shell preform spaced from and coaxial with the inner shell preform. Thereafter, resin is applied to the structure to encapsulate the braided inner shell preform, the braided modified duct preforms, and the braided outer shell preform. The resin is then cured to thereby complete fabrication of the integral structure.

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Easton, CT, United States of America

Theodore Westerman