The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 05, 2013
Filed:
Jan. 06, 2011
Ronald Ralph Cairo, Simpsonville, SC (US);
Jianqiang Chen, Greer, SC (US);
Ronald Ralph Cairo, Simpsonville, SC (US);
Jianqiang Chen, Greer, SC (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A metal matrix composite lightweight compressor airfoil. The airfoil comprises a braided fabric embedded in a lightweight aluminum-lithium alloy. The airfoils are fabricated by forming a plurality of fiber tows by twisting filaments or fibers. The tows are then braided into a fabric. The fabric may be impregnated with an optional fugitive polymer that temporarily occupies interstices of the fabric to facilitate handling of the pre-formed braided fabric, but which is subsequently removed. The airfoil may then be formed as a MMC by one of two separate methods. In the first method, aluminum-lithium alloy is pressure augmented casting into a die that includes a preform of fabric impregnated with fugitive polymer. In a second method, a preform is formed using a tool and mandrel by impregnating fabric with aluminum-lithium alloy. Then aluminum-lithium alloy is pressure augmented cast into a die that includes the alloy-impregnated preform.