Composite article and methods therefor

US10654246B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Ming Xie · Beavercreek, US
• Mark Ernest Vermilyea · Niskayuna, US
• Bowden Kirkpatrick · Niskayuna, US
• Mitchell Harold Boyer · Cincinnati, US
• Elliott Keller Schulte · Hurst, US
• Benjamin Wayne Ferrell · Cincinnati, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 28, 2012
• Grant date: May 19, 2020
• Expiry date: Jul 25, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/24124
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method is provided for forming a composite article to have a primary composite structure and an integral secondary composite structure that extends out of a plane defined by the primary composite structure. The method includes laying-up first plies to construct the primary composite structure. The first plies contain continuous reinforcement material and extend from a first zone that will define the primary composite structure into a second zone that will define the secondary composite structure. During laying-up of the first plies, additional plies are interleaved with the first plies within the second zone but not the first zone. The additional plies originate within a build-up zone between the first and second zones and extend therefrom into the second zone. After interleaving the plies, the build-up zone is deformed to orient the second zone and form the secondary composite structure that extends out of the plane defined by the continuous reinforcement material of the first plies.