Method of making a rotor yoke and rotor yoke thereof

US8419375B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Textron Innovations Inc. · US

Inventors

• Tricia Hiros · Hurst, US
• Frank B. Stamps · Colleyville, US
• Pat Tisdale · Roanoke, US
• Ron Measom · Hurst, US
• Jim Braswell · Colleyville, US
• Tom Campbell · Lakewood, US
• Paul K. Oldroyd · Azle, US
• Richard Barbour · Milton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 31, 2008
• Grant date: Apr 16, 2013
• Expiry date: Sep 28, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64C27/33
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of making a rotor yoke includes preparing a cured composite rotor yoke preform on a single-sided curing tool and machining at least one portion of the cured rotor yoke preform to form a rotor yoke. In one embodiment, preparing the cured composite rotor yoke is accomplished by applying successive layers of uncured polymeric composite material to a single-sided tool in a configuration to produce an uncured rotor yoke preform; disposing a semi-rigid caul to an untooled side of the uncured rotor yoke preform; enclosing the uncured rotor yoke preform and the semi-rigid caul by substantially hermetically sealing a vacuum bag to the tool; substantially evacuating a volume defined by the vacuum bag and the tool of air; and heating the uncured rotor yoke preform, sometimes under pressure, to form the cured composite rotor yoke preform.