Patent Application
20240300656
This disclosure relates generally to composite propulsion system cases and, more particularly, to methods for forming composite propulsion system cases.
Aircraft propulsion systems are used to provide propulsion for various manned and unmanned aircraft. An aircraft propulsion system may include a propulsion system case configured to house fuel, propellant, and other internal components of the propulsion system. Various propulsion system cases and methods for forming propulsion system cases are known in the art. While these known propulsion system cases and methods have various advantages, there is still room in the art for improvement. There is a need in the art, therefore, for an improved propulsion system case and method of forming same.
It should be understood that any or all of the features or embodiments described herein can be used or combined in any combination with each and every other feature or embodiment described herein unless expressly noted otherwise.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method for forming a composite propulsion system case includes providing a liner, bonding a thermoplastic film layer to the liner using an adhesive, and, subsequent to bonding the thermoplastic film layer to the liner, depositing a thermoplastic composite material onto the thermoplastic film layer to form an outer shell of the composite propulsion system case. The outer shell extends circumferentially about an axial centerline of the composite propulsion system case. The outer shell forms an outer radial surface of the composite propulsion system case.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the liner may include an elastomeric material.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the elastomeric material may include ethylene propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) rubber.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the liner may extend circumferentially about the axial centerline. The liner may include an outer radial liner surface. Bonding the thermoplastic film layer to the liner using the adhesive may include applying the adhesive to the outer radial liner surface and covering the outer radial liner surface with the thermoplastic film layer.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, depositing the thermoplastic composite material onto the thermoplastic film layer may include depositing the thermoplastic composite material with an automated fiber placement (AFP) assembly.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, depositing the thermoplastic composite material onto the thermoplastic film layer may include depositing at least one layer of a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced tape onto the thermoplastic film layer with the AFP assembly.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the thermoplastic fiber-reinforced tape may include a continuous carbon-fiber material.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the thermoplastic film layer may include a first thermoplastic material, the thermoplastic composite material may include a second thermoplastic material, and the first thermoplastic material may be the same as the second thermoplastic material.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the thermoplastic film layer may include a first thermoplastic material, the thermoplastic composite material may include a second thermoplastic material, and the first thermoplastic material may be different than the second thermoplastic material.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the method may further include applying a plasma surface treatment to the thermoplastic film layer prior to bonding the thermoplastic film layer to the liner.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a composite propulsion system case includes a liner, a thermoplastic film layer, and a composite outer shell extending circumferentially about an axial centerline of the composite propulsion system case. The liner forms an inner radial surface of the composite propulsion system case. The liner includes an elastomeric material body extending between and to an outer liner side and an inner liner side. The thermoplastic film layer extends between and to an outer film side and an inner film side. The inner film side is disposed on the outer liner side. The thermoplastic film layer includes a first thermoplastic material. The composite outer shell is disposed on the outer film side. The composite outer shell forms an outer radial surface of the composite propulsion system case. The composite outer shell includes a second thermoplastic material and a fiber reinforcing material.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the first thermoplastic material may be the same as the second thermoplastic material.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the inner film side may be bonded to the outer liner side by an adhesive layer.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the elastomeric material may include ethylene propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) rubber.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the fiber reinforcing material may include a continuous carbon-fiber material.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for forming a composite propulsion system case includes providing a liner. The liner includes an elastomeric material body extending between and to an outer liner side and an inner liner side. The method further includes disposing a thermoplastic film layer on the outer liner side. The thermoplastic film layer extends between and to an outer film side and an inner film side. The method further includes forming a composite outer shell on the outer film side, the composite outer shell extending circumferentially about an axial centerline of the composite propulsion system case, the composite outer shell forming an outer radial surface of the composite propulsion system case, the composite outer shell including a thermoplastic composite material.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the method may further include applying a plasma surface treatment to the thermoplastic film layer prior to disposing the thermoplastic film layer on the outer liner side.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the thermoplastic film layer may include a first thermoplastic material, the thermoplastic composite material may include a second thermoplastic material, and the first thermoplastic material may be the same as the second thermoplastic material.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the inner film side may be bonded to the outer liner side by an adhesive layer.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the elastomeric material may include ethylene propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) rubber.
The present disclosure, and all its aspects, embodiments and advantages associated therewith will become more readily apparent in view of the detailed description provided below, including the accompanying drawings.
The case 30 forms a housing for interior components of the propulsion system 22 such as, but not limited to, the propellant 32. The case 30 of
The liner 48 extends circumferentially about (e.g., completely around) the axial centerline 24. The liner 48 may extend from the first end 38 to the second end 40. The liner 48 forms the inner radial surface 42. For example, the liner 48 is disposed between (e.g., radially between) the combustion chamber 46 and the other components 50, 52, 54 of the case 30 to protect these other components 50, 52, 54 of the case 30 from thermal energy and other combustion conditions resulting from burning of the propellant 32 within the combustion chamber 46. The liner 48 includes an inner side 56 (e.g., an inner radial side) forming the inner radial surface 42 and an outer side 58 (e.g., an outer radial side) opposite the inner side 56. The liner 48 includes a liner body material. The liner body material may form all or a substantial portion of the liner 48. The liner body material may be an elastomeric material (e.g., an elastomeric polymer material) such as, but not limited to, ethylene propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) rubber and other synthetic rubber materials. The liner body material may further include a fiber reinforcing material. The fiber reinforcing material of the liner body material may include high-strength synthetic fibers such as, but not limited to, aramid or para-aramid synthetic fibers, nylon fibers, high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) fibers, and the like. As an example, the fiber reinforcing material may include high-strength synthetic fibers such as those sold as KEVLAR® (E. 1. Du Pont de Nemours and Co., Wilmington, Del.) fibers.
The adhesive layer 50 is disposed between (e.g., radially between) the liner 48 and the polymer film layer 52. For example, the adhesive layer 50 is disposed on all or a substantial portion of the outer side 58. The adhesive layer 50 is configured to securely bond the polymer film layer 52 to the liner 48. The adhesive layer 50 may be formed by any adhesive or other bonding material which is suitable for securely bonding the liner 48 (e.g., an elastomeric material) to the polymeric film layer (e.g., a thermoplastic material).
The polymer film layer 52 is disposed between (e.g., radially between) the adhesive layer 50 and the outer shell 54. As previously discussed, the polymer film layer 52 is securely bonded to the liner 48 by the adhesive layer 50. The polymer film layer 52 extends circumferentially about (e.g., completely around) the axial centerline 24. The polymer film layer 52 may extend from the first end 38 to the second end 40. The polymer film layer 52 may be disposed on or otherwise cover all or a substantial portion of the outer side 58. The polymer film layer 52 may include a single polymer film or a plurality of discrete polymer films. The polymer film layer 52 includes an inner side 60 (e.g., an inner radial side) bonded to the outer side 58 and an outer side 62 (e.g., an outer radial side) opposite the inner side 60. The polymer film layer 52 includes a film material. The film material may form all or a substantial portion of the polymer film layer 52. The film material is a thermoplastic material (e.g., a thermoplastic resin) such as, but not limited to, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone ketone (PEKK), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetherimide (PEI), polypropylene (PP), or the like, including combinations thereof. The present disclosure, however, is not limited to any particular thermoplastic material for the film material.
The outer shell 54 is disposed on (e.g., bonded to) and radially outward of the polymer film layer 52. The outer shell 54 extends circumferentially about (e.g., completely around) the axial centerline 24. The outer shell 54 may extend from the first end 38 to the second end 40. The outer shell 54 forms the outer radial surface 44. The outer shell 54 includes a shell material. The shell material may form all or a substantial portion of the outer shell 54. The shell material is a thermoplastic composite material including a thermoplastic matrix material and a fiber reinforcing material.
The thermoplastic matrix material (e.g., a thermoplastic resin) may include thermoplastic materials such as, but not limited to, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone ketone (PEKK), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetherimide (PEI), polypropylene (PP), or the like, including combinations thereof. The present disclosure, however, is not limited to any particular thermoplastic matrix material for the shell material. The thermoplastic matrix material for the shell material may be the same as the thermoplastic material for the polymer film layer 52, for example, to improve bonding between the outer shell 54 and the polymer film layer 52.
The fiber reinforcing material for the thermoplastic composite material may include a plurality of fibers such as, but not limited to carbon fibers, fiberglass fibers, aramid or para-aramid synthetic fibers, or the like embedded in the thermoplastic matrix material. The plurality of fibers may be configured as continuous and/or discontinuous fibers. Continuous fibers may be configured with a substantially parallel, in-lane fiber orientation. Continuous fibers may generally be characterized as having a high ratio of fiber length to fiber diameter, for example, in comparison to discontinuous fibers. Discontinuous fibers may be configured with a random, in-plane fiber orientation. Discontinuous fibers may generally be characterized as having a low ratio of fiber length to fiber diameter. For example, discontinuous fibers may be configured as chopped fibers.
The propellant 32 is disposed within the combustion chamber 46. The propellant 32 may be disposed at (e.g., on, adjacent, or proximate) the inner side 56 along all or a substantial portion of an axial span of the inner side 56. The propellant 32 may form a longitudinal cavity 64 (e.g., a center perforation) extending axially through the propellant 32 along the axial centerline 24. The propellant 32 is configured as a solid fuel propellant charge (e.g., a “grain”) which, when burned, produces combustion exhaust gas used to facilitate propulsion for the aircraft 20. The propellant 32 may be any solid fuel propellant material conventionally known in the art, and the present disclosure is not limited to any particular solid fuel propellant material.
The nozzle 34 is disposed at (e.g., on, adjacent, or proximate) the second end 28. The nozzle 34 is configured to direct the combustion exhaust gas from the burned propellant 32 to facilitate propulsion of the aircraft 20.
The igniter 36 is disposed within the combustion chamber 46. The igniter 36 may be a small charge of flammable material that, when burned, releases a predetermined amount of hot combustion gas, which hot combustion gas may ignite the propellant 32. The combustion of the igniter 36 can be initiated, for example, by an electric current flowing through a heater wire (not shown) adjacent to, or embedded in, the flammable igniter material. The present disclosure, however, is not limited to any particular configuration for the igniter 36.
Referring to
Step 302 includes forming or otherwise providing the liner 48. For example, the elastomeric material (e.g., EPDM rubber) of the liner 48 may be shaped and vulcanized to form a tubular (e.g., cylindrical) configuration of the liner 48. The liner 48 may be positioned on a tooling support structure such as, but not limited to, a mandrel 66 as shown in
Step 304 includes applying the adhesive layer 50 to the liner 48. As shown in
Step 306 includes bonding the polymer film layer 52 to the liner 48 with the adhesive layer 50 as shown in
Step 306 may additionally include applying a surface modification treatment to the polymer film layer 52. The surface modification treatment may be used, for example, to improve adhesion between the polymer film layer 52 and the thermoplastic matrix material of the outer shell 54 and/or the elastomeric material of the liner 48. Surface modification treatment of the polymer film layer 52 may be performed prior to bonding the polymer film layer 52 to the liner 48. For example, the surface modification treatment may be applied to the polymer film or plurality of discrete polymer films. The surface modification treatment may be applied to the inner side 60 and/or the outer side 62. Alternatively, the surface modification treatment of the polymer film layer 52 may be performed (e.g., applied to the outer side 62) after bonding the polymer film layer 52 to the liner 48. Examples of suitable surface modification treatments for the polymer film layer 52 may include, but are not limited to, chemical treatment, plasma treatment, and carbonization treatments.
In one example, the surface modification treatment may be a plasma treatment performed, for example, using a plasma generator 68.
Step 308 includes depositing the thermoplastic composite material onto the polymer film layer 52 (e.g., the outer side 58) to form the outer shell 54 of the case 30. For example, the thermoplastic composite material may be deposited onto the polymerfilm layer 52 to form a continuous carbon-fiber composite structure of the outer shell 54. Depositing the thermoplastic composite material may include forming a plurality of layers of the thermoplastic composite material on the polymer film layer 52.
Depositing the thermoplastic composite material may be performed, for example, using an automated fiber placement (AFP) assembly 76.
The present disclosure composite propulsion system case (e.g., the case 30) and method for forming the composite propulsion system case facilitates manufacture of the composite propulsion system case in comparison to at least some conventional manufacturing processes of which I am aware. For example, in at least some conventional manufacturing processes, the composite material forming the composite propulsion system case exterior may be formed and, subsequently, an ablative liner, insulating liner, heat shield, or other interior layer of the composite propulsion system case may be installed inside the composite exterior. However, access to the interior of the composite propulsion system case for installation and surface preparation of the interior layer may be difficult. In contrast, the liner 48 of the present disclosure may be shaped, formed, and otherwise prepared in advance of assembly with the composite outer shell 54. The polymer film layer 52 bonded (e.g., by the adhesive layer 50) to the liner 48 provides an interface which facilitates secure attachment of the outer shell 54 to the liner 48. As a result, the thermoplastic composite material of the outer shell 54 can be deposited onto the polymer film layer 52 and underlying liner 48 using an in situ composite formation process, such as the automated fiber placement process previously discussed. In other words, the thermoplastic composite material of the outer shell 54 can be built directly on the polymer film layer 52 and underlying liner 48.
While the principles of the disclosure have been described above in connection with specific apparatuses and methods, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as limitation on the scope of the disclosure. Specific details are given in the above description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it is understood that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.
It is noted that the embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a block diagram, etc. Although any one of these structures may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc.
The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to one or more than one, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “comprising a specimen” includes single or plural specimens and is considered equivalent to the phrase “comprising at least one specimen.” The term “or” refers to a single element of stated alternative elements or a combination of two or more elements unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, “comprises” means “includes.” Thus, “comprising A or B,” means “including A or B, or A and B,” without excluding additional elements.
It is noted that various connections are set forth between elements in the present description and drawings (the contents of which are included in this disclosure by way of reference). It is noted that these connections are general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect. Any reference to attached, fixed, connected, or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option.
No element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the disclosures may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts, and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present application. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts, and features of the disclosures—such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices, and components, and so on—may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts, or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present application even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. For example, in the exemplary embodiments described above within the Detailed Description portion of the present specification, elements may be described as individual units and shown as independent of one another to facilitate the description. In alternative embodiments, such elements may be configured as combined elements.
