Titanium-polymer hybrid laminates
First Claim
1. A composite aircraft fuselage section comprising a symmetrical hybrid laminate layup, the layup comprising laminated together:
- (a) a first layer of metal foil comprising an outer surface of the fuselage section;
(b) a second layer of metal foil comprising another layer of the laminate layup; and
(c) at least one hoop ply interposed between the first and second layers, and bonded to at least one of the first and second layers, the at least one hoop ply comprising commonly aligned fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix, wherein the at least one hoop ply has fibers extending helically around the circumference of the aircraft fuselage section.
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Abstract
The invention provides a hybrid laminate and skin panels of hybrid laminate structure that are suitable for a supersonic civilian aircraft. The hybrid laminates include layups of layers of titanium alloy foil and composite plies, that are optimally oriented to counteract forces encountered in use, that are bonded to a central core structure, such as titanium alloy honeycomb. The reinforcing fibers of the composite plies are selected from carbon and boron, and the fibers are continuous and parallel oriented within each ply. However, some plies may be oriented at angles to other plies. Nevertheless, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a substantial majority of, or all of, the fibers of the hybrid laminates are oriented in a common direction. The outer surfaces of the laminates include a layer of titanium foil to protect the underlying composite-containing structure from the environment, and attack by solvents, and the like.
224 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A composite aircraft fuselage section comprising a symmetrical hybrid laminate layup, the layup comprising laminated together:
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(a) a first layer of metal foil comprising an outer surface of the fuselage section; (b) a second layer of metal foil comprising another layer of the laminate layup; and (c) at least one hoop ply interposed between the first and second layers, and bonded to at least one of the first and second layers, the at least one hoop ply comprising commonly aligned fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix, wherein the at least one hoop ply has fibers extending helically around the circumference of the aircraft fuselage section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A composite aircraft fuselage section comprising a central honeycomb core layer, and a hybrid layup bonded to each side of the central honeycomb core layer to form a hybrid laminate layup that is symmetrical about the central honeycomb core layer, each of the hybrid layups comprising laminated together:
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(a) first layer of metal foil comprising an outer surface of the fuselage section; (b) a second layer of metal foil comprising another layer of the laminate layup; and (c) at least one hoop ply interposed between the first and second layers, and bonded to at least one of the first and second layers the at least one hoop ply comprising commonly aligned fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix, wherein the at least one hoop ply has fibers extending helically around the circumference of the aircraft fuselage section.
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18. A composite aircraft fuselage section, the fuselage section comprising a symmetrical hybrid laminate, the laminate comprising:
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(a) a pair of layups, each of the layups comprising; (i) a heat treated beta titanium alloy foil layer comprising butt-joined foils each of thickness in the range from about 0.003 to about 0.01 inches; and (ii) a layer of polymeric composite bonded to a side of the foil layer, the polymeric layer comprising at least one ply comprising a polymeric matrix, the matrix being resistant to repeated exposure to temperatures of at least about 350°
F., and the composite having commonly aligned fibers embedded in the matrix; and(b) a central honeycomb core layer, each of the pair of layups bonded to one side of the core layer to form the symmetrical hybrid laminate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A composite aircraft fuselage section, the fuselage section comprising a symmetrical hybrid laminate, the laminate comprising:
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(a) a honeycomb core having two sides; and (b) a pair of layups, one of the pair bonded to each side of the core, each of the layups comprising laminated layers of; (i) heat treated beta titanium alloy gore panels having a thickness in the range from about 0.003 to about 0.01 inches, the panels butt-joined to form a continuous foil layer; and (ii) an organic polymeric composite layer between adjacent foil layers, the composite layer comprising at least one ply, the at least one ply comprising a polymeric matrix resistant to repeated exposure to high temperatures encountered in supersonic flight, the polymeric matrix having commonly aligned reinforcing fibers embedded therein. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification