US 12,241,385 B2
Wishbone fiber layup structure for airfoil
Christian X. Campbell, West Hartford, CT (US); Aaron Tomich, Sutton, MA (US); and Peter J. Rosenfeld, Westport, MA (US)
Assigned to RTX CORPORATION, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed by RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed on Jul. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/353,196.
Prior Publication US 2025/0027418 A1, Jan. 23, 2025
Int. Cl. F01D 5/28 (2006.01); C04B 35/80 (2006.01); D03D 1/00 (2006.01); D03D 3/00 (2006.01); D03D 25/00 (2006.01)
CPC F01D 5/28 (2013.01) [C04B 35/80 (2013.01); D03D 1/00 (2013.01); D03D 3/00 (2013.01); D03D 25/005 (2013.01); F01D 5/282 (2013.01); C04B 2235/3826 (2013.01); C04B 2235/3873 (2013.01); C04B 2235/5244 (2013.01); C04B 2235/5256 (2013.01); D10B 2505/02 (2013.01); F05D 2300/6012 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An airfoil comprising:
an airfoil wall circumscribing a cavity and defining a leading edge, a trailing edge, and pressure and suction sides that join the leading edge and the trailing edge, the airfoil wall including a wishbone-shaped fiber layup structure,
the wishbone-shaped fiber layup structure including first and second arms that merge into a single leg,
the first and second arms being comprised of a network of fiber tows,
the single leg including fiber tows from each of the first and second arms that are interwoven, the single leg forming at least a portion of the trailing edge of the airfoil wall,
each of the first and second arms including a first section that is distal from the single leg and a second section that is proximal to the single leg,
the first section defining a first thickness and a first fiber tow count,
the second section defining a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness and a second fiber tow count that is greater than the first fiber tow count, and
the single leg defining a third thickness that is greater than the second thickness and a third fiber tow count that is greater than the second fiber tow count.