US 11,952,103 B2
High impact-resistant, reinforced fiber for leading edge protection of aerodynamic structures
Anthony Bert, Irigny (FR); Lorenzo Mencattelli, London (GB); David Kisailus, Irvine, CA (US); and Chadwick Wasilenkoff, Indio, CA (US)
Assigned to Helicoid Industries Inc., Indio, CA (US)
Filed by Helicoid Industries Inc., Indio, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/335,079.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/367,085, filed on Jun. 27, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0415882 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 11/00 (2006.01); B64C 11/20 (2006.01); F01D 5/16 (2006.01); F01D 5/28 (2006.01); F03D 1/06 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 11/008 (2013.01) [B64C 11/205 (2013.01); F01D 5/16 (2013.01); F01D 5/288 (2013.01); F03D 1/0688 (2023.08); F05D 2260/96 (2013.01); F05D 2300/603 (2013.01); F05D 2300/6034 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for protecting an aerodynamic profile having a length and a leading edge, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of plies of parallel reinforcing fibers configured to extend along at least a portion of the length of the aerodynamic profile and over at least the leading edge of the aerodynamic profile to form a modified aerodynamic profile; and
a resin matrix comprising a resin permeated between the parallel reinforcing fibers of each ply of the plurality of plies and between adjacent plies of the plurality of plies,
wherein a first portion of the plurality of plies disposed on the aerodynamic profile is non-helicoidally arranged relative to one another to improve load-carrying strength of the aerodynamic profile, and a second portion of the plurality of plies disposed on the first portion and comprising at least four plies is helicoidally arranged relative to one another to tailor stress wave propagation speed and acoustic impedance of the aerodynamic profile and dampen high frequency impacts generated by impact on the aerodynamic profile and improve erosion resistance, and
wherein an included angle between orientation directions of each pair of adjacent plies of the second portion of the plurality of plies is more than 0° and less than about 30° to provide impact resistance for the aerodynamic profile.