US 11,988,139 B2
Unit cell structures including stiffening patterns
Apostolos Karafillis, Lynn, MA (US); Jonathan H. Kerner, Lynn, MA (US); Eric Dean Jorgensen, Lynn, MA (US); and Leonardo Ajdelsztajn, Niskayuna, NY (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Mar. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/186,769.
Application 18/186,769 is a continuation of application No. 17/550,885, filed on Dec. 14, 2021, granted, now 11,608,780.
Application 17/550,885 is a continuation of application No. 17/074,209, filed on Oct. 19, 2020, granted, now 11,230,971, issued on Jan. 25, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0250756 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
Int. Cl. F02C 7/00 (2006.01); F01D 25/24 (2006.01); F01D 25/26 (2006.01)
CPC F02C 7/00 (2013.01) [F01D 25/24 (2013.01); F01D 25/26 (2013.01); F05D 2220/323 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A stiffening structure to extend in an axial direction to surround a turbine engine, the stiffening structure comprising:
recessed unit cells defining an inner surface of the stiffening structure, the recessed unit cells being radially inward relative to a neutral plane;
protruding unit cells defining an outer surface of the stiffening structure, the protruding unit cells being radially outward relative to the neutral plane;
a plurality of edges, each edge connecting a respective protruding cell with a laterally adjacent recessed unit cell; and
nodes connecting the inner surface and the outer surface to form the stiffening structure.